Silt Fence & Sediment Control in Memphis, TN

Silt fence and sediment control in Memphis is about catching soil that is easy to move. The silty loess that covers most of the uplands here washes off a bare site in fine particles that stay suspended in runoff, cloud ditches and creeks, and settle in storm drains. We install and maintain the perimeter controls that keep that sediment on the property: silt fence, inlet protection and the related measures builders, site contractors and homeowners need while the ground is open. As silt fence contractors, we also come back to seed and stabilize the site when it reaches final grade, so the fence can finally come out.

When it is required

Federal construction stormwater rules apply to projects disturbing an acre or more, and to smaller lots inside a bigger development that crosses that threshold, such as a subdivision. Those permits require operators to design, install and maintain effective erosion and sediment controls. In Tennessee, coverage is through the state Construction General Permit issued by the Department of Environment and Conservation, with the current version effective October 1, 2021. Cities and counties also have their own requirements for grading and building permits, and smaller sites can be asked for controls even when no state permit is needed. Your plans and your inspector set the details; we install what they call for.

Getting the install right

Silt fence only works if it is installed correctly, and most failures are installation problems. The lower edge of the fabric goes into a trench and gets backfilled; fabric just lying on the surface lets water run straight under it. Posts need to be on the downhill side and driven deep enough to hold when the fence is full of mud. The fence should follow the contour of the land so water pools evenly behind it instead of running along it to the low corner. Ends should be turned uphill so runoff does not slip around them. And silt fence is meant for sheet flow, not for a ditch or channel with concentrated water; those need different measures.

Stabilized or wire-backed fence

Standard fence is fine for most residential lots with modest slopes. Where a long slope drains toward the fence or the fence will hold more sediment, a stabilized or wire-backed fence holds its shape better. We look at the drainage area behind each run of fence when we price it, and the estimate says which type goes where.

Inlet protection

Storm drain inlets on and next to a construction site need protection too, because once sediment reaches the pipe it is in the public system. Depending on the inlet type and whether traffic crosses it, we use silt fence barriers around field inlets, sandbags or a gravel barrier wrapped in mesh along curb openings, or filter devices that sit under the grate. Each has a trade-off between how much it catches and how much it can back up water into the street, so we pick based on where the inlet is.

Maintenance is part of the job

A fence that is full of silt or knocked down by equipment is not doing anything. Memphis averages about 111 days a year with measurable precipitation, with the heaviest totals in spring and again in late fall, so sediment builds up fast. We offer inspections and repairs after storms: clearing sediment once it reaches about a third to half the height of the fence, re-trenching undermined sections, replacing torn fabric and resetting inlet protection. Many permits require inspections at set intervals and after rain, and fixing problems promptly is what keeps a site out of trouble.

Coming down at the end

Sediment controls stay until the site is stabilized, which usually means a uniform stand of vegetation on all disturbed areas. Because we also hydroseed and install erosion control blankets, we can take a site from perimeter fence to final grass and then remove the fence and restore the strip where it stood. That saves the coordination of three different crews and makes close-out simpler.

Homeowner projects

You do not need a subdivision to need silt fence. A pool dig, an addition, or a large regrade that sends mud down a shared drive or into a neighbor's yard can create real problems. A short run of fence on the downhill side, plus quick seeding when the work is done, is usually all it takes.

Construction entrances and other measures

Silt fence is one part of a sediment control plan. Many sites also need a stabilized gravel construction entrance so trucks do not track mud into the street, along with sediment traps or check structures in ditches. We install the perimeter and inlet measures ourselves and tell you plainly when a part of the plan, such as a sediment basin, belongs with your site contractor.

Need fence set before your grading starts? Get a free estimate or call (901) 295-6462.