Size of fence posts?

[Baz]

Look who's photo bombing!

[gregpark]

This is the way I set all posts, fencing included. The Simpson mounts provide exellent wind shear strength and you certainly won't be pushing them over in 4 years

[Baz]

Regarding the thread content......I put my wood fences in here using PT 4x4's from HD back in 2006 and they are still doing fine.

I bought pre-fabricated fencing panels (6x8), used a one man earth auger with 6" auger bit to drill post holes, drilled to a certain depth, dropped the posts in, back filled with surrounding soil, watered in with homemade PVC jet device, used level to adjust, let sit overnight, then attached panels. Done!

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

Metal posts - he uses steel for the fence, but you could use wood pickets.

Genius! J/K, I posted earlier about the metal post solution but I used regular 2 3/8" round posts set in concrete..

There are so many ways you can "dress up" the finished product once you have your 2x4 runners in place. I did 3 rails and covered with T-111 on both sides and blocked and capped with 2x6's on top. it looks great and is easy upkeep.

Makes for one solid ass fence.

[gregpark]

Originally Posted by Baz

Look who's photo bombing!
]

I pay dearly for that clear lumber so I'll show it off! The guys at the lumber yard know me well. The redwood truck comes on Thursday so I'm there when they unload and pick out maybe 2 sticks out of a hundred that meet my satisfaction. They laugh but they're cool, i re-stack it neater than they stack

[gregpark]

I've done a couple of picket fences driving in metal posts. 2" powder coated steel driven into ground 2' with my SDS hammer drill. A 2" waffle attachment works perfect. I stand on a 6' ladder and tape 2 torpedo levels to the post while driving it in. 2" posts are correct scale for such a little fence and are invisable from the front. Self tapping screws fasten small brackets for the stringers. Way easier than digging holes and pouring concrete.
BTW, the fence boards look rotten but are not. It's pecky Cedar from a tree I dropped and let sit for year before milling to let the peck develope. The fungus stops when the boards dry out and it's actually very stout lumber

[KFC911]

Soil matters ... I have put 4x4 posts in some of our local "sandrock", etc. and it lasts ... decades even. If posts only lasted a few years here...

I'd quit posting

[cabmandone]

They say it's not the size of the post that matters but how you use it.

[KFC911]

I don't like airing my posts in a public forum ... doesn't matter what "they" say either.... just aerate away

[gregpark]

Old rancher tip: If you're going to bury wood posts in the ground, they'll last a whole lot longer if you partially burn the below grade ends first

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Fence advice needed please.
My son and his neighbor are splitting the cost on a wooden fence.
100' x 6'. No lattice.
Neighbour wants 6" posts so the fence will last 100 years he says. (Old fart)
I think it will be gaudy and a waste of money instead of 4".
It's isolated from the wind, but there are train tracks be hind the houses.
4" or 6" posts?

I put in one like you are describing back in 1982. The posts and rails are still in pretty good shape after almost 45 years. The dry climate (Colorado) may have helped. Some of the pickets (treated pine) are starting to look pretty rough and some have been replaced over time. It has 4"x4" cedar posts in concrete. Three 2"x4" cedar rails. I think the distance between posts was 7'.

[911 Rod]

As John said, all the rotten posts that I have pulled, the rotting was at ground level.
Seeing that, maybe a 6" post will last longer.

[recycled sixtie]

These are pics of my 33 foot fence that I have renovated. I am using the old posts which are 4 inch which are approximately 15 years old. I am taking off the old panels which had vertical boards and have applied horizontal boards.

I think for your son and his neighbor that 4 inch posts would have been sufficient but if the neighbor wants 6 inch then they can decide. All my posts were pretreated with a bag of cement at the bottom of each post for stability. Fence boards are pretreated. I took a chance of using the original posts. I cannot imagine taking out the old posts with 50 lbs of concrete attached at the bottom. 5 feet above ground and three feet below. It has been a manageable project by myself. 4 inch posts were a lot easier to handle by myself than 6 inch 15 years ago.


Cheers, Guy.

[masraum]

Can we kill off the bot. The bot's got 13 posts and half of them are only 1 or 2 words. several of the others are 5 words or less or the name of a movie or a link to a website.

[stevej37]

^^^^ the same bot repeated my review in the Movie thread...word for word.

That's another trick they have learned.

[911 Rod]

But does it know how big the post should be?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

But does it know how big the post should be?

Ask him...they never answer.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by masraum

Can we kill off the bot. The bot's got 13 posts and half of them are only 1 or 2 words. several of the others are 5 words or less or the name of a movie or a link to a website.

Hey! Not everyone has Steve's gift of gab.

[stevej37]

"Bot...I am your father!"

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

Hey! Not everyone has Steve's gift of gab.

Thankfully !

Turtlebots don't talk back either doncha know...