"RonB" wrote in message
...


Having said this, some construction pros will tell you to put the post in
the hole, dump a bag or so if Quickcrete in to stabilize it and add a
little water (some don't even add water - that's natures job.). That
makes me nervous and doesn't start to fill the hole with concrete.

RonB


I strongly suggest adding the water. Nature is not always on the correct
watering schedule. If concrete gets damp and not properly wet it will not
ever set up correctly. I do subscribe to pouring the dry concrete around
the post and adding water in 2 to 3 increments.

A few weeks ago I replaced a 15 year old fence for a customer. The fence
was leaning badly and the posts were not secure. I pulled out all 9 posts
using my bare hands and rocking the posts back and for a bit.
Closer inspection revealed a hole full of cement that looked mostly like it
did when it was poured in. Very little actually hardened and stuck to the
posts. 80% remained in a sand like state. This is in the Houston area and
the soil is mostly clay.