Spokane winters bring snow, ice and repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and fences take a beating. Here is how block walls compare with wood and vinyl fences in our climate.
What winter does to a fence
Water soaks into soil and wood, freezes, expands and thaws again, over and over. That frost movement lifts and tilts fence posts, and plowed or drifted snow leans against fence panels for weeks. That is why Spokane City and County require footings at least 24 inches deep, below the frost line (the Spokane City/County frost depth policy).
Wood fences in winter
Wood posts sit in wet, frozen ground for months, so they rot at the base and loosen. Boards cup and crack as they freeze and dry out. Snow piled against a wood fence speeds up both. Wood is cheapest to install but usually needs the most repair.
Vinyl fences in winter
Vinyl does not rot, but it gets more brittle in cold weather. A hit from a snowblower, sled or falling ice can crack a panel, and panels can pop loose when posts heave. Matching replacement panels years later can be hard.
Block walls in winter
A concrete block wall sits on a poured footing below the frost line and is tied together with rebar and grout. It does not rot, flex or crack from cold the way wood and vinyl do, and snow piled against it is not a problem. It also blocks wind, road noise and dust.
Side-by-side
- Freeze-thaw: block wall best when built on a frost-depth footing; wood and vinyl posts can heave
- Upfront cost: wood lowest, vinyl middle, block highest
- Maintenance: wood needs stain and repairs, vinyl little, block almost none
- Lifespan: wood often 10 to 15 years, vinyl 20 or more, block several decades
- Privacy and noise: block wall blocks the most
Is a block wall worth it?
If you plan to stay in your home, a block wall usually pays for itself by skipping the repairs and replacements Spokane winters cause. See our block wall fences page for styles, or read what a block wall fence costs in Spokane.
Planning a block wall, fence or retaining wall in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Cheney or north Spokane? Request a free quote or call (509) 438-4570.