Wood fence question

[ecotourist]

I'm not too keen on setting posts in concrete. Posts eventually rot and then you have to deal with the concrete in the ground which you have to get out of the ground somehow. And that's not easy. Or if you're lucky you're left with an open cavity in the concrete but then the hole won't quite match the replacement post. For some reason a new 4" X 6" post doesn't fit in the hole left by an old 4" X 6" post and you'll get to spend a couple of hours planing one edge and shimming the other edge to make it fit. (Ask me how I know.)

I think it's better to set the post on a rock in the bottom of the hole and then pack soil or (better yet) gravel around it so you won't have to later deal with concrete remains. And mound it up enough so at least your post isn't sitting in a hole.

Pressure treated posts, or zinc or copper treatment of a more rot resistant wood (cedar or redwood) should do the job for you. And yes you soak the bottom of the posts (the whole part that's going to be underground) in zinc or copper naphthenate for a couple of days before placing them.

 

[PandaBear]

Here's the thing, you can't have rustic look and industrial durability together, it is an either or, or it would look fake.

 

[4wd]

I'm not too keen on setting posts in concrete. Posts eventually rot and then you have to deal with the concrete in the ground which you have to get out of the ground somehow. And that's not easy. Or if you're lucky you're left with an open cavity in the concrete but then the hole won't quite match the replacement post. For some reason a new 4" X 6" post doesn't fit in the hole left by an old 4" X 6" post and you'll get to spend a couple of hours planing one edge and shimming the other edge to make it fit. (Ask me how I know.)

I think it's better to set the post on a rock in the bottom of the hole and then pack soil or (better yet) gravel around it so you won't have to later deal with concrete remains. And mound it up enough so at least your post isn't sitting in a hole.

Pressure treated posts, or zinc or copper treatment of a more rot resistant wood (cedar or redwood) should do the job for you. And yes you soak the bottom of the posts (the whole part that's going to be underground) in zinc or copper naphthenate for a couple of days before placing them.

It’s more common to steel posts. I have steel posts in concrete approaching 30 years …
My wood in concrete maybe 26 years …
This leads me to think OP’s wood don’t cut it …

 

[Pablo]

They make some pretty slick steel posts that can be covered with cedar or other species. They can be driven in or concreted in. I even bolted a type to concrete for my breezeway entry gate. Super sturdy (not bolted to shop or garage)

 

[4wd]

They make some pretty slick steel posts that can be covered with cedar or other species. They can be driven in or concreted in. I even bolted a type to concrete for my breezeway entry gate. Super sturdy (not bolted to shop or garage)

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Yep, I have 160’ of 6’ cedar privacy fence held by steel posts in concrete - been thru Cat 1 winds …

 

[QwikKota]

If I had a nickel for every fence post and porch post my Father had me dunk in tar, I would have a lot of nickels.

 

[Chris142]

From the photo, I think runoff water naturally flows right into those posts which caused the rot. Others mentioned treated wood in concrete, that will last about 10-15 years but maybe less since it looks like its in a water path.

Consider setting the fence back to a different area.

Thats just a pic I used. I can't put my fence in another spot as it's my parking area.

 

[IndyIan]

Maybe go very rustic with a split rail snake fence?

This fence is probably around 100 years old. They put the bottom rails on some rocks and nothing into the ground.

This style is common here too, but it takes some some know how to make it work. Again nothing in the ground, and you can add a big rock on top in the middle of the teepee post, so it doesn't tip over in the wind.
I'm sure one of the native conifer trees in your area is quite rot resistant, so maybe you can get a firewood permit and take a few logs and split them yourself?

I've also seen these done and/or repaired with a steel T-post partially hidden in the middle, and then the one wood post is sitting on the ground and wired to the T-post, and then the other wood post is also on the ground.

 

[alarmguy]

I was replacing pressure treated posts on my pier every 5 years. Thought they were just rotting. Turns out bugs were eating them. Found some near perfect posts that fit inside PVC. Used thin-set cement to bond/fill annulus - been there 8 years now.

Curious, if you’re from the northeast?
Some type of nematode was eating away the bulkheads in New York City and Long Island. I assume New Jersey jail.
I believe and gosh, this was so long ago they redid the one in Manhattan with plastic or something
It was too long ago for me to remember

 

[4wd]

Curious, if you’re from the northeast?
Some type of nematode was eating away the bulkheads in New York City and Long Island. I assume New Jersey jail.
I believe and gosh, this was so long ago they redid the one in Manhattan with plastic or something
It was too long ago for me to remember

No, sir.
Camp is situated on a bayou (brackish water) near the Gulf.
Think they are what some call shipworms …

 

[alarmguy]

No, sir.
Camp is situated on a bayou (brackish water) near the Gulf.
Think they are what some call shipworms …

Yes, I was just reading up on them
Seems like a whole slew of different organisms that chew up bulkheading all around the globe. The specifics are the salt and temperature.

 

[97K15004WD]

I treat my posts with used oil and diesel (50/50). It's how we did it on the family farm. Posts last forever, as do the slats treated with it.

Posts set in concrete usually rot at the junction of ground and concrete as the water builds up and soaks into the wood.

If used oil won't work due to environmental issues, char the wood instead.

 

[97prizm]

In the past I have put up fences using these round poles . Gives my place a rustic look.

My problem is that after a year or so the poles rot off in the ground and fall over.

I'm completely wood stupid and don't know a thing about working with wood.

Do I need to coat the part that goes in the ground with something to prevent it from rotting? If so what?

Thx

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There should be an option for ones that are pressure treated and I thought the guy at home depot mentioned copper sulfate soaked? Does trex decking have an option?