Knock fence posts straight?

raine · Post: # 77642Post **raine** Mon May 07, 2012 5:09 pm

Hi,

My left boundary is made up of concrete posts with drop-in fence panels.

Several of the panels need replacing, but most of the posts are leaning one way or another, so I think we'll struggle to get the new panels in.

Can concrete posts usually be knocked back level with a sledgehammer, or is it best to replace the posts along with the panels?

Thanks guys.

Post: # 77643Post **msh paving** Mon May 07, 2012 5:17 pm

raine wrote:Can concrete posts usually be knocked back level with a sledgehammer, or is it best to replace the posts along with the panels?

Thanks guys.

Not a chance, they will crack in half, concrete posts are hard but brittle/fragile if you hit or lever them over you stand a 90% chance off them snapping MSH

Mikey_C · Post: # 77644Post **Mikey_C** Mon May 07, 2012 5:21 pm

you might be able dig out round them level them up and concrete them back in. But probably only worth it if they are nearly new, when you dig one out you might find the reason why they have not stayed level.

rimexboy · Post: # 77646Post **rimexboy** Mon May 07, 2012 5:29 pm

time and cost wise best to probly replace them... IMO

Pablo · Post: # 77648Post **Pablo** Mon May 07, 2012 6:37 pm

Yes I'd personally replace them and if it's a shared boundary then your neighbour should pay half the costs. Good fences make good neighbours and the chances are they've not been deep enough or not had enough concrete around them to make them lean badly like that.

local patios and driveway · Mon May 07, 2012 6:46 pm

Like pablo said, got to be replaced. Probably a bad diy job or even worse a cheapo tradesman

Kuts · Post: # 77652Post **Kuts** Mon May 07, 2012 6:49 pm

Mikey_C wrote:you might be able dig out round them level them up and concrete them back in. But probably only worth it if they are nearly new, when you dig one out you might find the reason why they have not stayed level.

+1 for this.
I had a few in my front garden go, whoever put them in only put a few shovels of concrete in so I dug round plenty then topped up with a strong mix.

Tue May 08, 2012 4:38 am

^^ 99%
need to be removed cleaned up and done properly
LLL

raine · Post: # 77674Post **raine** Tue May 08, 2012 7:42 am

Brilliant, thanks for the unanimous responses. :-)

So, the next question is - how deep should fence posts usually be concreted in?

Post: # 77675Post **msh paving** Tue May 08, 2012 8:30 am

6ft fence, 8ft post, 2ft concrete, simples MSH