What Is a Sediment Barrier?

Plain-English: It’s a temporary fence made of tough fabric and stakes that slows water at the site boundary so soil particles drop out before reaching drains or streams.

Technical: A woven polypropylene geotextile panel attached to 36" oak stakes is trenched and backfilled along the downstream perimeter of disturbed soil. The low-porosity fabric filters flow, while the trench and posts provide structural resistance to undermining and blowouts.

When & Where to Use a Sediment Barrier

• Perimeter control: Down-slope edges of construction pads, utility trenches, and stockpiles.
• Near drainage features: Along swales, ditches, and storm inlets (with additional inlet protection as required).
• Environmental buffers: Parallel to wetlands, creeks, and ponds where added protection is critical.
• Temporary stabilization: During grading phases before permanent vegetation or hardscape is installed.

Key Benefits & Product Highlights

• Effective filtration: Woven PP fabric slows runoff and traps fine sediments at the boundary.
• Rugged construction: Supplied with eleven 36" oak stakes for sturdy installations and fewer blowouts.
• Fast deployment: Pre-bundled components streamline staging and install sequencing.
• Compliance support: Helps meet typical stormwater permit requirements for perimeter control.
• Cost control: Reduces cleanup, regrading, and downstream restoration costs after storms.

Tip: Place barriers on contour (not up and down slope) and tie sections together so water cannot “find the gap.”

How to Install a Sediment Barrier (Step-by-Step)

1. Layout on contour: Mark a line along the down-slope perimeter; avoid channels where flow can concentrate.
2. Trench: Excavate a trench ~6" deep × 6" wide on the up-slope side. This prevents undercutting.
3. Set stakes: Drive the 36" oak stakes on the down-slope side of the fabric at 6–8 ft spacing (closer in high-flow areas).
4. Attach fabric: Staple or fasten the woven PP to stakes; ensure the bottom 6" of fabric sits in the trench.
5. Backfill & compact: Backfill the trench on the up-slope side and tamp to seal.
6. Join sections: Overlap fabric ends by at least 12" around a shared stake to prevent leaks.
7. Inspect after storms: Remove accumulated sediment when it reaches ~50% of fabric height; repair any damage.

Case Study: Subdivision Pad Grading — Perimeter Compliance & Cost Savings

Project: 9-lot residential subdivision; rolling terrain with shallow swales draining toward a municipal storm inlet and a small creek.

Challenge: Frequent spring storms caused sediment tracking beyond the property line during the initial cut-and-fill phase, triggering warnings from the local inspector.

Solution: Contractor installed Mainline Materials Sediment Barrier using the supplied 36" oak stakes. Sections were placed on contour with 6" trench depth, overlaps around shared stakes, and returns at driveway openings. Inlet protection was added at the downstream curb box.

• Results: Zero notices of violation after install; visible sediment capture behind the barrier during two 1"+ rain events.
• Maintenance: Crew shoveled and removed accumulated sediment at ~50% fabric height—no blowouts reported.
• Cost impact: Reduced regrading and street sweeping resulted in an estimated 25–35% savings versus the prior phase.

Takeaway: Correct placement (on contour), proper trenching, and tight overlaps transformed a troubled site into a compliant, low-maintenance operation.

Specs at a Glance

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