How to pour concrete for fence posts in cold weather hunker. Standard concrete mixes may take up to two hours to set and should cure for 24 to 48 hours before any forces are applied to the posts. The concrete you are adding has no structural value so the water to product ratio does not matter. Look, no matter what preventative steps you take and ill get to those, eventually wooden posts rot, and eventually. If you have to set them in concrete be sure to seal the posts first twice on the ends and if you can bring the concrete. So, if speeds an important factor for you, concrete fence posts probably arent for you.
Keep in mind, this tricks will work for nearly any 4x4 pressure treated ground post. If you re still intent on setting fence posts yourself, rather than having a professional do it, the key is in filling the hole only halfway up with concrete. Then fill with gravel and hopefully compact around the plumbed and braced post. How to install a steel fence post into the ground using. Personally, i think if you are going that deep, then it does not matter how clean the hole is, just leave some room for grass to grow over the concrete. While setting fence posts is not terribly difficult, what if it starts to rain. That way you can stand far enough away from the hole to keep from caving it in.
When you take on a diy fence installation project, a lot of decisions. Hi all, ive got some fence posts to concrete in but the temperature looks like it will drop to 2 tonight, 3 tomorrow night. If you really want a clean hole, you could rent a 2 man post hole digger. So far ive only done my side of the fence and havent added any more concrete. Fast setting concrete mix and it says in 2040 minutes its set, but it is suppose to rain within 3 hours after setting the post. The photo on the right shows a post that has concrete poured around it, which can lead to a crack like you see here. Some fence posts are set in concrete while others are set in gravel. You can imagine all of the hard work that goes into digging post holes only to have them fill up with rain water. August 6, 2015 erin powers fence installation when it comes to installing a fence, one of the key things you need to know is that your fence posts are the essential piece of the installation to keep your fence. To properly set wood posts in wet ground, you need to use concrete. Sakrete fast setting concrete mix makes setting fence posts quick and easy. Protecting fence posts from rot professional deck builder. A local builder is going to erect a front garden fence for me. As you can see, the fixa fence design enables you to use the steel bracket to support a variety of different structures or materials.
Maximizer concrete mix can also be used to set posts and poles but requires the. Before you can reinforce a weak fence post, its crucial that you assess the amount of damage that lies below the surface. We have a fence project coming up that will be built in a relatively wet area, right beside a swale. Setting fence posts in concrete set fence posts in fastsetting concrete if you re planning to leave the fence in place for a long time or if you have very loose, sandy soil. There is no reasonable way to excavate the holes to remove the water, so what you wind up with is a weak bond between your concrete and your posts. Concrete for fence post holes to mix or not to mix. Learn mailbox post installation and how to install a mailbox mounted on a wall. First dig the holes using an auger or a post hole digger.
This video will show you a great trick for how to set very strong 4x4 pressure treated ground posts in concrete. Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions page. It s a fairly conventional affair, with slotted concrete posts, concrete gravel boards and wooden fence panels. Split rail fences have an easier time in the wind because of their. Hanson fast set postfix technical data sheet hanson packed. My garden has short concrete fence posts in it and small panels to fit those posts, but i need 6ft panels putting in now. Most of us just dig the hole, set the post in it and dump the dry mix into the hole keeping it down an inch or so, pour a little water on top and let it do. Wiggle the post with your hand to determine whether it seems to.
Setting fence posts in mud too old to reply jmartin 20031112 14. Now, i can already hear folks crying foul on me steering you from the drybag method. Fence posts new fence leaning due to wet soil house. Once the concrete has hardened, secure the fence post to the fixa fence using the included lag screws. How to set a post in concrete when it rains hunker. The movement of the gate will loosen your posts and cause them to lean or eventually break if you do not anchor them in concrete. I do agree that the drybag method will mix to an extent and hold. Take a ride out into the country and stop by a farmer or two that has fence like you do. Due to the sheer weight of concrete fence posts, installation takes a great deal of time and effort. If you are below the water table, the rock will provide a good source of water for the post. This increases the surface area underneath the ground, making it less likely to shift and move. Having done fencing for more then 30 years, i will tell you the only way to do it, all in ballast mix at 6. Can t really take picture as you can t see what ive done as ive buried it all again.
I have poured in the rain very few times as it has to be covered. Using fast setting concrete mix for fence post, but expect. Chris is dubious of quikcretes instructions to pour directly into hole without mixing. Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions if you re installing chainlink or wood panel fencing just dig your posts 24 inches deep, set your posts, and fill 12 to 23s full with quickcrete with aggregate. Once the concrete dries, it acts as a solid support beneath the ground. With cedar fencing, the most common, there are almost always water considerations when building fences. As you say 2 deep hole, but only about 23 wider then the post on all side, put a couple of inches of the concrete in the bottom of the hole, post in then start filling with the concrete every 6 compact the concrete. Even though it seems this would result in less stability, this is not the case. Instead, you re depriving jack frost of a lip he can use to get a tighter grip on the concrete. I banged the iron right up against the concrete, as it was the concrete moving and not the post. If you are building a fence or a deck, you need to know how to set the posts properly. The holes for the fence posts must be deep and wide enough to allow you to pour concrete in. Allow a few inches of space at the top of the hole do not fill the concrete.
Loose fence post fix ask the builderask the builder do. Most of us just dig the hole, set the post in it and dump the dry mix into the hole keeping it down an inch or so, pour a little water on top and let it do its thing. What do i need to consider when i install a fence in a wet. Can sika postfix fence post mix be used to fill cmu block. Setting a post with quikrete with chris kelley youtube.
Your fence posts are not going to fall over with this method, but you will never know until a problem surfaces. Pouring concrete for fence posts is more difficult in cold weather, as freezing temperatures can damage the concrete as it sets up. Setting them in concrete cement is the stuff that holds concrete together can. This usually requires an extra pair of hands or two to ensure a safe and efficient job is complete. The concrete sets up in 20 to 40 minutes, so you can quickly move on to the next stage of the project a great convenience when setting fence posts or backfill the hole to finish the job. How to set pressure treated 4x4 wood posts in concrete. You can buy differentsized fence posts or dig deeper in the ground. I have all my holes dug and have been working on putting the posts in. If i was to concrete the posts in the ground and cover with some hessian do you. Whether youre building a new fence or anchoring a play structure, setting the posts in concrete is the best way to make sure theyll stand straight and true for. I have a day off and need to get this fence up, i will be using quikrete 50 lb. Concrete is a nono for fence posts national columns. Post mix concrete is a rapid setting premixed formulation that is specially designed for the use on a.
We put in rammed earth fence posts thirty years ago which are still holding up well, while trellis post set in concrete at the same time rotted out many years ago. What do i need to consider when i install a fence in a wet area. That unambitious design criterion allows you to skip using concrete. Hanson fast set post fix is a simple to use fastsetting concrete mix for fixing fence posts etc in the ground. It sounds like the posts were not put deep enough into the ground. The reason people use concrete to cement fence posts in the ground is to give is more rigidity. How to diy fence posts that stay put the fence authority. Keep in mind, this tricks will work for nearly any 4x4 pressure treated ground post you embed in concrete whether you re setting a mailbox, fence posts. Why deck posts should not be set in concrete hometalk. Under normal curing conditions, you can apply heavy weight to the post. Setting concrete fence posts screwfix community forum. Plan to set at least onefourth to onethird of the fence post.
You re making too big a deal out of just fence posts. There is no need to set fence posts with wet poured concrete. How to protect wooden fence posts from rotting home. I can t believe for a minute they pour concrete around each post. You can still set your fence postseven when it rains. Everything you need to know about installing a fence in winter. You can still set your fence posts even when it rains. Pouring concrete for fence posts in heavy rain home. Pouring concrete in the rain is not always advised, however it can be done providing that you take the following necessary steps. Plans call for the posts to be embedded in concrete, but it seems like when theyre installed. Fence posts set on saturday need helprain yahoo answers. Tell them your situation and what they do to have solid fencing in sandy soil.
Is it ok to set concrete fencing posts while it is raining. Make the holes diameter three to four times the width of the post. The photo on the left shows a post set in a bracket that has been mounted to the top of a footer. I used post hole cement, the kind you dont need to mix. When it comes to installing steel fence posts in concrete many people take a cavalier attitude. If you chose to use sonotube to minimize the concrete amount, do not put rockgravel under the post bottom but use conctrete under it. The advantage to not using concrete or gravel is if a fence post starts to lean in the future, all you have to do to straighten it is to dig out the soil on the side of the post where its. How to set a long lasting fence post without concrete may 8, 2015 daniel fence post, fence posts 7 comments at 15 and eager to find my first real job, i followed up mercilessly on an. Whether you re building a fence, setting a mailbox or even a basketball goal, the best way to ensure your posts will stay sturdy and true for years is to set them in concrete. I know it might look a bit odd but do you think i could just buy some bigger panels and slot them straight into the small posts instead of spending a massive amount of money on 6ft posts. If you have areas that drop or rise, you will need to adjust the height and length between each fence post.
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