How Silt Fencing Protects Sites from Soil Erosion?

Construction sites often alter the natural soil structure of the site, making it susceptible to erosion and sediment runoff. Silt fencing is a vital, inexpensive solution for controlling soil erosion, protecting surrounding waterways, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Silt fences are made from geotextile fabric, supported by stakes, and designed to filter sediment from the water while allowing the water to flow at a controlled rate.

Many types of fabric can be used for silt fencing. The type of material used will have an effect on the effectiveness of silt fencing erosion control. Many options of fencing can handle high-flow situations, as well as situations where the fence will need to be very visible. While these options may be all effective silt controls, using the right material will be one that intercepts sediment but does the least harm to the environment. 

Comsyn specializes in manufacturing and supplying a variety of silt fence fabrics fit for your site conditions to enable civil contractors and project engineers to make informed decisions on the path to a sustainable solution for erosion control.

What Is a Silt Fence and How Does It Work?

A silt fence is a temporary sediment control device consisting mainly of woven or non-woven geotextile material, installed between wood or metal posts. While it can be installed around construction sites, slopes, or other disturbed soil areas, it is important to clarify proper use and function. Silt fence acts as a barrier to sediment while allowing water to flow slowly through and behind the fence. Therefore, runoff from an adjacent site can enter the barrier, but it prevents contaminating the local drainage system or natural waters.

The primary mechanism of a silt fence is that it will slow the velocity of overland flow of water. The suspended soil particles in this flow will settle out behind the fence. The sediment can then be cleaned out or removed to better maintain a clean and stable job site. Due to its simple configuration and effectiveness, a silt fence is a standard erosion control device in both rural and urban projects.

Why Choosing the Right Silt Fence Fabric Matters?

Construction sites aren’t all identical—differences in slope gradient, soil type, rainfall intensity, and sediment load require site-specific approaches. Because of this, choosing a silt fence fabric that works for your site is paramount. Using the wrong fabrics may result in silt fencing that fails prematurely, silt fencing that does not control sediment for long, and your project being penalized for an environmental violation.

When using silt fencing, you might also be incorporating it into a safety fence because some fabrics provide a visibility barrier in areas of heavy traffic. For example, we frequently see construction equipment use silt fencing to restrict access to certain locations. If they use the correct fabric for the situation, silt fencing can be compliant, allow equipment to be more effective, and be less costly to maintain. It can also be an effective means of sediment control and erosion control when matched well to and used effectively with the project conditions.

Common Types of Silt Fence Fabrics

Knowing the different silt fence fabrics will provide you with a more informed decision for the specific conditions of your site.

• Standard Staked Silt Fence Fabrics

These are the most common silt fence materials and use economy, contractor, and DOT (Department of Transportation) grades of fabric. The economy-grade silt fence is made for light-duty applications that do not expect to have a significant amount of runoff. The contractor-grade fabric is made for applications where a little more durability is needed and will provide moderate sediment control. The DOT-grade fabric is government-approved (or sourced) and is used on large infrastructure projects where you have to know that the silt-fencing erosion control has a reliable performance.

• Wire-Backed Silt Fences

For locations with high runoff, wet conditions with steep slopes, or high sediment load, wire-backed silt fences provide greater support and protection against failure. These silt fences have a geotextile fabric on top of a welded or field wire mesh, which maintains the integrity and functionality of the perimeter fence even when it is under pressure or stress. Wire-backed silt fences are typical for more problematic locations where silt fencing would fail.

• Orange Safety Fences

These high-visibility fences serve a dual purpose for erosion control and site safety. Orange safety fences are typically made from UV-resistant polyethylene. They are, obviously, colored bright orange so people and equipment operators will recognize restricted areas. They are not as durable as DOT-grade materials, but are frequently used alongside silt fences to delineate work zones while also providing a basic level of sediment control.

• High-Control or Impermeable Silt Fence Fabrics

Among other possible fabrics, high-control or impermeable silt fence fabrics are used in areas of high erosion potential and fast-moving water. High-control fabrics have very little water permeability and great tensile strength. They are a good source of strong perimeter controls in sensitive settings like steep embankments and wetlands. These high-control fabrics, by design, are a trade-off for sediment and flow control and represent a specialized but certainly needed material for these specific applications.

Installation Tips for Effective Silt Fence Use

Proper installation is as important as selecting the right materials. Here are a few ideas to help you get the most out of your silt fencing erosion control:

• Bury the fabric at least 6 inches into the ground to prevent runoff from moving below.

• Fasten posts at regular intervals (usually 6–10 ft apart) to maintain tension in the system and minimize sagging.

• After storms or heavy rain, check the fence regularly.

• Remove sediment once it reaches one-third of the height of the fence so that the fence can maintain control.

Comsyn’s Silt Fence Fabric Solutions

At Comsyn, we provide a full range of silt fence fabrics designed to meet the specifications of any construction, landscaping, and infrastructure project: 

• Woven fabrics provide consistent sediment filtration and manage water flow.

• Durable materials for wire-backed fences, offering added support for high-flow or steep-slope environments.

• Fabric options that are both UV resistant and visible combine safety and sediment control.

• Custom products are designed with the terrain, sediment loads, and nature of the water flow on your site in mind.

All of our products are tested for strength, permeability, and durability so that you can be confident that your silt fence systems are functioning properly in real-world conditions. We ask that construction professionals consider reaching out to Comsyn to find the appropriate fabric solution for their unique project specifications.

Conclusion

To sum up, silt fencing is crucial in mitigating soil erosion and sediment runoff on any construction, landscaping, and civil engineering projects. From woven fabrics meeting DOT standards to high-visibility orange safety fencing, knowing what type of silt fence material is needed and how to properly implement it will help to keep your site compliant, safe, and eco-friendly.

The implementation of silt fencing isn’t simply about containment—it’s also about proactive site management. With the correct fabric type and installation, you can greatly improve the effectiveness of an erosion control system, while potentially eliminating costly damages to the site.

At Comsyn, we are dedicated to ensuring you choose an effective fabric for your project. If you are dealing with everything from light sediment control concerns to steep slopes with heavy runoff, Comsyn has products outfitted to tackle whatever challenges you face.

Check out Comsyn’s silt fence fabrics today and build smarter, safer, and more sustainable job sites.

FAQs:

1. What is silt used for in construction? 

In construction, silt is managed—not used—to mitigate erosion and runoff with erosion control solutions such as silt fencing.

2. What are the benefits of silt fencing? 

Silt fencing provides low-cost erosion control, sediment containment, and helps the project meet environmental regulations.

3. How long do silt fences typically last once installed? 

An installed silt fence will last 6–12 months when installed correctly (depending on the weather, maintenance, and site conditions).

4. What are some signs that a silt fence needs replacement or maintenance?

Some indicators that a silt fence needs maintenance are sagging fabric, broken stakes, water going around the silt fence, or sediment build-up above one-third of the height of the fence.