Wooden fence posts are more vulnerable and fragile than metal posts. So, spend more time and money buying durable wood and installing proper drainage installations. Otherwise, these aesthetically beautiful wooden posts will quickly rot in just a few years. Solid soil with a gravel foundation is generally sufficient to keep wooden posts standing securely, but consider concrete for mounting piles on soft soil.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Installing Poles on Ground or Gravel
Step 1. Try this method if the soil is dense
You can drive the pole directly into the soil as long as the soil is solid and has good drainage. Installation in this way is more labor intensive and the result is less stable than concrete, but it is cheaper and (generally) quite resistant to rot.
Because it will get an additional load, the wooden posts on the fence gate should be installed using concrete
Step 2. Choose a durable type of wood to be used as a fence post
Follow the advice of local experts whenever possible as climate and material availability will influence the decision. Choosing this strong wood will be very beneficial in the long run, unless you live in a dry, non-humid desert. There are two varieties of wood:
- Poles made of durable solid logs. Teak, western juniper, black locust, and osage-orange are good choices. Pacific yew, redwood, and most species of cedar and white oak can also survive more than 20 years under any conditions.
- Wood that has been pressure treated (preservation method by applying pressure and adding preservative liquid) with sapwood (the soft part) with a width of 2.5 cm that surrounds the core of the stem. Aspen, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, douglas fir are good examples. Buy wood from trusted stores so you don't get bad wood.
- Note - The wood to be used must be labeled “strength for in-ground installation”, as not all wood that has been subjected to this stress treatment will last long when buried.
Step 3. Prepare the wood for moisture resistance (optional)
The sawn end of the wood is the part most susceptible to moisture. Consider the following precautions if you live in a humid climate:
- Saw off the top of the pile at a 45º angle to allow rainwater to fall straight down, or attach a cover to the top of the pile.
- Protect both ends of the wood with a waterproofing agent, apply a wood preservative such as copper naphthenate. Wood preservatives are toxic, so follow the safe use instructions on the label.
Step 4. Dig a hole
The hole should be slightly larger than the total length of the fence post. If you want to plant the post directly into the ground, then as much as possible the diameter of the hole is not too different from the diameter of the fence post. If you want to install a fence post with a gravel foundation, dig the hole a little wider, about 20 cm in circumference for a standard 10x10 cm pile.
Use a ground drill or crowbar to dig the hole perpendicularly. If the soil is hard, shovel the top layer of grass and/or pour water until it soaks into the soil
Step 5. Pour the gravel into the hole
Sprinkle a few inches of coral or gravel to facilitate drainage. Press down. This step is especially important if the drainage is poor.
You can use a stick or stick to compact the gravel
Step 6. Insert the pole into the hole
Place the fence post in the center of the hole and align it so that it is level with the other posts. You can ask an assistant to hold the pole in place during installation.
Step 7. Fill the hole with gravel or compacted soil
Gravel will provide better drainage than soil, and can make the post more stable even when installed in loose soil. Add gravel or ordinary soil as high as 7-12 cm at a time, compacting each layer until thick. Repeat this step until the hole is full.
- Before compacting, grab hold of the fence posts and align them until they are level.
- If you want to plant grass around the post, cover the hole with soil a few inches at the top, not gravel.
Step 8. Cover it with a small mound
Make a mound of earth at the base of the post to form a small hill around it. The area of the boundary between the soil-covered pole and the one that is not is the area that rots the most. So this area must have good drainage.
Method 2 of 2: Installing Piles with Concrete
Step 1. Use concrete to strengthen the post installation if you want the post to be really stable
Concrete is needed if you are installing the post on sandy soil or very soft, muddy soil. Concrete is also a good choice for making gate posts more stable. The main drawback is that concrete can trap water around the pile, which can cause the pile to break down several years earlier. However, the concrete installation described here will save you from this problem, namely with a gravel foundation and an exposed concrete base.
Step 2. Prepare the fence posts
All fence posts must be made of durable wood labeled “tough for installation in the ground”. For more information on pile selection and preparation, see the methods discussed above.
Step 3. Dig a wide hole
A standard 10x10 cm pile requires a concrete hole with a circumference of 30cm. Bury of the posts, and leave a few centimeters of free space to form the foundation underneath. Use a large earth drill to make your job easier.
- The use of electrified drilling equipment can be dangerous if the ground is rocky. It is better to use a shell-shaped digger with a long digging blade to remove the rock.
- The width of the hole should be perpendicular from top to bottom, not funnel-shaped.
Step 4. Add a few centimeters of gravel
A foundation of coral or gravel will provide good drainage. Pour about 10-15 cm of gravel into the hole and compact it thoroughly.
Step 5. Clamp the posts
Place the post in the center of the hole, using a measuring tool to guide it so that it is completely perpendicular. To make the pole stand steady, drive two pegs into the side of the pole. Nail the pegs to the posts. Don't nail it all the way through the post so you can easily remove it later.
Step 6. Do the same for all the holes
Dig all the holes and put a peg into each post, so you can pour the concrete directly into all the holes at once. Attach the rope between the corner posts to each other so that all the fence posts are parallel to each other.
Step 7. Add pebbles
Add a layer of compacted gravel to make drainage easier.
Step 8. Mix the concrete
Use safety glasses and waterproof gloves. Pour a bag of concrete mix (or as much as you can fit) into the mixer and pour 90% of the water recommended on the concrete pack. Stir for a few minutes and check the final consistency. After that, add the remaining water until the consistency of the concrete feels like a paste.
- To save energy, you can rent a portable molen machine or a mixer truck.
- To save money, you can make your own concrete mix with the ratio of the volume of the ingredients: 1 part cement, 2 parts sand, and 3 parts coarse gravel.
- Some quick-drying concrete mixes can be poured dry and then mixed with water in the hole. These mixtures tend to be more brittle and more expensive. So you have to pay a high price for this instant fast food ingredient.
Step 9. Fill the hole with concrete
Pour the concrete into the hole until it is level with the ground. Work each piece of concrete quickly before it hardens. Do not let the concrete splash onto the posts.
Step 10. Form the concrete to resemble a slope
The cement mix must form a certain slope, starting from the center of the pile to the edge area. Measure the slope height from about 1.25 cm above ground level to 2.5 cm below ground level. These mounds will allow water to slide off the posts, preventing pooling that can trigger wood rot.
Step 11. Leave the concrete for at least three days to dry
Let the concrete take some time to dry and harden before you build the entire fence or add weight to the posts.
Step 12. Seal the gap between the posts and the concrete
After the concrete dries, seal the gaps around the base of the pile. This gap will widen as the concrete shrinks and hardens, allowing water to pool and cause decay. Cover it with a sealing material that will bond the concrete to the wood, such as silicone sealant or exterior acrylic latex putty.
Tips
- Plug the pole in the corner first. When ready, attach a rope connecting the two corner posts to guide the placement of additional fence posts between the two.
- Leave the fence posts for some time until the wood loses its natural moisture, then you can paint it. Otherwise, the moisture can get trapped under the paint and make the wood rot faster. Drying can take up to several months, depending on the humidity level and how long the wood was cut.
Warning
- Most wood will warp over time. This bending process is more pronounced in some wood species than in others.
- Be careful when digging. Check for underground pipes or cables in the area where you will be digging the hole.
- Some types of wood that have received pressure treatment and the provision of wood preservatives contain hazardous chemicals. Wood treated with chromed copper arsenate is the best known. If you use this type of wood, do not install it in places where it can come into contact with drinking water sources or animals that might chew it. Use a respirator when you are sawing and do not burn any remaining wood chips.
