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Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:25 pm
by hondacrm
Can anyone advise what the minimum planting depth for a 2.4m (100 * 100) wooden fence post should be? I will be using 1.8m feather edge with 150mm gravel board. Ground is well compacted sandy soil.
Ta
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:02 pm
by Pablo
You need to get them down at least 18" but should aim for 24" which is easy digging in sandy soil.
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:53 pm
by Mikey_C
why wooden posts, is it a temporary fence?
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:19 pm
by hondacrm
thanks for the info Pablo.
Mikey, it is a permanent fence. Not a fan of concrete posts, don't like the look, etc.
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:21 pm
by lutonlagerlout
i was taught never less than 2 foot
LLL
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:20 am
by seanandruby
For 1.8 boards you need posts 2.700 long and bury them 700ml that will give you 2metres upstand, 150 gravel board 1.8 feathers leaving you 50ml above. I'd buy them already with mortice cut out, dearer but faster, it takes a while to cut them out yourself. I wouldn't personally use those metal thingymgibs but it's a personal choice. It's always worth paying the extra and doing it right imho.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:37 pm
by hondacrm
looks like i have bought the wrong posts 
will consider ripping down the gravel boards to 100mmand have the feather edge 100mm above the posts to get 0.6m planting depth.
i will feather edge across the posts to keep the top of the fence line constant.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:55 pm
by Bob_A
Someone told me that you divide what's above the ground by 3 and then that's what you want below ground.
For example a 6ft fence divided by 3 means you need 2ft underground.
It's only approximate though so if you're using 6" gravel boards with a 6foot fence then it's still good as dammit 2ft underground.
hondacrm wrote:Not a fan of concrete posts, don't like the look, etc.
All down to personal preference. I've seen some rough concrete posts that are very dark grey in colour and I think they look ugly. (possibly drycast?)
However I'm please with my concrete posts, they are smooth and a very light grey, almost white colour.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:15 pm
by seanandruby
Bob_A wrote:Someone told me that you divide what's above the ground by 3 and then that's what you want below ground.
For example a 6ft fence divided by 3 means you need 2ft underground.
It's only approximate though so if you're using 6" gravel boards with a 6foot fence then it's still good as dammit 2ft underground.
hondacrm wrote:Not a fan of concrete posts, don't like the look, etc.
All down to personal preference. I've seen some rough concrete posts that are very dark grey in colour and I think they look ugly. (possibly drycast?)
However I'm please with my concrete posts, they are smooth and a very light grey, almost white colour.
Yes bob i agree but h is using 1800 close board and that will take him 150 higher than the top of the posts. To get it looking half decent he'll have to rip 150/200ml off each board, or not use a gravel board. using 2700 it will be easier, stronger and a better job all round. It's advisable to do the homework on any job before buying materials.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:01 pm
by lutonlagerlout
I always put 1 post up each end of the intended fence and string a line between them
keeps things nice a straight
cheers LLL
Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 8:30 pm
by zzr-matt
I hid some ugly concrete posts by cladding them with 2.4m long gravel boards rawlplugged and screwed into the post. Then 38 x 25 tanalised tile batten screwed to that to close the gap to the fence panel. Just looks like 6" wide wooden posts, it cant look that bad as I see a few people around home have stolen the idea 
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 6:24 am
by mickavalon
Just Paint the Concrete, it looks ok, just don't try and paint them with fence paint, that doesn't look so good!! We did a really contemporary Fence/retainer for a client using bays of cut down Conc Posts and smooth Gravel Boards, to give an overall height of 4' and then painted them with a smooth masonary Paint, Dark Grey, to go with the Clients Gunmetal Grey Double Glazing units and Doors, looks stunning, I'll dig out the Photo's.
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 5:12 pm
by GB_Groundworks
We generally do 1/4 so 1/4 below ground and 3/4 above depending on ground conditions and application.
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 9:19 pm
by seanandruby
......would you like to expand on that? What sort of coditions go with what depth? Would it be good, or bad conditions for 1/4 ?
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 10:05 pm
by dig dug dan
I wouldn't personally use those metal thingymgibs
quite right. they are called arris rail REPAIR brackets. they are NOT for building fences
not a fan of concrete myself. Just fenced my entire garden using plastic sloted posts, plastic gravel boards, and 5' panels.
Not sure whey you guys are on about having fetheredge above the posts, and cutting down the gravel boards.
Buy an 8' morticed wooden post. They re all set out for 150mm gravel board and 1.650 fetheredge to make a 6' fence.