Reddly9007

In the next few weeks I'm planning on putting up a standard wood fence, nothing fancy cause we don't plan on living there forever. I know the basics but am curious about cementing the posts in the ground. I read an article yesterday about using small gravel chips and sand, has anyone had experience with that? Or better yet heard anything about it. The guy was saying something about it wouldn't crack and this and that, but i'm thinking with the hurricanes down here if the fence breaks and I need to pull half a post and a cement block out of the ground I'm going to be in trouble. Do you think digging a 2-2 1/2 foot hole and using gravel and sand would work? I think it sounds pretty good and I can't see the post once the ground settles and all really moving, but would like to get some opinions.

TXXXX

Should be fine. But expect shifting positions from the post.


I prefer the Quickrete--pour the stuff into the hole and position your post and hold, pour water.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

I would check the local building codes for fences. Up here in the north, you have to dig a fairly deep footing to get below the frost line. No idea how to make a hurricane-proof fence.

I agree with the Quickrete as well - you really don't want to be mixing bags of concrete.

TXXXX

^^
First time heard of fence post going below the frost line.


Going below frost line only for buildings where people occupy or attach to occupied buildings.

mamboking

Third that quickerete idea. I dug my post holes 3 feet deep. We already had some winds above 70 mph and it held up pretty good.

dom

Any local fence posting companies in the area? I paid $18 per hole which included drilling the hole and cementing in the post.

soopa

It's no more difficult or expensive to add cement to your aggregate. Why use just aggregate on it's own? The fine aggregate will seep into surrounding soil and the heavy aggregate will settle. At the very least you'd probably want to use fiber mesh to keep the aggregate contained in the hole.

Like others have said, may as well just use Quickrete. Grab the original Quickrete 4000... in yellow bags.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Footings, not the fence. It's to prevent them from heaving during frost/thaw periods. Ever seen a fence that has waves in it?

soopa

Here ya go, didn't even think of using the quik-tube forms:

http://www.quikrete.com/diy/QUIK-TUB...undations.html

Although, I probably wouldn't bother since their forms are like $9/pc at lowes.

TXXXX

Yes, same thing. Bury the post below the frost line and encased in concrete would be the footing.



By design only, I see fences that has waves in it.

soopa

One of my friends is a local fence installer and I know he has to bury the footings below the frost line. This prevents the posts from rising after a freeze.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Exactly. I didn't think the concept was so difficult to understand.

mamboking

It's called frost heaving.

soopa

He already said that

Reddly9007

Good advice guys, thanks. I will go and look at the quick drying cement and I guess if all you have to do is pour it in the hole and then pour water and mix, hell I'll just do that. I just really wasn't in the mood to haul bags around and then mix them in the backyard. I'm hoping I can get the whole fence done in one weekend, especially if I buy the Quickrete.

soopa

No reason you can't... especially with Florida soil. Nice and light.

We have solid clay up here, digging holes for posts is a chore I'm not looking forward too this summer.

Reddly9007

Even with light soil, i'm still thinking of renting a digger, I don't want to dig 4 holes and then be spent. Might be worth the little extra to just rent it. All in all I don't think it will be a very expensive project. 6x8 fencing around 30 bucks, cement and posts won't be to bad either. One side is already done thanks to the neighbor, and I have about 50ft across the back, and maybe 55ft up the side. I will still need extra to build a gate though. I also plan on buying some wood screws to help reinforce some of the planks

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Definitely rent a post hole digger. Makes quick work of it. If you plan on doing it yourself, make sure you tell the rental place that. They make a post hole digger that has an arm that attaches to the motor to keep it from twisting when you hit roots and rocks.