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... questions on BioFence - the biodegradable choice for silt control....
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Are stakes included with BioFence? Yes, stakes composed of hardwoods are included with the order, spaced approximately eight (8') apart, sourced from New England sources using New England lumber, and have been selected to avoid brittleness, and splintering.We use 42" stakes for most shipments in normal soils, 48" stakes in soft soils, and are composed of selected wood types that decompose in 4-5 years rather than the usual 15-20 years a traditional oak stake requires. Most of our stakes are either beech or maple so they are as strong to drive in the ground, but do not last as long as the oak ones nor as brittle.
Does BioFence need to be trenched in - a la traditional silt fences? It is the choice of the installer. For our preference, please see our story - Is it Time to Re-think Trenching? as seen on our Stories of the Month web page. BioFence is geared to be either trenched in using our special 6" flap at the bottom of the fence, or not trenched in - using a stapling method to seal the flap horizontally to the ground (see our installation instructions on the install page ). Sealing rather than trenching is our choice, but the use depends on the regulatory community in your area.
What is the average biodegradability time? BioFence is geared to last about 1.5 years with one year average effectiveness in top performance characteristics. Variations to this may depend on winter weather, exposure to extreme moisture regimes, incorrect installation, or a host of other factors. We can also vary the biodegradability based on materials choice, so if a special situation arises, BioFence can be custom manufactured for a different decomposing timeline for a small fee.
What about shipping? BioFence is UPS capable, so for small orders we ship in that manner. The East Coast costs about $5/roll, the Midwest and South about $8, and the West about $10-13. Larger orders are trucked, with shipping quoted custom. We are looking for manufacturer/distributors at this time - see us on our Market page.
How does BioFence compare cost-wise? The references are all through our web pages, but simply, even at retail costs, BioFence will cost you $1.50/linear foot for materials compared to the hay bale/silt fence combination at an average $2.20/lf. Add installation labor of ten minutes max for BioFence and 45-60 minutes for hay bales/silt fence and BioFence averages about 1/2 the total cost.
Does BioFence replace silt fence alone? NO - BioFence is designed to replace the black plastic silt fence and hay bale combination. This old technology of hay bales and silt fence was the norm for New England regulations which has now recognized BioFence as a superior replacement in 5 of the six states, as well as most of the regulatory agencies. BioFence is the 1999 EPA Environmental Technology Award Winner. For silt fence replacement by itself as common in the MidWest, try our EcoFence. BioFence has no toxins, no hydrocarbons, no plastic in wetlands, no weed invasive species from hay bales, and a greater ease of installation.
If you have other common questions for us to answer and do not see them here, please email us and we will expand the list. Email to: markahowland@comcast.net