Often asked: How Much Concrete Do I Need Per Fence Post?

How much concrete do I need for fence posts?

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. Depth of the hole is one-third to half the above ground height of the fence post.

How much concrete do I need for a 4×4 fence post?

Mix two 50lb bags of concrete with water in a mixing tub or 5-gallon bucket. Add concrete into the hole and around the 4” x 4”. Depending on your climate, let concrete set up for 24 – 48 hours.

How many bags of Postcrete do you need per post?

You’ll need to bury the posts at least 2ft In the ground. As for how many bags of postcrete you need per post, that’s purely dependant on how big you make the post holes. As a rule of thumb, when using standard post hole diggers, I average 1 bag per post. For larger holes I would allow 1.5 bags to 2 bags per hole.

Is 2 feet deep enough for fence posts?

Dig post hole so diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the post (i.e., the hole for a 4” wood post should be about 12 inches wide). The depth of the hole should be 1/3-1/ 2 the post height above ground (i.e., a 6-foot tall fence would require a hole depth of at least 2 feet ).

Should I use concrete for fence posts?

Concrete is the most secure material for setting fence posts, especially if you have sandy soil. Using premixed concrete rather than dry concrete will ensure ultimate security. While concrete is sturdy, it lacks the drainage of gravel and can trap moisture, ultimately leading to rot.

What is the best concrete 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).

How do you keep fence posts from rotting in concrete?

Consider Adding Posts to Concrete From here, you should fill the hole with about 6 inches of gravel. This will prevent rotting by ensuring that the post is kept dry when water makes its way into the soil. Place the post in the gravel, then fill with a batch of cement until it reaches the top of the hole.

How long will a treated 4×4 post last in the ground?

The treated post that are rated for ground contact are guaranteed for 40 years.

Can pressure treated posts be set in concrete?

Simply setting the posts in concrete does create a condition that will accelerate rot in the bottom of the posts. With pressure – treated posts, the rot will be slow. Concrete should be poured around the post – no concrete under the post.

What is the difference between Postcrete and concrete?

Concrete takes several hours or a day or two to set. Postcrete sets in a few minutes, several tens of seconds, even, so you don’t have to support the post for nearly as long as you do with concrete.

How long does it take for Postcrete to fully set?

No mixing is required – simply pour water into the post hole and add Postcrete. It sets quickly in 5- 10 minutes and is supplied in a weatherproof, tear resistant plastic bag.

How deep should a 8 foot fence post be?

In general, holes should be at least 3 feet deep for posts that extend 8 feet or more above ground level. Posts that extend 6 feet above ground level should have holes at least 2 1/ 2 feet deep.

Should I use 4×4 or 6×6 fence posts?

4×4 is perfect for these very standard fence dimensions. Normally 4×6 or 6×6 are needed for gates or extreme wind loads.

What is the recommended distance between fence posts?

Typically, fence posts are spaced between six and eight feet apart. The corner posts are set first. To align all of the posts in between, stretch a line from each corner post to work as your guide. Mark the exact position where you’d like each post hole dug.