Ask Your Fence Contractor How Deep Posts Go Below Frost Line
Most homeowners assume spring is fence season, but mid-October is often better. Fence Contractors have shorter backlogs after the summer rush, and the soil is still workable. The catch: posts set this month face their first freeze-thaw cycle within weeks, so depth matters more now than at any other time of year.
Across DE, PA, NJ, MD, NY and VA, frost lines run roughly 24 to 42 inches. A post that stops above that line can be lifted by frost heave, leaving a gate that won't latch by March. Look up your county's frost depth, then confirm posts will go at least that deep. Ask whether footings will be flared at the bottom and topped with a sloped concrete crown to shed water.
Get the post depth written into the contract. Avoid any crew that skips the free 811 utility locate call; it's legally required before digging.