How to concrete fence posts?

Concreting posts is one of the most important stages of the construction of the fence. The quality of such fastening depends on both the appearance and durability or stability of the fence. In our article we will indicate some practical tips on how to properly dig and concrete fence posts so that they can act as a support for the mesh or panel spans.

Digging fence posts: where to start?

Before you start the process of concreting metal posts, you should prepare in the ground the right size holes, located at equal distances, every 2.5 m. To precisely delineate the fence line and the location of the posts , an ordinary string will be used, stretched on stakes between the extreme points of the plot. Dig holes with a spade or use a manual or diesel drilling rig.

In Poland , the standard diameter of the hole for the post is 25 cm, and the depth from 50 cm to 120 cm, depending on the region and the specificity of the soil. The more the ground is unstable and prone to freezing, the deeper the trench should be. Another important issue before concreting is to protect the posts against corrosion – they should be covered with a layer of zinc.

Basic rules for digging posts

How to plan assembly works well and efficiently concrete fence posts? Here are some proven rules to help you avoid wasting your time, money and expensive material:

• prepare all the holes before you start pouring concrete,

• avoid concreting on cold or hot days,

• to stabilize the posts use concrete rubble,

• embed poles in the ground before concreting,

• organize 1 person to help – his task will be, among other things, to control the settings of the columns and support them during concreting.

• apply a protective visor to each post to prevent corrosion.

Control the position of the bars on an ongoing basis using a spirit level. If you notice a deviation from the vertical, immediately intervene and correct the pole. You can also use side wooden supports or bars to stiffen the structure. In the case of using quick-setting concrete, you need to act very dynamically and carefully plan the course of work, because the mixture after combining with water begins to bind after a dozen or so minutes.

A simple way to dig fence posts

Digging fence posts start from the initial hole. If you want to save concrete and precisely position the metal post, sprinkle it first with crushed concrete rubble. Pieces of aggregate will perfectly stabilize the steel element and form a compact whole along with the spout. In this way, the stiffened pipe or profile will be easier to correct when the concrete begins to bind. It is also an excellent technique for those who do not have an assistant at their disposal during the construction of the fence.

The use of concrete rubble when digging posts on the fence has another, important advantage. With this simple solution , you do not need to use side supports, piles, rods or boards to support the poles during tying. In this way, you save your time and reduce the amount of materials needed, including wood, which after assembly becomes a troublesome waste and is used for fuel.

How to concrete fence posts?

Concrete can be prepared independently in a wheelbarrow or concrete mixer, using cement, sand, gravel and water, or used for fastening ready-made quick-setting mixtures. How to decompose the mixture in the hole? There are 2 techniques for concreting fence posts: flooding the entire opening with traditional concrete at once and leveling the top layer with a trowel, or staged (layered) concreting, which will work well for quick-setting concretes.

For ready-made mixtures, start the concreting process by wetting the walls and bottom of the hole, so that the mass will better penetrate into the structure of the soil and create a compact monolith with it. When water penetrates the ground, pour the mixture in layers, according to the manufacturer's recommendations – remembering to slightly dewy the subsequent layers with clean water and level. Smoothing the surface of individual layers is very important, thanks to this simple treatment, the mass will tightly fill all recesses and gaps.

Digging and concreting of brackets

In mesh and panel fences, corner and initial posts should be additionally strengthened with supports. Brackets, set at an angle of 45° relative to the pole, perfectly stabilize the fence and reduce loads. Remember to use 2 brackets for corner poles, and one for the initial ones. For long fences of support do every 25 m.  How to dig and concrete brackets?

Prepare holes with a diameter of 25 cm and a depth of 80-100 cm, and then place brackets in them so that they reach 2/3 of the height of the post. Before you fill the holes with aggregate and pour concrete over them, remember to attach the support to a metal pole, using a welding machine or brackets and mounting pads. As an alternative to concrete, you can also use galvanized, deep anchors, designed to be fixed directly in the ground.