Should you put gravel at bottom of fence post?

DO Employ a Base Gravel Layer If a fence post fails without any sign of a pest infestation, it’s likely that the failure was caused by moisture that rotted the wood over time. Once you have added gravel to a depth of three inches or so, use a piece of scrap lumber to tamp down the layer.

How much gravel do I need for a fence post?

You should put approximately 2″ to 4″ of gravel in the bottom of the hole making sure that the Post stands 6′ 4″ tall from the ground to the top of the post. How wide should the holes be? An 8″ diameter wide hole should be dug for the posts to be inserted for a solid Fence.

What do you fill fence post holes with?

Fill the hole with Fast-Setting Concrete up to 3 to 4 inches below ground level. Pour about a gallon of water per 50 lb bag into the hole and allow the water to saturate the concrete mix. Wait about 4 hours to begin constructing your fence or applying heavy weight to your post.

What is the best mix for fence posts?

In terms of the ratio to use for a concreting fence posts, the best mix is a mix of 1:2:4 (1 cement, 2 sand, 4 aggregate). Concrete is always best mixed using a cement mixer to ensure it’s even, but if you only need to mix a little, hand mixing is ok (see mixing concrete project above for tips on how to do this).

Can you set fence posts in gravel?

The process is very similar to setting a fence post in dirt. You need to dig that one-third deep hole with your clam digger, then put a layer of gravel at its base. Every few inches, tamp down the gravel. Unlike concrete, you can carry on and install the chain or rails immediately, making it a quicker job.

Why do people put rocks on their fence posts?

If there are more than one rock or stone or if there are a series at regular intervals, rocks were used to indicate a turning or stopping point. Long before marking chalk, paint, strip markers and GPS were available, ranchers and farmers used stones as visible place or reference point markers.

What type of gravel in the bottom of a post hole?

Pea gravel is commonly used for fence post holes. Gravel that is roughly three eighths of an inch in size is generally a good medium between drainage and support, though gravel close to that size also may be used.

Can you use gravel for fence posts?

Gravel can be a great alternative to using concrete, and it does away with any drainage problems either underground or around the base. However, the success of gravel as a post setting depends upon the soil. You need to dig that one-third deep hole with your clam digger, then put a layer of gravel at its base.

What do you backfill a fence post with?

Rocks that are put back in the hole can actually act as levers to help push the post out of the ground. If you’re working with silt or clay soils the best thing to do is to bring in some sand and gravel to be used for backfilling such as that used for making cement.

What type of cement is used for posts?

Fast-setting concrete is ideal for setting posts because there’s no mixing—you simply pour the dry concrete from the bag right into the hole, then add water.

Can I use pea gravel for fence post?

Setting wood or vinyl fence posts is a critical part of fence construction to make sure that the fence is sturdy. The use of pea gravel to help set posts provides good drainage and, when combined with concrete, results in a sturdy fence post installation.

How many bags of cement do I need for a fence post?

Most fence post holes will need between 1 – 4 bags of concrete to securely hold the post in place. The best way to determine the size of the hole is: Diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the fence post.