Just found out my old way of setting fence posts was a huge waste of time

For years I'd dig the hole, drop the post in, and fill it with the dirt I just took out, tamping it down as I went. Did my whole back fence in Portland that way about five years ago. Last winter, three posts rocked loose in the heavy rain and mud. Now I dig the hole a foot deeper, put in six inches of gravel for drainage, set the post, and fill the rest with concrete mix. The difference is night and day. Has anyone else switched methods after a failure like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

rodriguez.diana1mo ago

Oh, the classic "dirt is free" method. It works great until the ground turns into soup and your fence takes a walk. Nothing like a few failed posts to make you finally read the instructions.

michaelchen1mo ago

Used to think tamped dirt was plenty strong until a wet season proved me wrong. Totally agree with @foster.charles about gravel being the key for dealing with rain. My old posts would wobble, but adding that drainage layer and concrete on top makes them feel like they're part of the ground. It's one of those jobs where doing it the longer way the first time saves you from doing it twice.

foster.charles1mo ago

Yeah, that's the classic lesson right there. Portland mud will teach you about drainage the hard way. Did the exact same thing on my first fence and learned my lesson after one rough winter. Gravel at the bottom is a game changer, lets the water get away from the wood. Concrete on top locks it all in solid.