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#1
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
Hi all,
I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil |
#2
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
"Neil" wrote in message ... Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil The postfix stuff I have used in the past has already had gravel in it. |
#3
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
"Slider" wrote in message ... "Neil" wrote in message ... Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil The postfix stuff I have used in the past has already had gravel in it. No not this stuff http://www.wickes.co.uk/Special-Mort...te/invt/221100 I have seen other makes with gravel in them but have been told that they are not so good as Postcrete. In fact one make (don't recall the name) I was told by the supplier that it was rubbish in comparison. It's difficult to be sure of all this as I haven't tried other brands myself. It just seems to me that proper concrete has gravel in, so why doesn't this stuff need it as well. |
#4
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
"Neil" wrote in message ... "Slider" wrote in message ... "Neil" wrote in message ... Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil The postfix stuff I have used in the past has already had gravel in it. No not this stuff http://www.wickes.co.uk/Special-Mort...te/invt/221100 I have seen other makes with gravel in them but have been told that they are not so good as Postcrete. In fact one make (don't recall the name) I was told by the supplier that it was rubbish in comparison. It's difficult to be sure of all this as I haven't tried other brands myself. It just seems to me that proper concrete has gravel in, so why doesn't this stuff need it as well. Ah, only used the postfix stuff from B&Q. Put two separate fences up using it and have never had any problems. |
#5
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
Slider wrote:
"Neil" wrote in message ... "Slider" wrote in message ... "Neil" wrote in message ... Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil The postfix stuff I have used in the past has already had gravel in it. No not this stuff http://www.wickes.co.uk/Special-Mort...te/invt/221100 I have seen other makes with gravel in them but have been told that they are not so good as Postcrete. In fact one make (don't recall the name) I was told by the supplier that it was rubbish in comparison. It's difficult to be sure of all this as I haven't tried other brands myself. It just seems to me that proper concrete has gravel in, so why doesn't this stuff need it as well. Ah, only used the postfix stuff from B&Q. Put two separate fences up using it and have never had any problems. I've heard it said that 10 gravel to 1 cement is a good mix. Some strength, but also some permeability so that water cannot get trapped next to the timber. Also makes it easier to dig out when replacing the post. |
#6
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
Slider wrote:
"Neil" wrote in message ... "Slider" wrote in message ... "Neil" wrote in message ... Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil The postfix stuff I have used in the past has already had gravel in it. No not this stuff http://www.wickes.co.uk/Special-Mort...te/invt/221100 I have seen other makes with gravel in them but have been told that they are not so good as Postcrete. In fact one make (don't recall the name) I was told by the supplier that it was rubbish in comparison. It's difficult to be sure of all this as I haven't tried other brands myself. It just seems to me that proper concrete has gravel in, so why doesn't this stuff need it as well. Ah, only used the postfix stuff from B&Q. Put two separate fences up using it and have never had any problems. Ditto! Ret |
#7
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
Slider wrote:
"Neil" wrote in message ... Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil The postfix stuff I have used in the past has already had gravel in it. There are two types, one is just a fine powder, the other has aggregate. Both seem to work, in fact I reckong the former is better. -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
#8
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
Neil wrote:
Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil My feeling is that all forms of postcrete and even halfway properly made concrete are so massively over the top in terms of strength in this application, there is no point. (A while ago I posted ha! that I had used half a bag of quite old postcrete and it had set like granite. Stuff in good condition is likely to be even stronger.) The only reason I can see to add gravel/stones/whatever would be when trying to be a cheapskate and extending one bag to fill several holes. -- Rod Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious onset. Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed. www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org |
#9
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
"Rod" wrote in message ... Neil wrote: Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil My feeling is that all forms of postcrete and even halfway properly made concrete are so massively over the top in terms of strength in this application, there is no point. (A while ago I posted ha! that I had used half a bag of quite old postcrete and it had set like granite. Stuff in good condition is likely to be even stronger.) The only reason I can see to add gravel/stones/whatever would be when trying to be a cheapskate and extending one bag to fill several holes. I'm just comparing it to ordinary concrete and wonder why it doesn't need gravel when ordinary concrete does. If it would make it stronger than I'd mix some in. |
#10
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
Neil wrote:
"Rod" wrote in message ... Neil wrote: Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil My feeling is that all forms of postcrete and even halfway properly made concrete are so massively over the top in terms of strength in this application, there is no point. (A while ago I posted ha! that I had used half a bag of quite old postcrete and it had set like granite. Stuff in good condition is likely to be even stronger.) The only reason I can see to add gravel/stones/whatever would be when trying to be a cheapskate and extending one bag to fill several holes. I'm just comparing it to ordinary concrete and wonder why it doesn't need gravel when ordinary concrete does. If it would make it stronger than I'd mix some in. I have used both forms of postcrete (though I'd guess that is a trade mark of some sort). Both worked. (Only a few holes - I don't have 'industrial' level experience!) My feeling is that the sort without stones is a way of using up fines from quarries/beds which are not suited to other uses for some reason. Further, I'd hazard a guess that they have adjusted the mixture to be as cheap as possible to make whilst retaining effectiveness. Either will end up extremely hard and strong by the time it has fully cured. I would not expect adding anything [1] to be helpful except, as already stated, in allowing a bag to fill more holes. The last lot I used expressly suggested putting broken bricks, etc. into the hole for larger posts so that the claimed posts per bag could be achieved for any size post and hole. [1] I guess water is needed. :-) -- Rod Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious onset. Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed. www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org |
#11
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
It's probably formulated ideally for what it's intended. Are you
having problems with it cracking/failing? Making up your own concrete in a mixer and vibrating it in situ would probably considerably strengthen it, but I wouldn't bother unless it was necessary. The advice I had from the fencing company was "dig your holes as deep as possible, and aim to have a big lump of concrete down the bottom". Worked fine for my 2m tall fences in an extremely windswept fenland location - still perfectly vertical several years later. |
#12
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
wrote in message ... It's probably formulated ideally for what it's intended. Are you having problems with it cracking/failing? Making up your own concrete in a mixer and vibrating it in situ would probably considerably strengthen it, but I wouldn't bother unless it was necessary. The advice I had from the fencing company was "dig your holes as deep as possible, and aim to have a big lump of concrete down the bottom". Worked fine for my 2m tall fences in an extremely windswept fenland location - still perfectly vertical several years later. I'll second this. And might I add, that you should also paint the ends of wooden posts with liberal amounts of liquid bitumen, at least up to ground level. This helps prevent water penetration into the timber, so you posts last years and years longer than having them stuck in the ground with no protection. If this PostCrete stuff is cheaper than making you own Sand Cement Ballast Mix, then go for it. But I always a good mix of the above never lets me down. I might give these new fangled things a try one day, if I feel brave. :-) |
#13
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
"BigWallop" wrote in message om... wrote in message ... It's probably formulated ideally for what it's intended. Are you having problems with it cracking/failing? Making up your own concrete in a mixer and vibrating it in situ would probably considerably strengthen it, but I wouldn't bother unless it was necessary. The advice I had from the fencing company was "dig your holes as deep as possible, and aim to have a big lump of concrete down the bottom". Worked fine for my 2m tall fences in an extremely windswept fenland location - still perfectly vertical several years later. I'll second this. And might I add, that you should also paint the ends of wooden posts with liberal amounts of liquid bitumen, at least up to ground level. This helps prevent water penetration into the timber, so you posts last years and years longer than having them stuck in the ground with no protection. If this PostCrete stuff is cheaper than making you own Sand Cement Ballast Mix, then go for it. But I always a good mix of the above never lets me down. I might give these new fangled things a try one day, if I feel brave. :-) The stuff the OP is on about (IIRC) has a big advantage over mixing your own.. you dig a hole, drop the post in and fill it with the mix dry. You pour in water and it sets in about 20 mins. By the time you have had your tea break you can fit the panels. I have used it and it is really good if you are in a hurry. |
#14
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
"dennis@home" wrote in message ... "BigWallop" wrote in message om... snipped I'll second this. And might I add, that you should also paint the ends of wooden posts with liberal amounts of liquid bitumen, at least up to ground level. This helps prevent water penetration into the timber, so you posts last years and years longer than having them stuck in the ground with no protection. If this PostCrete stuff is cheaper than making you own Sand Cement Ballast Mix, then go for it. But I always a good mix of the above never lets me down. I might give these new fangled things a try one day, if I feel brave. :-) The stuff the OP is on about (IIRC) has a big advantage over mixing your own.. you dig a hole, drop the post in and fill it with the mix dry. You pour in water and it sets in about 20 mins. By the time you have had your tea break you can fit the panels. I have used it and it is really good if you are in a hurry. I can see the advantages in its use, but I think the old ways are still best. Yes, I probably should get more "with it". :-) We still dig the holes. Set the posts to the levels we want. Support the posts with timber struts. Fix the panels Etc. Make sure everything is the way it should be. Then we mix our batches and pour the 'Crete in the holes. Doing the posts individually takes forever. Isn't it best to build your fence, then fix the posts in place at the end. Our fences, around the several out-buildings we have had to create, are still standing after, roughly, twenty years. The only things we've had to replace is the gate hinges and a few padlocks. Ah well. Each tae thir ane, as they say. |
#15
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
BigWallop wrote:
"dennis@home" wrote in message ... "BigWallop" wrote in message om... snipped I'll second this. And might I add, that you should also paint the ends of wooden posts with liberal amounts of liquid bitumen, at least up to ground level. This helps prevent water penetration into the timber, so you posts last years and years longer than having them stuck in the ground with no protection. If this PostCrete stuff is cheaper than making you own Sand Cement Ballast Mix, then go for it. But I always a good mix of the above never lets me down. I might give these new fangled things a try one day, if I feel brave. :-) The stuff the OP is on about (IIRC) has a big advantage over mixing your own.. you dig a hole, drop the post in and fill it with the mix dry. You pour in water and it sets in about 20 mins. By the time you have had your tea break you can fit the panels. I have used it and it is really good if you are in a hurry. I can see the advantages in its use, but I think the old ways are still best. Yes, I probably should get more "with it". :-) We still dig the holes. Set the posts to the levels we want. Support the posts with timber struts. Fix the panels Etc. Make sure everything is the way it should be. Then we mix our batches and pour the 'Crete in the holes. Doing the posts individually takes forever. Isn't it best to build your fence, then fix the posts in place at the end. Our fences, around the several out-buildings we have had to create, are still standing after, roughly, twenty years. The only things we've had to replace is the gate hinges and a few padlocks. Ah well. Each tae thir ane, as they say. I see the question as highly dependent on numbers. For one or two posts it is much easier and cheaper to get a bag of postcrete. After all, by the time you have bought a bag of cement, let alone the ballast, it has cost as much. For a few more, it is probably considerably cheaper to mix your own. For lots, maybe the labour of mixing, or cost of a mixer, outweighs the extra cost? And there might be a discount on a quantity purchase. Having materials lying around (effectively free), or going to waste because they are surplus, are significant factors in choosing. -- Rod Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious onset. Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed. www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org |
#16
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
BigWallop wrote:
"dennis@home" wrote in message ... "BigWallop" wrote in message om... snipped I'll second this. And might I add, that you should also paint the ends of wooden posts with liberal amounts of liquid bitumen, at least up to ground level. This helps prevent water penetration into the timber, so you posts last years and years longer than having them stuck in the ground with no protection. If this PostCrete stuff is cheaper than making you own Sand Cement Ballast Mix, then go for it. But I always a good mix of the above never lets me down. I might give these new fangled things a try one day, if I feel brave. :-) The stuff the OP is on about (IIRC) has a big advantage over mixing your own.. you dig a hole, drop the post in and fill it with the mix dry. You pour in water and it sets in about 20 mins. By the time you have had your tea break you can fit the panels. I have used it and it is really good if you are in a hurry. I can see the advantages in its use, but I think the old ways are still best. Yes, I probably should get more "with it". :-) We still dig the holes. Set the posts to the levels we want. Support the posts with timber struts. Fix the panels Etc. Make sure everything is the way it should be. Then we mix our batches and pour the 'Crete in the holes. With Postfix or Postcrete you don't need the struts, you don't need to mix. Doing the posts individually takes forever. Isn't it best to build your fence, then fix the posts in place at the end. Our fences, around the several out-buildings we have had to create, are still standing after, roughly, twenty years. The only things we've had to replace is the gate hinges and a few padlocks. No, its qucker! Fix first post, by the time you have carried the panel over & had a fag its ready. Use the panel to mark next post hole etc. Its much faster. -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk Ah well. Each tae thir ane, as they say. |
#17
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
On Oct 23, 11:06*am, "Neil" wrote:
Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. *My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). *I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. *Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil Concrete, ie with stones, is indeed stronger than cement mortar. So you can mix stone in no worries. Not that fence post fixing needs a lot of strength. In fact sometimes people use ballast alone, no cement. NT |
#18
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
Neil wrote:
Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Not having a go here, but I wouldn't back your gut feeling against the knowledge & experience of Lafarge/Blue Circle & Hanson Aggregates. If it needed it, they would put it in. -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
#19
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
On Oct 23, 5:34*pm, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote: Neil wrote: Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. *My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). *I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. *Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Not having a go here, but I wouldn't back your gut feeling against the knowledge & experience of Lafarge/Blue Circle & Hanson Aggregates. *If it needed it, they would put it in. Virtually any mix will set posts, so bagged ready mixed is just a question of whats cheapest plus accelerator. Maybe they bought a huge pile of slate dust for 50p. NT |
#20
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
"Neil" wrote in message ... Hi all, I use postcrete for setting in posts etc. My own feeling is that it would be stronger if I mixed in some gravel (ballast). I've tried it and it works fine - goes off almost as quickly, but I don't know if this is strengthening it or not. Anybody know if this is worth doing or not. Many thanks, Neil Thanks for all the replies folks. This thread's got so long I'm not sure where to place this conclusion, so I'm putting it here Loads of good advice and different approaches here. The original question was whether or not to add aggregate to Postcrete, and it seems obvious to me now that if it needed it, then the manufacturers would have included it. So I'm happy to accept that. However the discussion on whether to use the stuff in place of the cement/concrete mix is also interesting helps me at least make some decisions for the future on how/when to use each. I think for myself I see both the use of the fast-mix types have a place just as the old concrete does, but as somebody else (lost who said it now) said it is a question of quantity for me. If all I need to do is plane a few perhaps short posts then the quick-mix stuff is really handy. Alternatively if I want to dig in a line of fence posts then as BigWallop advises I think his method is best and probably a good deal more economic. All good stuff guys - many thanks. Neil |
#21
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
Postcrete is an expensive way to go if you're doing a long run. Much
cheaper to mix concrete and add a dash of rapid hardener. |
#22
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Postcrete - whether to mix in agrigate or not?
mike wrote:
Postcrete is an expensive way to go if you're doing a long run. Much cheaper to mix concrete and add a dash of rapid hardener. That's a valid point, however concrete is not as good at filling small gaps. The aggregate tends to bridge them and prevent the concrete falling into them. Since postcrete is essentially a gap filler, the absence of aggregate is actually a good thing. However, for almost all other applications, the inclusion of aggregate makes for a much better job. |
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