fallen down fence repair

[Hobby_Man22]

So after hurricane beryl I took the tractor and pushed the fence back up using a tow strap. Whoever did the fence, didn't put any concrete around the posts. Any reason why I can't dig a hole around the posts and then just dump some quickcrete into the hole? I should just dig a 2ft diameter hole around the base of each one, that way the sheer weight just holds it up. lol The posts are okay, it's just that the soil got so saturated combined with the wind that it just fell over

 

[Old tool guy]

Many people prefer no concrete in the hole, so that begs the question … how deep wrre the posts in the ground?

 

[no704]

The posts are still ok because they were not in concrete. Stand them up and compact sone small gravel in the holes.posts need to be able to drain.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Many people prefer no concrete in the hole, so that begs the question … how deep wrre the posts in the ground?

I never really looked becaise they didn't totally fall over, but I'd guess 12" the fence isn't even thst old, that's why they aren't rotten. It's like 5 years old. I think the posts could be a bit deeper

 

[Old tool guy]

12” isn’t deep enough for any climate.

 

[The Cobbler]

concrete will do virtually nothing from keeping a fence post from tipping over. that's the depth of the hole or post rotted off issue .

 

[Stuart in MN]

You didn't say how tall the fence is but 12" below grade is not enough for any height. I'd expect the posts to be set 3 to 4 feet below grade.

 

[loganb]

Around here for a 6' privacy fence it's a 10' post stuck 4' in the ground. Generally a couple inches of crushed rock in the bottom, they normally then set the post, dump a bag or two of quickcrete (dry) around it then water it in a bit.

 

[rjacobs]

Any reason why I can't dig a hole around the posts and then just dump some quickcrete into the hole?

pre-mixed or just dry and then wet it?

If option 1, then sure, dig 2' at a minimum and reset everything with concrete.

If option 2, thats why a lot of fences that "were concrete in" come out...

When we did my fence this spring my buddy that helped said "fill the hole until about 6" form the top then once dry refill with dirt, it locks everything in". He said they were pulling old pipe fence with a tractor and it wouldnt pull the posts out of the ground because they were locked in like this.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

pre-mixed or just dry and then wet it?

If option 1, then sure, dig 2' at a minimum and reset everything with concrete.

If option 2, thats why a lot of fences that "were concrete in" come out...

When we did my fence this spring my buddy that helped said "fill the hole until about 6" form the top then once dry refill with dirt, it locks everything in". He said they were pulling old pipe fence with a tractor and it wouldnt pull the posts out of the ground because they were locked in like this.

Option one. The other issue is whoever made this fence cheaper out on posts. I have a 4x4 like every 12ft it seems

 

[acer66]

Normally we only concrete wooden gate posts or sometimes corner pots for the reason already mentioned.

The other ones are held in place by tamping the fill dirt every other inch of depth which is also the way you straighten them out.

Good luck.

 

[rjacobs]

Option one. The other issue is whoever made this fence cheaper out on posts. I have a 4x4 like every 12ft it seems

yea thats probably not to ordinance/code depending on where exactly you are at.

My city required galvanized posts, 2 3/8", 36" in the ground, every 8 feet, set in concrete.

Might look at swapping to galvanized posts. They are pretty reasonable and the brackets arent to crazy either. FAR stronger IMO than a wood post if set properly.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

yea thats probably not to ordinance/code depending on where exactly you are at.

My city required galvanized posts, 2 3/8", 36" in the ground, every 8 feet, set in concrete.

Might look at swapping to galvanized posts. They are pretty reasonable and the brackets arent to crazy either. FAR stronger IMO than a wood post if set properly.

I see galvanized posts, they're only like 8ft long though

 

[rjacobs]

I see galvanized posts, they're only like 8ft long though

I think I had 11' from Lowes.

Lowes has up to 12', just checked, at least here in N. Texas.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Many people prefer no concrete in the hole, so that begs the question … how deep wrre the posts in the ground?

Concur !

Unless the soil in very sandy or the soil is completely saturated with water, it sounds like they were too short.

 

[Old tool guy]

. I have a 4x4 like every 12ft it seems

Do you own a tape measure? You keep making obscure and vague comments about depth of the hole, distance between posts etc.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

If you dig deeper than the post and encase the entire bottom without gravel it WILL rot and fast

 

[Stuart in MN]

In my experience fence posts rot just below ground level. These days they make a sleeve that's sort of like a giant piece of shrink tubing that you can put on the post, to seal off moisture for the first foot or so; the next time I replace a post I'm going to try them out.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

In my experience fence posts rot just below ground level. These days they make a sleeve that's sort of like a giant piece of shrink tubing that you can put on the post, to seal off moisture for the first foot or so; the next time I replace a post I'm going to try them out.

wood shop teacher said the same thing years ago. It's always the part that's still exposed to the sun that's rotted out, then the entire 2ft portion below ground is fine.

 

[sizem]

The fence survived the hurricane, posts are good and the fix is easy...pull back up n repack the hole with dirt...very little chance of accelerating rot and easy to repair in the next hurricane. Broken fences w/ concrete posts are not as easy to fix. However, securing new fence post is always easy to position n hold in place w/ concrete.

 

[acer66]

wood shop teacher said the same thing years ago. It's always the part that's still exposed to the sun that's rotted out, then the entire 2ft portion below ground is fine.

Yes, it is the changing weather and more specific moisture cycles that causes dry rot and the post to fail in that area.