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Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 4:26 pm
by 3ps
Hi,
I am replacing a wooden post fence.
I have purchased 9'6" concrete H posts.
I plan to put 2'6" in the ground.
I am building my own wooden panels.
They will be 7' high, and no gaps (overlapping 145x14mm boards).
So, I they will be heavy/catch with wind and I need them to be strong.
The soil is excellent, for growing veg! I can easily get down 2'6. It really is beautiful soil.
So I'm worried about the posts shifting over time.
I plan to dig a hole 300mm wide and 750mm deep and to use 3.5-4 bags of 'K-Post' /postcrete in it.
I am wondering if I should design the hole so it is wider at the bottom?
Or is there anything else simple I can do to make it more effective?
Thanks.
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 6:19 pm
by r896neo
To be honest unless you live in a very exposed place 2'6 is probably overkill 2 ft should be plenty but if its easy digging it will do no harm if the soil is loose as in it was a flowerbed then deeper the better as the soil at the top will have little strength.
The secret to a good post hole is vertical sides and not widening at the top that will be difficult once you get past 18 inches deep so if you don't have a post hole digger you might have to go feral and use your hands to scoop out the loose stuff.
How thick are the posts? 9'6'' is very long for a normal 4 inch slotted post and if they are just 4'' they will be very easy to crack/break so check them all well on pick up/delivery.
K post is better than postcrete in my opinion as it least it has some stone in it although proper concrete is much stronger. ?
That said a 9'6 post will be heavy and unwieldy so fast setting stuff may be good to stiffen it up at least and then fill the rest with normal gear.
Make sure you have help to hold them whether you go k post or normal concrete.
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 6:40 pm
by msh paving
Don't put the posts in without the panels as the chances are they will be a lose fit, post panel post panel and so on, dig the holes to fit as you go , don't pre dig MSH 
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:57 pm
by lutonlagerlout
where are you planning on location this fence?
if it is on a back garden the legal maximum without planning is 1.8m 6foot in old money
saw a fence like yours last week in meppershall,6 foot panels ,1 foot concrete gravel board and concrete posts
every concrete post had snapped in the wind of the valentine's day storm
personally I think 6'6" is maximum for concrete posts and panels
the higher it is the more wind shear and loading
LLL
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:57 pm
by GB_Groundworks
over 2 metres youll need planning permission
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:05 pm
by 3ps
Hi all,
In order....
I have it all bought now and on site (and had to get help lugging it all around the back) so I will go down the 2'6" and scoop out with my hands
It's KPost that I have.
I have 60foot to do (this section, I have about 280 foot in total!!!) and I will be doing it section by section.
I have 2inch square wood for the panel frame (2 verticals either side and 3 horizontals).
Then vertical fenceboards (144x14ishx7foot) with a slight bevel either end.
I will put them up with about 60mm spacers, and then 1 more board in front of each space.
I need a solid fence as I am having trouble with a dog behind it who will only bark (non stop) if he sees me. If I move out of sight he stops immediately. I have tried talking to the owners etc etc but nothing will be easy there....
I am actually in Dublin. I can have 2.0meters for a rear boundary. This will be just over it but I don't think there will be an issue.... my choice to take the risk.
I am not putting in gravel boards as I am putting in on a slope and want the top to follow the ground (also if I put boards in all around then how will the hedgehogs get in and out!!??)
So, basically.... question still stands.... should I just make the hole wider at the bottom???? or should I make it straight down but use more KPost?
I don't want to to cement as I will be ages doing this in stages so want it to be easy..
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:09 pm
by msh paving
Hole needs to be same size top to bottom , no point in making bottom bigger as it may fall in. MSH
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:20 pm
by r896neo
I assumed you were on the emerald isle if you get K post.
Is it available in england?
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:27 pm
by 3ps
OK on the hole dimensions.
On the KPost packaging it says 3.5bags for the hole I am talking about, but there is no indication if by post they mean wooden or concrete.
If KPost is not as strong as an on-site mix, do you think I should be making the hole a bit wider and using more bags?
Or should I do as above... put perhaps a foot of Kpost in and let it set, and then 1.5 foot of a strong mix?
I am really worried that it will start leaning after a while!
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:10 am
by higgness
http://www.k-rend.co.uk/products/range/K-Post
Check the above link for the K-Post.
I will say that I work for the company that makes K-Post.
We sell a lot to fencing companies.
r896neo
I will check out availability in England and post it up for you.
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 3:40 pm
by r896neo
No higgnes don't bother i am in belfast, it was just curiosity.
3ps The key is not weight of concrete it's firmness of the ground surrounding the concrete hence th deeper you go the firmer the ground usually is.
Once you have a good 6 inches surrounding the post on all sides more won't necessarily make it better.
I wouldn't be terribly concerned. if you have 2'6'' deep holes filled with k post or concrete it will be more than adequate.
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 6:43 pm
by 3ps
Thanks r896neo.
I'm getting the KPost from Murdochs who have a branch near me. I assume they get their stuff up North.
The reason I go to them is they have a good selection of treated wood, including those nice fence boards.
Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 9:57 am
by seanandruby
3ps wrote:I need a solid fence as I am having trouble with a dog behind it who will only bark (non stop) if he sees me. If I move out of sight he stops immediately. I have tried talking to the owners etc etc but nothing will be easy there....
cheaper to rearrange these words for your solution ....the a arse dogs up kick good :;):