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Garden gate
Rekusu
Posts: 125
in Fruit & veg
What ho one and all,
X years ago, when we bought the property, I had a gate installed at the back, into the neighbouring woodland.
Recently, I have noticed that the 4 x 4 vertical posts have rotted and it is only the chain link fence that is holding everything up.
I intend to replace the verticals, but............... They are probably set in concrete so is it possible to dig out the rotten wood and put the new posts into the concrete holes?
If not, the alternatives are to break out the concrete and start over with new concrete .Or, dig out the concrete and replace use those metal ground spikes which clamp the base of the vertical pole so it is not actually in the wet ground.
Which is the best way forward?
Thanks and toodle pip
Rex
0
Posts
In my experience, setting wooden posts in concrete often causes them to rot at the top of the concrete. Water sits on the concrete, I assume. So quite probably the bit of post inside the concrete isn't rotten and I doubt you'll get it out very easily. I've also found the metal thingies rust in about 5 years - but that may vary with soil type.
My advice would be to hoik the concrete out and then to buy pressure treated timber posts and bang them into the ground 'au naturel'. They'll not last forever but they will last longer than the alternatives.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Rekusu, I would either take raisingirl's advice or think about using metal posts set into fresh concrete, which is what we did 30 years ago. We have just had them
replaced this winter (it was the mesh fence that was at fault as well as the neighbours letting their trees and weeds grow right up against the original fence that warranted the complete replacement).
Last edited: 16 March 2017 20:04:45
Wow; thanks for the fast response.
I guess you are right about rotting at the top of the concrete. Am I likely to be able to get another post into the hole in the concrete? Personally, I think that may either not fit or will be too loose.
I know whatever I do will not last forever, but I will certainly paint the bottom of the posts with copious amounts of used engine oil in an attempt to keep the water out. I believe the current posts where treated but one has no idea as to how good the treatment was.
I think even if you could get wooden posts into the old holes, you'd then have a sump in the concrete so the posts sit in water. Pressure treated wood does rot, especially of it isn't able to dry out properly. If you want to reuse the concrete bases - and assuming you can chisel the old posts out, your best bet may be galvanised metal as Guernsey Donkey's fence and grout them in to the holes so that no water can get in around them.
If you put treated wood straight into the soil, the water doesn't puddle round the part that's in the ground, so the anti-rot treatment has a better chance of working properly
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
i've treated the bases of my posts up to and just over the soil line with bitumen paint then "postcreted" them in. Can't tell you how long they last as I only did it last year.
Like the idea of the bitumen paint though, hope it works.
I've also put a square of lead from an old roof on the top of the post as a decorative and useful finish. One day, I'll have rope swags and roses between them but there are other things to spend money on at the moment!
I can't use metal as the gate has to be hinged to the posts. Also, the chain link fencing has to be reattached to the posts.
As drainage is probably the main reason for rotting, I am just running this idea past you all.
Dig out the existing concrete with the intention of replacing the posts in a similar manner. But at the base of the hole, drop in some gravel or general rubble. Paint the posts with plenty of oil and allow it to soak in and postcrete the posts back into the hole. Hopefully, the oil will reduce water absorption and the rubble will allow water to drain away.
Anyone tried it? Cannot be any worse than doing nothing.
Another question to answer is how long do you intend to stay in the house? I have had posts set in concrete and posts just into the ground in my garden. The posts into the ground have lasted 15+ years so far. No special treatment on the posts - they came from the 'shop' and in they went. Ditto with ones set in concrete. I may add that the ones set in concrete were the ones I did myself - I had no strength to hammer 2m posts in!
If this is a forever house, then do all you can to stretch the life of the posts but if you intend to stay in it for only a few more years, the cheapest option should be considered.
You have to get the old concrete out of the ground if you want a good job that is going to last any length of time. When you put your new posts in see if you can find a large stone or similar to sit under the post. This will lift the post away from direct contact from the soil and allow your postcrete mix to get under the base of the post. To stop rot occuring at the ground level of the post you need to 'haunch' the postcrete up at an angle so that water drains away and doesn't pool at the base of the post.
Good point; don't know about forever, but I can hopefully see the next 10+ years.
Think I will soak with used engine oil and postcrete them in. Anything I do should cause them to last longer than the current ones.
Thanks all
See original post
In which case this will be the key point to get right
Last edited: 17 March 2017 16:41:29
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”