DIYbanter - View Single Post - Sinking post that will undergo lateral force

Unquestionably Confused

On 5/31/2015 1:18 PM, wrote:
On Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 10:55:17 AM UTC-7, Auric Goldfinger
wrote:

[snip]

I don't know how to describe the soil conditions other than as packed
earth...perhaps clay deep down? It's in Northern California at sea
level in the agricultural belt. The temperature rarely reaches the
freezing point. The post would need to 8' (8.5' better) out of the
ground.

That 12' 4x is what you need then. In your circumstance you don't need
worry about the frost line/heave but that depth will give you all the
lateral stability you need.

I'd still (unless you're very dry there) go overboard on protecting the
section of the 4x that's in the ground.