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Sinking posts in cement?

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Sinking posts in cement?

Buzzsaw on Mon, 06/07/2004 - 11:58
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I want to build a wooden fence using pressure treated 4"X4"X8'  posts mentioned above and 1" X 2" X 8' PT slats in between the posts to make like a checkerboard effect. I don't like lattice so this would, in effect, make a lattice-type fence. Anyway, my main question is about setting the posts in the ground. This is for a vegetable garden and this area can be under about 1' to 2' of water during the Springtime. So I need the posts to be solid. I would like to dig down about 2' and sink the posts and I would like to use cement so they don't come up when there is water in the area. Is it OK to use cement and sink the PT posts into the cement? What is the best way to sink the posts so that they last? Any help would be appreciated.


Regards,


Buzzsaw

Regards,

Buzzsaw

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

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by aimless in reply to Buzzsaw [original] on Mon, 06/07/2004 - 17:39

As an avid reader of breaktime, I'd say that the longest lasting thing you can do is to sink the posts into a suitable compacted gravel substrate, NOT cement - which will just speed up the rotting of the posts. However, I am just regurgitating what I've read and recommend that you do a search on the breaktime forum so you can read it for yourself.

by Buzzsaw in reply to Anonymous [original] on Mon, 06/07/2004 - 17:44

Thanks for your input...

Regards,


Buzzsaw

Regards,

Buzzsaw

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

by Danl in reply to Buzzsaw [original] on Fri, 07/30/2004 - 23:45

Yeah, what buzzsaw said. We sort of went 'round and 'round on this about a week ago in Breaktime. Some folks swear by putting the PT posts in concrete (which is cement, plus aggregate (gravel and/or sand), plus water), while others (me among them) recommend gravel. In any case, posts should probably go in a little deeper than 2 feet, three would be better, but 2-1/2 is okay; it really depends on how tall your fence is (oh, you said 8'? or was that jsut the posts?), what the wind is like there, and how deep the frost goes down in winter. It sounds like you may have a lot of clay? in which case a guy whose opinion I respect from Breaktime says concrete is the way to go because you'll have water surrounding the post no matter what.

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