Replacing Gate Posts
Rekusu
Posts: 125
What ho one and and all,
The two posts, supporting the back gate have rotted at the bottom so a new job to the list is to replace them. They were professionally installed with Postcrete, about ten years ago.
I am intending to use 100 x 100 treated posts, which I will paint with used engine oil at the base. My problem is, given that nothing lasts forever, what is the best way to extend the life of these posts.
It is a somewhat damp area.
My options are:
a/ remove the existing Postcrete and replace post in the ground with more Postcrete
b/ drive a post anchor into the ground so that the replacement posts will not be in the ground
c/ use a Drive-in Repair Spike (http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Landscaping/d130/Fence+Post+Metalwork+%26+Tools/sd3224/Drive-in+Repair+Spike/p69167) presumably with Postcrete again to stabilize the base.
Not sure how the latter is supposed to work and whether driving the post into a taper is better than clamping with a Post Anchor?
Grateful for any suggestions.
Thanks and toodle pip
Posts
Wood will rot, even treated wood. Forget about repair spikes they are awful. Difficult to get them to sit fully vertical and invariably the inserted wooden post will not be a solid fitting.
One option would be to use concrete spurs that sit alongside the existing post which you postcrete in place then bolt to the wooden post. Will depend on whether you have the room for this and can live with the aesthetics.
If renewing with a replacement wooden post make sure it is well treated then also make sure you 'haunch' the postcrete up at an angle at ground level so that water runs away from the post rather than sit at the base. This is where and why rot normally occurs (first).
Rabbit optional.
Gentlemen,
Thanks for the replies. I have used spikes for plant supports in the past; the difficulty on my opinion, is when the spike hits a stone / brick / tile or whatever the builders in the past decided to throw onto the ground.
The is one reason I am somewhat against spiking these posts as it would be good to keep the fence and gate at the same measurements. My feeling is towards Postcrete because I can hopefully get the posts in t he correct position and then spade in the Postcrete around them.
But I do agree that with a post a few feet into damp(ish) ground) the long term rot factor is quite high. On the other hand, while I agree that 'treated' is just a term for given a quick wash with some watery brown gunk, by the time I have treated them with bitumen and oil, hopefully then would last longer then the current ones have. Don't think the current Postcrete has aay haunching.
By which time, I will be too old to concern myself with DIYing it again!
Is it likely that I could clean out the current holes in the existing Postcrete and that a new post will just drop in? Maybe have to give the bottom of the post a bit of a shave?
Last edited: 13 June 2017 12:33:56