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I’m retarded: setting a floating fence post

[memphis]

Web wheeler
Joined
Jun 6, 2020
Member Number
1867
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750
Apparently I don’t know how to dig a hole… so I must be retarded

So I have an existing Medallion Fence from Home Depot.

From my other thread about ripping out the concrete, the original Medallion Fence has ~5ft posts with flat plate welded on the bottom to be lagged into a concrete slab.

I have purchased posts to swap them out for standard posts to set them in concrete footings because I am planning to install interlock to deal with frost heaving issues I have on my property (why I tore the concrete out)

The replacement posts are 7ft long.
the manufacturer recommends going to frost depth which is 4ft. These posts are 2x2 square not round so I have to ensure that they stay straight to bolt the panel back into place

While I managed to get one hole to 4ft… I’ll need to redrill it because my hole wondered off. In the process I broke my auger to drill adapter yesterday

I was trying to set the post yesterday but with 2ft of it dangling in air it was less than ideal and trying to brace the post on the ground using 2 2x4s and a clamp, it blocks the hole from being filled with concrete.

My only thought is to fill up the hole with concrete and then plop the post in but I’d rather it be secured and 100% in position because this is the post that latches the gate which I am not moving (at this time)

So… how do I brace this thing properly so it’s floating in the air so I can fill the footing up?
 
Do your 2x4s and clamp with a long 2x4 spanning two saw horses (or clamp directly to the saw horse.

Edit: if it's 2x2 square tube, I'd be comfortable pouring the tube and then setting the post. You'll have plenty of time to measure and square/plumb it up. I'd check those after pouring anyways if the post was already in place.
 
Lowrollin70gmc said:
Do your 2x4s and clamp with a long 2x4 spanning two saw horses (or clamp directly to the saw horse.

Edit: if it's 2x2 square tube, I'd be comfortable pouring the tube and then setting the post. You'll have plenty of time to measure and square/plumb it up. I'd check those after pouring anyways if the post was already in place.
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I knew there was a better way than what I was thinking… I do have metal saw horses. I’ll have to get creative as the work area got fucked up yesterday discovering the second buried patio while drilling. There was 11” of concrete on this spot PLUS fill

From the driveway grade to the hole is about an 11” drop now but I think I can make something work with horses…
 

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Pound the post in, bend it vertical if it wanders. Fence posts set in concrete are busch.
 
bgaidan said:
No way to get everything assembled in place and braced up before you pour the concrete? For something as critical as aligning a gate, that's the way I'd prefer to do it.
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There might be a way to do that… it’s right against the house which is causing me some frustrations as well
 
Put gravel in the bottom of the hole. Put the post in. Bolt it to the fence panel. Pour the concrete in the hole.


I own a business. We build fence. I almost never set posts in concrete. It isn’t necessary.
 
IH Man said:
Put gravel in the bottom of the hole. Put the post in. Bolt it to the fence panel. Pour the concrete in the hole.


I own a business. We build fence. I almost never set posts in concrete. It isn’t necessary.
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Even though the post is only supported at 2ft? By drilling to frost line (4ft) and filling the hole with 2ft of clean gravel are you saying that’s good enough for frost line?

I just chipped out the remaining obstructions so now I have a good shot for placement but I have lost 1ft of depth
 

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Where do you live that you have a 4’ frost line? Alaska? Canada?

I don’t set posts less than 36”.

I meant to just put enough gravel in the hole to keep the post from sinking and hold in in place (vertical) while you bolt the panel to it.
 
Isn't your post s'posed to be bolted to concrete?

Didn't you find some skookum heavy concrete in the bottom of your hole?

Ummmm....win/win/win...no?
 
IH Man said:
Put gravel in the bottom of the hole. Put the post in. Bolt it to the fence panel. Pour the concrete in the hole.


I own a business. We build fence. I almost never set posts in concrete. It isn’t necessary.
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explain? Youd trust a post set in dirt to hold up a gate ?

Asking because I want to do the same thing.
 
IH Man said:
Where do you live that you have a 4’ frost line? Alaska? Canada?

I don’t set posts less than 36”.

I meant to just put enough gravel in the hole to keep the post from sinking and hold in in place (vertical) while you bolt the panel to it.
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I’m in Canada. I am already dealing with heaving issues so I’d rather do it right.
This fence manufacturer only supplies a 7ft post. If the post was 9ft I’d just place it in the bottom of the hole and run with it
 
Muckin_Slusher said:
Isn't your post s'posed to be bolted to concrete?

Didn't you find some skookum heavy concrete in the bottom of your hole?

Ummmm....win/win/win...no?
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No it was just enough to F up the hole I drilled to shoot the auger off course. The concrete I found buried is too deep to lag to and I removed it anyway since it was right where I want to install conduit and my 4” patio drain pipe
 
[memphis] said:
I’m in Canada. I am already dealing with heaving issues so I’d rather do it right.
This fence manufacturer only supplies a 7ft post. If the post was 9ft I’d just place it in the bottom of the hole and run with it
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Ok. Understand now.

You really need a longer post.
Since you don't have a long enough post, you don't have many options. In this case, I would pour a piling and bolt a short post to the top of it like the original design. Probably your best option.

FWIW: The reason frost pulls posts up is because the ground freezes to the post and lifts it up. To prevent the post moving up, there has to be sufficient post or piling under the ground so that it can't pull it up, but instead, lift the ground around the post. Two ways to combat this. 1.) Go deeper, or 2.) The portion at the bottom needs to be larger diameter than what is above it, making it more difficult to lift up. So if the post is 4x4, you would dig a 10" hole, but only fill the bottom 1/4 to 1/3 with concrete, then set dirt on top of that.
 
fordguy said:
explain? Youd trust a post set in dirt to hold up a gate ?

Asking because I want to do the same thing.
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Yes, but depends. You aren't give nearly enough information. Soil type, fence type, gate size and area where the gate is all plays into it.

If you have a 10' section of fence with a gate in it, and no other posts to brace the gate post to, setting in concrete may be your best option. Typically, I just use larger diameter posts set 1' deeper than all the rest and hang the gate on them. But again, depends on fence type. A chain link fence gate isn't as heavy as a wood gate. Wood gate is nothing compared to a double gate for a driveway. You need to give more context if you want advice.
 
[memphis] said:
I’m in Canada. I am already dealing with heaving issues so I’d rather do it right.
This fence manufacturer only supplies a 7ft post. If the post was 9ft I’d just place it in the bottom of the hole and run with it
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Get longer posts.
 
Gbkeith said:
if they’re already set.
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They're not already set, he's asking how to set them. He can weld pipe or anything to the bottom to get the extra length he needs.

I removed the post on the left in this picture, left the concrete on it and reset it with gravel. It is sturdy and the panel bolted right back up.
20221008_130446.jpg


The posts were originally installed by digging a hole pounding and posts 6" into the un disturbed soil then filling the hole with concrete. Freezing is not an issue here.
 
M92PV4U said:
They're not already set, he's asking how to set them. He can weld pipe or anything to the bottom to get the extra length he needs.

I removed the post on the left in this picture, left the concrete on it and reset it with gravel. It is sturdy and the panel bolted right back up.
20221008_130446.jpg


The posts were originally installed by digging a hole pounding and posts 6" into the un disturbed soil then filling the hole with concrete. Freezing is not an issue here.
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Yes but I can’t take a picture of one where I added onto the bottom and then poured concrete while I’m standing there filling up the dogs water.
 
I made that post my bitch! Tossed some clean rocks in the bottom because of the high water table. The form is roughly at the original grade and will be hidden by the patio stones once they get laid. Unfortunately there will only be like an inch of 1/4 crust around the footing but that shouldn’t be a problem.

I tried the saw horse and then thought why the Hell didn’t I think to use the gate. I propped it up slightly to account for the weight of the post. Will update in a couple days when I knock the forms off
 

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[memphis] said:
I knew there was a better way than what I was thinking… I do have metal saw horses. I’ll have to get creative as the work area got fucked up yesterday discovering the second buried patio while drilling. There was 11” of concrete on this spot PLUS fill

From the driveway grade to the hole is about an 11” drop now but I think I can make something work with horses…
Click to expand...
Dude.... You need some better tools... That plastic "Play-stool" stuff isn't going to help you.. :lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

Just kidding... Feel for you. I fucking have to deal with rocks; lots of rocks.!:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:
 
billdacat said:
Dude.... You need some better tools... That plastic "Play-stool" stuff isn't going to help you.. :lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

Just kidding... Feel for you. I fucking have to deal with rocks; lots of rocks.!:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:
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My son was helping fill in my first hole before I realized how off I was. I’m surprised nobody chirped me earlier 🤣
 
larboc said:
Busch, as in Busch league, as in hack. Much better off driving fence posts into undisturbed soil than to set in concrete.
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Well, what do you do when you need to set a post in disturbed soil?

What do you do when the native fill isn't suitable?


Concrete adds surface area and weight. It's kinda the easiest way of doing things for most people. :flipoff2:
 
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