"MICHELLE H." wrote in message
...
Just a quick question about installing fence posts. We would like to
have a 6 foot high, Cedar wooden stockade fence installed in our yard.
My question is, when putting in the fence posts for the wooden fence, do
the fence posts HAVE to be set in concrete? I know that most fence
companies do set the fence posts in concrete, about 2-3 feet below the
frost line.


I have read many mixed reviews about setting posts in concrete, because
when the posts rot out, it is a backbreaking effort to replace them
because you have to dig out and lift up the heavy concrete.


I have read, as well as heard from people, that it's actually better to
put the posts in a couple inches of 1 and 1/2 inch crushed rock or
gravel.


So, do you have to have the posts put in concrete, or can we opt. to go
with the crushed rock or gravel?



Thanks!


You already have a lot of opinions. I will share mine.

In 60 years of life and 30 years of fence building I have only had one
failure, the one where I did not use concrete.

Dig a tight hole, use nor more than 1 80 pound bag per hole, make a weak mix
and if you ever have to bust it out it won't be that bad. Weak mix is pour
it in a wet hole and add more water when half full and then fill and add
more water.

The primary reason people have to dig them out is because the did not select
center cut timber and plant it the same way it grew. You have to inspect
each piece of wood you buy and get the closest to a center cut as you can
find. The others have a greater tendcy to warp. Plant the wider rings at
the bottom of the hole.

And an inch or two of gravel in the very bottom is very helpful.


--
Colbyt
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