Around here if you backfill with gravel, the water runs to the bottom of the hole, and is trapped in the hole by the clay. Fenceposts in clay soil ground privacyfence diy ask metafilter. I have dug a 24in deep by 12in wide hole in the middle of my wood burning concrete fire pit in fill it up with that gravel. Add gravel to the bottom of the post hole for drainage. Disturbed ground tends to hold water more than undisturbed ground which is why i am of the view that placing gravel in the bottom of the hole. 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. Start with a post hole digger which removes soil quicker than a spade and produces deep, vertical side holes. Fence posts need to be strong, especially when supporting a privacy fence in a windy area. Regardless of the intended use, the fence post should be securely anchored in the. A large post hole digger or post driver will make this job much easier. Make sure the mark you made earlier is at ground level. Step 2 add about 6 inches of quikrete allpurpose gravel into.
Pour a 38inch deep layer of pea gravel into the bottom of the hole. Gravel is best unless you need additional structural support from, in which case you want figure 2. Tips for setting fence posts in difficult ground beef. A vibrating plate post driver up against a fencepro farmtek rammer. Tools that are tough to do without are a hand posthole digger and a shovel. A footing for the post much like with pole barns ive heard of people using a footing at the bottom of the hole like a cheap concrete paver, but others say use gravel at the bottom of the hole to ensure that moisture doesnt sit at the bottom end of the post. Plan to set at least onefourth to onethird of the fence post underground, and dig the hole.
Serving craft beer a short drive from grand rapids, michigan. I dig a little deeper and add maybe 6 of gravel to assist with drainage around the bottom of the post. Then add 6 to 8 inches of gravel to the bottom of the hole to ensure good drainage. Spread the concrete around to cover the gravel, the post and sides of the hole. Dig and partially fill all of your terminal post holes.
Im about to begin building an arbor, and i frequently see the recommendation to put a layer of gravel at the bottom of post holes for drainage im not a soil scientist, but i dont get how a pocket of gravel surrounded by soil is going to change drainage. Should i set fence posts in dirt, gravel, crushed rock, or. When installing a fence post, should i use gravel or. This 3point post hole digger is designed for a category 0 tractor and allows for safe operation from the driver s seat. Drillstem cone wont hold up, but drill steel in the tip will break most rocks or push them away, he says. Postsgravel, 034stone dustconcrete mixform tube sonotubemetal spikespiles. Fill that post hole with concrete porters building centers. Overly large gravel will not sit in the hole as well, and the fence post will lack support. Plan on making the hole for the post 3 times wider than the width of the post and deeper than the height of the post. How to set fence posts in concrete and gravel tractor supply co. The average wood fence post seems to be a square timber that is a 4inch by 4inch post or possibly a 6inch by 6inch post.
Novices anticipate no problem in setting fence posts in such holes, then filling the holes. How to set a fence post in sandy soil home guides sf gate. Then, place your post in the center, mix your concrete, and pour it into the hole. Crushed gravel can be almost as strong, however, if you bury the post. Larger gravel tends to not allow you to level the top of the gravel enough to level the post.
You know, if a car crashes into my fence, then the drivers insurance is paying. If a fence post fails without any sign of a pest infestation, its likely that the failure was caused by moisture that rotted the wood over time. Usually it is ones who are constructing a post frame building which was not designed by a registered design. The depth of the hole should be 12 the post height above ground i. When youre building a deck, a fence, a pole building or whatever, everyone thinks that the hole must be filled with concrete. Its a heavy 225 lbs machine and can handle the rigors of tough work. How to easily install a fence post without cement using. Fences, posts, railings and gates should i use gravel at bottom of post hole. Before you dig a post hole, decide what material you are going to use to set the posts, and. You cannot drive posts in all conditions, for instance solid granite.
Should i set fence posts in dirt, gravel, crushed rock, or concrete. For loose or sandy soil, using a tube form is recommended left. Tamped soil on a base of gravel is enough to secure most posts, but consider concrete for. I have to wonder though why you go to the extra time and effort to suspend a post 8. I saw a post regarding the best material for a fence post footing, and it brought up a similar question. Dig a bell shaped hole to encase the post as much as possible. If you are placing t posts in rock you can drill a smaller hole. And at the proscribed depth and to allow for the drainage bed of pea gravel and if you. How to set fence posts using pea gravel home guides sf. Plan to set at least one fourth to onethird of the fence post underground, and dig the hole. If the gravel is too fine, however, water will not drain through as well and may end up collecting around the fence post. Im not convinced that gravel around or under a fence post concrete footing is the ultimate solution for preventing wood fence post rot, decay.
You can get quick setting concrete for your fence post. But so far, no fence post has lasted more than a hundred years or so. First dig the holes using an auger or a posthole digger. Is a sonotube with clay backfill the best for a deck post. I am getting ready to set 4x4s in 30 deep holes ive dug for. Taper the sides of the hole up and out from the bottom with the shovel. Set the line post in place against the layout line, adjust it for plumb, and temporarily.
We put up fences 20 years ago and they are still standing strong. How to install a wood fence post with pictures wikihow. Set up metal fencing, wood fencing and concrete fencing with a range of fencing supplies from toolstation. Best is to have a few inches of gravel in the bottom of the hole where water can sit and slowly be absorbed into the surrounding clay, then the post above surrounded by gravel. How to diy fence posts that stay put the fence authority. Now that we have gotten all of the preliminary steps out of the way, you can start digging. Whether youre building a fence to corral livestock or to add definition to your yard, make sure that your fence is fully functional by setting the fence posts correctly. I have always used treated posts and crushed gravel to secure fence posts. Garden guides what size gravel to backfill fence posts.
Im not convinced that gravel around or under a fence post concrete footing is the ultimate solution for preventing wood fence post. To help slow such deterioration, add pea gravel or. I will be building a pole barn in the spring with pt 6x6 posts as the frame. Post hole excavation and post setting diy deck plans. We set ours in dirtgravel and realized it was exactly the right choice when our. If you use pressure treated lumber, it will not rot for at least 25 years or until it dries out. Because it becomes permanently attached to the bottoms of the posts, concrete is probably the strongest backfill material. Its important to note that fence post holes must be flatwalled and barrelshaped, maintaining a consistent diameter from top to bottom. Pea gravel is small pebbles that provide a firm foundation for the bottom of the post.
The pilot post is only 3 or 4 inches in diameter and creates a hole for the wood post. Gravel provides a solid base for the fence post to sit on and prevents it from coming into direct contact. Best is to have a few inches of gravel in the bottom of the hole where. When using this style of support, set the post s base in at least 2 inches of small gravel at the bottom of the footing hole, to. Dig the post hole, making it three times the width of the post and at a depth equal to to 1. Add six inches of gravel, such as quikrete allpurpose gravel, to the bottom of the holes. Pour 6 of gravel or crushed stone into the bottom of the hole. Vibrating post driver vs fencepro farmtek 2 youtube. If you plan to anchor the post in gravel, dig a bit wider roughly 8. Gravel at the bottom of a pot helps drainage garden myths. To do this, set the post in the hole and, with gloved hands, lift the post up a few inches and bring it back down hard on the gravel. How to set fence posts in concrete and gravel setting fence posts. Auger the post hole 3 ft, fill in with approx 3 in of gravel, place post, fill in with. Step 2 add about six inches of quikrete allpurpose gravel into the bottom of the hole.
Fence posts what are your thoughts on using gravel. Gravel at the bottom of a pot helps drainage by on we all know that excess water kills more plants than drought and therefore the common advice to help solve this problem is to put some gravel or pot shards in the bottom. Gravel that is roughly three eighths of an inch in size is generally a good medium between drainage and support, though gravel close to that size also may be used. Setting your fence postprowells recommended technique. Dig an 18inch diameter hole to the appropriate depth for your pole length.
Quikrete shares their concrete and post setting expertise. Use your post hole digger to dig out the hole, then layer the bottom 6 inches with gravel. If you dont take these precautions, the post eventually loosens inside. Setting fence posts in gravel rather than concrete and. Fenceposts in clay soil ground privacyfence diy ask.
The problem begins with the shape the holes normally take. One way is to pour concrete in the post hole, set the post on the concrete and backfill with gravel. Gravel under posts pro construction forum be the pro. If the gravel is properly compressed the post should never waver. When setting fence posts in gravel, you should bury at least onethird of the fence post. Wooden fence posts are more vulnerable and fragile than metal. Repeat this three to five times to even out the gravel. When completed, fill the hole with water and allow it time to drain away. How to easily install a fence post without cement using wood post anchors, gravel, or a hydraulic driver april 27, 2017 wood post anchors are some of the easiest ways to install a fence post, and offer. I was going to dig my fence post holes 42 inches, and backfill with tamped crush rock. How to set a long lasting fence post without concrete. The surface area of the post in the soil is what determines how quickly a fence will. When you cement the post, leave the bottom open so the post and surrounding area will drain.
The screenings will pack firmly, almost like concrete, but still drain, so the. Should you put gravel at the bottom of a wood fence post. Set the post in the center of the hole and wiggle it slightly to settle the bottom of the post into the gravel. The fastest and most foolproof way to install fence. Gravel bottom craft brewery craft brewery near grand rapids. The top of the average hole that you dig is bound to be wider than the bottom since you have easier access to the top portion. Skid steer augers skid steer auger bits dave aldrich light construction dealer development and service manager for paladin construction group. Place a flat rock or chunk of concrete block atop the gravel. If you accidentally dig too deep, add gravel not loose dirt to the bottom of the hole. Take into account the extra concrete to wood bonding from the bonding a pole barn post in concrete article that would be achieved with an extra 8. Tamp down the gravel using the bottom of the fence post. When you dig your post holes, make sure they are three times the width.
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