How to put up a Fence with Wooden Posts
The posts are the foundation of a robust wooden fence. The type of soil you have will determine the best approach to install wooden fence posts; in deep, well-draining soil, you can typically simply lay the posts in soil or gravel, whereas in sandy or muddy soil, concrete is needed for stability.
Wooden Posts in Soil or Gravel
Posts can be set straight into the ground as long as the soil is dense and well-drained. Compared to concrete, the installation is slightly less sturdy and labour-intensive, but it is also less expensive and typically more resistant to degradation.
- Dig the hole: An 8-foot post should generally be positioned so that two feet of it are in the ground.
- Fill the hole with gravel: A couple inches (few cm) of pea gravel or crushed stone helps soil drainage. Smoothly tamp it down. This is particularly crucial if your soil drains poorly.
- Place the post in the hole: Get the post level and in line with the other posts before putting it in the hole. This will need to be held in place during installation, so a helper will be helpful. Have some 1"x 4"x 4' or longer material on hand if you plan to do it yourself. Finally, to support "plumbing," drive wooden pegs into the ground on two sides and attach them to the 1"x 4" with screws (vertical level).
- Fill the whole using soil or broken stone: If properly laid and tamped down in tight soil, crushed stone gives better drainage than soil and may even increase stability. Shovel in 3-5 inches (7.5-12.5 cm) at a time, tamping thoroughly after each batch, whether you're using crushed stone or regular soil. Continue until the gap has been filled.
- Finish with a tiny hillock: Create a little "hill" of earth at the pole's base that slopes away from the post in all directions. The most frequent area for rot is where the post emerges from the earth. A good drainage system is crucial in this area.
Wooden posts for fencing in concrete
When extra stability is required, insert posts in concrete. If you are building a fence in sandy or extremely soft, muddy ground, concrete may be required. Also, adding extra stability when building gate posts is a smart idea. Concrete's biggest drawback is that it might collect water around the post. This may result in a substantial reduction in the post's duration.
When putting a wooden post in concrete repeat steps 1-4. Prepare your concrete beforehand and then pour it into the hole until it reaches the soil line. To use each batch of concrete before it hardens, move rapidly.
How long do wooden fence posts last?
Well maintained and treated wood posts may last anywhere between 10 and 15 years. Some can even last up to 20 years with the correct upkeep! However, untreated wood may need to be replaced in less than 5 years, so make sure you treat your timber at least once a year.
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