Install Fence Post Concrete

Step 3 pour water into the dry mix and allow it to soak in.

Install fence post concrete.

When installing a fence on an existing concrete pad some fence installers prefer to core drill through the concrete and set posts the traditional way embedded in concrete underground. Two 50 pound bags of fast setting concrete will set a 4 inch by 4 inch or a 4 inch diameter post in a 10 inch diameter hole 2 feet deep. Learn how to dig post holes and set 4x4 posts with gravel c. Find a concrete surface and lightly tamp your digging iron against it.

Here to prevent pooling trowel the. Once you ve finished digging your post holes add about three to four inches of gravel into the bottom and compact it using a post or a 2x4. Apply high quality exterior acrylic latex caulk or silicone specifically designed to adhere to concrete at the base of the post. Then set your post in place and use a level to ensure that it s perfectly vertical.

Concrete may be necessary if you are installing a fence in sandy soil or in very soft muddy soil. Good fences start with good foundations. At this point with the post set in place you can begin filling the posthole with concrete. Fast setting concrete is ideal for installing fence posts since it doesn t need to be mixed in a bucket or a wheelbarrow.

Use enough water to saturate the dry mix. It s also a good idea when installing gate posts to provide extra stability. Caulk around the fence post base. Extra dirt the more clay content the better.

The main downside to concrete is its ability to trap water around the post. Setting a post is the foundational step for many projects including building a fence or a deck. Memorize this ringing sound. Pack the concrete to a level slightly above the surrounding soil.

Installing fence posts in place with concrete is the best way to guarantee that they remain upright and unmoving but you might not relish the idea of. If you re installing a fence on concrete or a freestanding porch railing coring through solid concrete or concrete block to a depth one third the height of the intended post will allow you to set and concrete the post securely. Using a rented core drill you can drill a hole through your concrete slab for each fence post. This will seal the gap between the concrete and post that s caused by freeze thaw cycles.