Posts Set Right the First Time

A fence that leans within its first season is almost always a post-depth problem—one that originates during installation when soil conditions aren't assessed before the first hole is dug. Lonestar Fence installs new residential and commercial fences across the Wenatchee Valley using a site-first approach that identifies soil composition and wind exposure at each property before any material is ordered or post placement is marked. North Central Washington's semi-arid terrain produces some of the widest soil variation in the region, from compacted caliche near ridge lines to loose river-deposited soils along the Columbia—and what holds a post solid in one location will let it shift in another.

Installation covers wood, vinyl, chain link, and metal fencing, with custom gate fabrication included as part of the scope. The material chosen for each project follows from the site assessment: vinyl performs consistently in high-UV conditions but requires properly cured concrete footings to stay aligned through freeze-thaw cycles; wood requires post species selection and treatment depth appropriate for low-humidity climates where untreated lumber dries out and splits faster than manufacturer timelines suggest; chain link in wind-exposed locations needs tension wire at the top and bottom rail, not just the standard middle rail, to prevent the fabric from billowing under lateral gusts.

Submit your property address for a site assessment that accounts for your specific soil conditions and fencing goals.

The installation sequence begins with property line confirmation, utility marking, and a physical soil check before posts are positioned. Gate locations are set based on traffic patterns—where vehicles or people actually need to move—rather than defaulting to a corner placement that's convenient for the installer. Panel spacing and attachment hardware are selected based on the fence height and material, because a six-foot privacy fence carries significantly more wind load per panel than a four-foot decorative fence and needs correspondingly heavier fasteners at each post connection.

After installation, you'll have a fence line that holds its geometry—posts plumb, panels level, gates that latch on the first close rather than requiring a lift or push to engage. Lonestar Fence's one-person operation means the same person who does the site assessment sets the posts and hangs the panels, eliminating the handoff errors that occur when assessment and installation are handled by different crew members on larger jobs.

Installation scope depends on whether the site requires old fence removal before new work begins, whether grade changes require stepped panel configurations, and whether any sections need to transition between fence types—for example, a wood privacy section connecting to a chain link run along a property boundary. These transitions require framing and post-sizing decisions made at the design stage, not improvised during installation.