Hello all,

I'm getting some conflicting advice on the best mix to use for setting fence
posts for a 6ft vinyl privacy fence. I've been told that any Quikrete mix
(like the #1101) will set up if poured dry. I've also been told that the
fast setting the fast setting #1004 is far better. Someone even told me that
the non-fast setting will only have half the strength of the red bag, fast
setting mix if poured dry. I'd like to save some money if possible but don't
want to sacrifice strength over the years as this fence will catch lots of
wind over the years.

Any advice?

Thanks,

Doug

One advantage to pouring dry is, elminating the mixing process while
setting posts, and less clean-up , but..............

I've always had water near-by, either with a hose or bucket, because it
just didn't seem right to work with 'crete without it.
I also thought it depends on the dryness of the ground.

what I've always done was placed 'bout an inch or so of water in the
hole.....then dumped the 'crete to about quarter/way, an worked it with
a diggin iron or wrecking bar..then plumb the post, add a little more
H2O...'crete...work it..plumb....
H2O...'crete...work it..plumb....
H2O...'crete...work it..plumb....
till you reach the top.

When you near the top, make sure you have the 'crete pasty, 'cause ya
need to end up with a slight rise/mound to allow the rain/water to run
away from the post....even if they are vinyl...besides it looks better.

IMHO......Sky

any Quikrete mix
(like the #1101) will set up if poured dry. I've also been told that
the
fast setting the fast setting #1004 is far better. Someone even told me
that
the non-fast setting will only have half the strength of the red bag,
fast
setting mix if poured dry.

Sounds about right,
I've always heard the 'quicker' the 'crete sets the harder it becomes.

I'm glad I used the water. One job I had done was a pressure treated
pool deck.
17 years.......Still Sq., Still Plumb.
Sky

One last Item......Make sure your footers are deep enough.
In Fla. can be ground level,
In Canada up to or over 48/52"
Sky

"Doug Steckel" writes:

Hello all,

I'm getting some conflicting advice on the best mix to use for setting fence
posts for a 6ft vinyl privacy fence. I've been told that any Quikrete mix
(like the #1101) will set up if poured dry. I've also been told that the
fast setting the fast setting #1004 is far better. Someone even told me that
the non-fast setting will only have half the strength of the red bag, fast
setting mix if poured dry. I'd like to save some money if possible but don't
want to sacrifice strength over the years as this fence will catch lots of
wind over the years.

Wind?

Sorta funny.

I put in a vinyl fence. The instructions said put concrete around the
posts, put 2 pieces or rebar inside the posts, then fill the posts with
concrete. These are 4 or 5 inch square posts.

Those posts aren't going anywhere.

The fast setting is much better. And I say mix it wet first and then
place it in the hole.

sky wrote:
One last Item......Make sure your footers are deep enough.
In Fla. can be ground level,
In Canada up to or over 48/52"

I'll second that. Don't get lazy with the hole digger. I did, went 24"
deep in Alabama and now I have a few posts that are out of plumb.
Believe me it's not the freeze/thaw cycle but the drought cycle in this
alabama red clay that gets the earth moving around.

--
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President - Top Service Pros, Inc.
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Hi gang!, just got back from work.........

Well Doug, there ya go, six more opinons an your probably still not
sure how to go.

Ya gotta have good footers, anyone ever notice how the hole dug
differently when ya got close to it? (the footer), like a different
texture.

Dans instructions sound real good, esp.the rebar, but Dan, is that dry
on the outside, and wet inside?

Have done Mac's and tmurf's way, and.

gfretw's right too.

'crete's a forgiving animal, if ya wanna pour in freezin weather, ya
can get a retarder to slow the curing down. Wanna color it?, I think
you can also add scents to it

If it be me, I'd follow dan's lead an read/use the instructions from
the fence mfg., and go with the 1101

'cause in a way it's like Mac says 'this isn't rocket science'

"sky" writes:

Hi gang!, just got back from work.........

Well Doug, there ya go, six more opinons an your probably still not
sure how to go.

Ya gotta have good footers, anyone ever notice how the hole dug
differently when ya got close to it? (the footer), like a different
texture.

Dans instructions sound real good, esp.the rebar, but Dan, is that dry
on the outside, and wet inside?

Wet all the way around.

I suppose dry would have worked for filling the hole.

I've been told that any Quikrete mix (like the #1101) will set up if
poured dry. I've also been told that the fast setting the fast setting
#1004 is far better. Someone even told me that the non-fast setting will
only have half the strength of the red bag, fast setting mix if poured
dry. I'd like to save some money if possible but don't want to sacrifice
strength

Quickcrete (brand name) is expensive. Use the no name stuff sold by Lowes
or HD..about half the price
For fencepost "anchors" it doesnt matter..Why do you need fast setting ?
Just brace the posts and let it set overnight.

Rudy wrote:
I've been told that any Quikrete mix (like the #1101) will set up if
poured dry. I've also been told that the fast setting the fast setting
#1004 is far better. Someone even told me that the non-fast setting will
only have half the strength of the red bag, fast setting mix if poured
dry. I'd like to save some money if possible but don't want to sacrifice
strength

Quickcrete (brand name) is expensive. Use the no name stuff sold by Lowes
or HD..about half the price
For fencepost "anchors" it doesnt matter..Why do you need fast setting ?
Just brace the posts and let it set overnight.


But you should think about providing bearing surface rather than just a
blob on the bottom of the post. Spread it out horizontally a few
inches down in the dirt. Or use long horizontal rebar to stablize it.

"Doug Steckel" wrote in message
...
Hello all,

I'm getting some conflicting advice on the best mix to use for setting
fence posts for a 6ft vinyl privacy fence. I've been told that any
Quikrete mix (like the #1101) will set up if poured dry. I've also been
told that the fast setting the fast setting #1004 is far better. Someone
even told me that the non-fast setting will only have half the strength of
the red bag, fast setting mix if poured dry. I'd like to save some money
if possible but don't want to sacrifice strength over the years as this
fence will catch lots of wind over the years.

Any advice?

Thanks,

Doug


For a fence post, the extra expense of quick setting or high strength is
unwarranted. The post hole concrete is a mix with more/bigger/random sized
aggregate in it and optimized to make it easier to absorb water from the
ground.

The whole concept of putting the mix in dry is a time saver. Not only do
you not have to premix the concrete but the dry mix holds the post steady
while the ground water permeates the mix and allows the chemical reaction to
occur. With mixed concrete you will need to brace the post in place while
it sets.

The ground does need to be moist or you can just dump water on top of the
mix in the hole. Sure it takes longer, sure it is not as hard, but you do
not need this for a post of a lightweight vinyl fence

Mac Cool wrote:
http://www.quikrete.com/diy/SettingPosts.html

Dump a bucket of water in the hole and then pour in the quikrete or vice
versa, don't make it complicated. It's vinyl fencing, the vinyl will break
a million years before the concrete no matter how badly you botch the job.


I agree 100% with this. When I put in a 700' fence last summer,
fast-set priced out twice as expensive as regular quickrete, and I have
more time than money. 24 hours isn't too long for me to wait for fence
posts to set.

Doesn't make any difference regarding the concrete chosen. Cheap fence post
will die before the concrete caves in. Just pour it with your choice, dry
or wet pour. If you decide to move to something more substantial, please
post again with that information.
--
Jonny
"Doug Steckel" wrote in message
...
Hello all,

I'm getting some conflicting advice on the best mix to use for setting
fence posts for a 6ft vinyl privacy fence. I've been told that any
Quikrete mix (like the #1101) will set up if poured dry. I've also been
told that the fast setting the fast setting #1004 is far better. Someone
even told me that the non-fast setting will only have half the strength of
the red bag, fast setting mix if poured dry. I'd like to save some money
if possible but don't want to sacrifice strength over the years as this
fence will catch lots of wind over the years.

Any advice?

Thanks,

Doug

Am I missing somethin' here or what?....................

All theses posts, and Doug Steckel hasn't replied..

He's either gone to another group.............or he's out there doin'
the job....hope so......

atta' boy doug........Sky

Understood Doug...

Do ya have 300' of string for a straight line, and contrasting spray
paint to mark your placement?
Wood pegs would work.......You could make a gauge outta' 2x4x8 or 10
to measure the distance between footers. Have a 2006 penny to date the
job?

What are ya havin for lunch?......Oops!, I better get outta' here, let
you guys get to work.

Let us know sunday or monday how you made out.

'Luck...an no overtime.......Sky