Installing a Picket Fence : Mixing Concrete for Picket Fence Post Holes

[jg8479]

also, if you live in an area prone to frost and ground freezing, never EVER dome the concrete at the top of the hole. dig the bottom of the hole wider making a bell shape

and fill with concrete to 3-4 inches below grade and cover over with dirt after the concrete hardens. this will eliminate frost heaving on the posts

[ratsboy420]

@jg8479 nothing can stop heaving, only digging below the frost line.

[omgwtfbbqstfu]

you need to add gravel in first, then add the post to provide drainage, sealing the post in is asking for rot. not mixing the conrete first is faster, but does not garrantee quality concrete. mixing conrete just isn't that easy, trying to do a good job inside a post hole is a bad idea

[jg8479]

if your ground is a sandy type of soil the gravel isnt a bad idea, if you are setting a post in clay type soil the gravel is only going to hold the water because it takes clay longer to absorb water and can make the posts rot faster. people dont take into account that the gravel ( what doesnt mix into the wet concrete ) will settle causing the post to settle and sink with it making the fence look like poop. I tend to let my posts float in the concrete about 4" from the bottom of the hole

[ryecatcher25]

woman that was wrong idea. mixing the concrete was hard

[allycoo]

It's great to see a girl doing it. Thanks.