Will fence posts rot in concrete?

Will fence posts rot in concrete?

A: Actually, your point is well taken. Simply setting the posts in concrete does create a condition that will accelerate rot in the bottom of the posts. With pressure-treated posts, the rot will be slow. … Concrete should be poured around the post – no concrete under the post.

Is 2 feet deep enough for fence posts?

The minimum depth that you should dig your fence post holes for panel sections is 2 feet. A general formula is to dig the holes one-third to one-half of the post's aboveground height. The deeper you dig the holes, the more stability your fence has, but you must also purchase longer posts.

Will wooden posts rot in concrete?

A: Actually, your point is well taken. Simply setting the posts in concrete does create a condition that will accelerate rot in the bottom of the posts. With pressure-treated posts, the rot will be slow. … Concrete should be poured around the post – no concrete under the post.

How do you keep fence posts from rotting in concrete?

Apply high-quality exterior acrylic caulk, or silicone specifically designed to adhere to concrete, at the base of the post. If your cedar wooden fence posts are rotting at the bottom, you need to replace them. The rot probably developed because the posts were installed improperly.

Can you pour concrete directly on dirt?

Prepare the dirt before pouring concrete. If you are constructing a patio, shed or a sidewalk, the process often starts with pouring a solid concrete base to provide sturdy support. Home owners can accomplish the task themselves by pouring the concrete directly on the ground in the installation area.

How much concrete do I need for a post hole?

Fill the hole with Fast-Setting Concrete up to 3 to 4 inches below ground level. Pour about a gallon of water per 50 lb bag into the hole and allow the water to saturate the concrete mix. Wait about 4 hours to begin constructing your fence or applying heavy weight to your post.

Is gravel necessary under concrete?

Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. Gravel is especially important in clay soil because it doesn't drain well, which results in water pooling under the concrete slab and slowly eroding the soil as it finally drains.

How many bags of concrete do I need for a fence post?

The main cause is the wood having prolonged exposure to moisture in soil which means fence posts decay at ground level – just above the concrete base. This means the post will still be solid below and above the damaged area. Insect infestations can also cause rotting in wooden fence posts.

What size fence post do I need for a 6ft fence?

If you're setting wooden or concrete posts in concrete you'll need 8ft (2.4m) posts for a 6ft (1.828m) fence – i.e. your posts are 2ft (0.6m) longer than the fence height. Use 4in x 4in posts for fences of 5ft and over and 3in x 3in posts for anything under 5ft.

What is the best concrete mix for fence posts?

In terms of the ratio to use for a concreting fence posts, the best mix is a mix of 1:2:4 (1 cement, 2 sand, 4 aggregate). Concrete is always best mixed using a cement mixer to ensure it's even, but if you only need to mix a little, hand mixing is ok (see mixing concrete project above for tips on how to do this).

How big of a hole do I need for a 4×4 post?

Dig an 8"-diameter hole at least 6" deeper than your area's frost line for each 4×4 post, using a power auger, hand auger, or post-hole digger. A 6×6 post requires a 10"-diameter hole. Shovel a 6" layer of gravel into the hole to provide drainage.

How long will a treated 4×4 post last in the ground?

The Forest Products Laboratory and other research groups have shown that treated wood stakes placed in the ground for more than 40 years remain rot-free. But young pressure-treated decks, many less than 10 years old, are being shoveled into landfills.

How deep should fence posts be set in concrete?

Concrete fence posts must be fixed into the ground in the traditional way: by digging a hole. When concreting fence posts into the ground, the posts should be buried a minimum of 600mm deep. The recommended depth for a 1.80m or 6 foot high fence is 760mm or 2' 6".

How do you cement a post?

Most mailbox post installations require a 60 lb. bag of dry concrete. Pour a little more water on top of the concrete mix. The concrete mix in the ground will soak in both the water you poured earlier in the bottom and the water from the top.

How deep should a 10 foot fence post be?

Dig post hole so diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the post (i.e., the hole for a 4” wood post should be about 12 inches wide). The depth of the hole should be 1/3-1/2 the post height above ground (i.e., a 6-foot tall fence would require a hole depth of at least 2 feet).

Do you put concrete inside vinyl fence post?

When installing vinyl fence generally a bed of 3-6 inches of gravel is placed in the hole and the post concreted in at the proper depth for the frost line. Typically 1/4 to 1/3 of the post should be underground. The corner, end and gate posts should be filled with concrete inside the post.

Are fence post spikes any good?

The spike part has the advantage that the wood is not in contact with the ground (or concrete) and has a chance to dry. Also, it's easier to change the wooden post eventually. … The wooden posts are shorter, but the spikes cost more than the length of the post that's saved (overall it's more expensive with spikes).

How deep should an 8 foot post be in the ground?

In general, holes should be at least 3 feet deep for posts that extend 8 feet or more above ground level.

How Long Should Concrete Cure fence posts?

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. Under normal curing conditions, you can apply heavy weight to the post (a basketball backboard, for example) after just 4 hours.

Can you reuse concrete fence posts?

Pulling up an existing fence post to reuse can be quite a task. … Posts with concrete at the base are the most difficult to remove and reuse because the concrete base is larger than the post, which makes pulling it up through the ground much harder.

How far do you drive T posts into the ground?

Drive the posts into the ground 18-24 inches, completely burying the anchor, in order to avoid the possibility of your animals pulling the post out of the ground.