The fastest (and most reliable) way to install fence posts (2023)

Good fencing starts with a good foundation. Placing fence posts with concrete is the best way to ensure they stay upright and stationary, but you may not like the idea of ​​mixing batch after batch of concrete to fill every back hole. The good news? Not necessary! With an amazingly simple product fromQuikreteAnd with the following technique, you'll avoid the mess and your posts will be able to withstand just about anything Mother Nature throws at them.

How to install fence posts

MATERIALS AND TOOLSAvailable on Amazon
–Fencing posts made of metal or treated wood
–Post excavator (or drill)
–Quikrete all purpose gravel
–Gloves
–Protective glasses
–Fabric masks
–Quikrete Fast Curing Concrete Mix
–1 gallon bucket
–Carpenter level
–Sharpshooter Shovel

STEP 1

For fencing, it is imperative that you start with posts that are straight with the arrow. This is not a problem with metal posts, but wooden posts tend to twist or warp slightly. If you are using treated wood, choose the rightmost places you can find to avoid problems.

STEP 2

Dig the back holes with a hand excavator or power drill. The standard rule of thumb is to bury at least a third of the post's length in the ground (half is better), but local building codes may require a minimum depth, such as 3 feet, so check with your local building. authority before you get started. After determining how deep the hole needs to be, add six inches, allowing gravel to be added to the bottom.

STEP 3

Make the holes wide enough to fill with concrete. The minimum recommended diameter is three times the width of the posts. So if you are installing standard four inch wide treated wood posts, the holes should be 12 inches in diameter.

STEP 4

Add six inches of gravel, such asQuikrete all purpose gravel, at the bottom of the holes. Gravel provides a firm foundation for the fence post and prevents it from coming into direct contact with the soil below, which can increase the likelihood of rot.

STEP 5

Pull the gravel covering the bottom of the fence post. To do this, insert the post into the hole and with gloved hands lift the post a few inches and push it back into the gravel. Repeat three to five times to smooth out the gravel.

STEP 6

Place the post in the center of the hole and hold it upright. Here you will need a helper who can hold the post in place while you fill around it.

STEP 7

Put on your work gloves and goggles and a dust mask - pouring dry concrete is a dusty job and you don't want to breathe it in or get it in your eyes. Then pour dryFast curing Quikrete concrete mixinto the hole and take an even amount around all sides of the post.

Keep the post upright and centered as you fill the hole, but don't lift the post. If you do, it will be difficult to get him back to the bottom of the gravel.

STEP 8

Continue to fill the hole with dry, fast-setting concrete mix until the mix is ​​about two inches below ground level.

A 50-pound bag of mix yields approximately 0.375 cubic feet of concrete. So, to fill a hole 90 cm deep with a diameter of 30 cm, you need five bagsFast-hardening concrete mix. If you do not want to do the calculations, enter the depth of the holeQuikrete Fast Curing Concrete Mix Calculator. It tells you exactly how many bags of mix to set up for standard post sizes and hole diameters.

STEP 9

Pour water over the dry concrete mix at a rate of about one gallon per 50-pound bag. For the 90 cm deep hole mentioned above, about five are neededgallons of water. Add slowly, letting the water seep through and saturating the mixture. As you will seein this video from the experts at Quikrete, the dry mix will react on its own, without you having to do any more work!

NOTE: For holes deeper than three feet, it is a good idea to add the dry concrete mix and water in two steps. For example, if you are installing a tall post in a four-foot deep hole, add half the estimated amount of dry mix, then half the water, followed by the rest of the dry mix and the rest of the water . . Doing this will ensure that the dry mixture at the bottom of the hole receives enough water.

STEP 10

Once the mixture and water have been added to the hole, level the post. Place a spirit level along the two adjacent sides to ensure the post is heavy.

NOTE: While you can hand level each post this way, it is not the most efficient process for installing three or more fence posts in a straight line. Instead, see the tips for "Making a thread guide" below.

If the post is perfectly level and heavy, use a narrow marksman shovel (even a stick or post) to press the wet concrete firmly around the base of the post.

Work fast.Fast curing Quikrete concrete mixit hardens in 20 to 40 minutes and once it has hardened, the position cannot be adjusted. Wait four hours for the concrete to set before continuing to build your fence.

STEP 11

If desired, fill the top of the post with soil for a finished look.

NOTE: If you live in a high rainfall area and install treated wood posts, you can cover the hole with sloped concrete to divert water away from the post and prevent wood rot. See tips below for filling the hole with concrete.

Tips to keep in mind

Create a string guide:

When installing multiple posts in a straight line, using a wire guide is the easiest way to ensure professional results, with all posts level and perfectly aligned with each other. To get started, you'll need a hammer, nails (8d is a good size), and elastic cord or string.

1. Dig all the holes and then place only the two end posts, following step by step above. Let the concrete cure for six hours.
2. Drive two nails into the outside of each end post, one six inches from the bottom and the other six inches from the top. Allow the nail heads to protrude 1/8 in. from the posts.
3. Run two strings between the posts, one on the top set of nails and the other on the bottom set of nails. Push the strings out toward the nail heads to create a string guide that is 1/8 in. from the posts.
4. To set up the following positions, place each post in the hole and keep it 1/8 inch away from both the top and bottom strings.
5. Repeat steps 4 through 10 while your assistant holds each post in place. Make sure the posts don't touch the strings -- keep the 1/8-inch gap and your fence should line up and be level with the first two.

Filling the holes with concrete:

Do you live in an area that receives a lot of rainfall? Instead of filling the top of the hole with soil that could trap moisture at the base of your fence post, you can add a little extra concrete to divert rainwater away from the post and protect it from rotting at ground level. You just need a bucket or wheelbarrow to mix the concrete and a trowel to get it into place.

1. After all the posts are in place and the concrete has set, mix a little moreFast curing Quikrete concrete mixin a cart or bucket, following the ratio of mixture and water in the bag. A 50-pound bag of mix will fill about four 12-inch wide holes.
2. Using a trowel, shape the semi-solid, wet concrete around the post, creating a slight slope away from the post. A slope of about ½ inch is all that is needed.
3. Drill all the holes in the same way so that the water drains away from the posts when it rains.

This content is brought to you by Quikrete. The facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.