Gravel And Wood Posts - Fence Building Tips

http://hometips.gregvan.com Click on This Link for more interesting tips about your home, construction and fence building tips. Watch this video to learn more about problems people have building fences and some of the things that they could have more problems with, if they aren't paying attention. I made this video as a response to some of the questions our viewers have asked, more than once. For more interesting tips and ideas, make sure that you visit our websites and check out a few of our books.

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Howto & Style

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• gravel and wood fence posts
• wood posts
• gravel
• concrete
• fence building
• drainage
• soil
• wood rot prevention
• wood rot
• termite damage
• fence post damage
• fence posts
• wood fences
• building fences
• how to
• installation
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[baboon445]

Hi. How about Protecting the bottom of the Fence Post with a coat of bitumen (easily bought by tin in DIY store) or Wrapping it in a damp proof membrane (plastice also easily bought in DIY store) or both :)). Sticking Naked wood in the ground unprotected has got to be a bad idea although Commonly done. If protected only rot damage will be from moisture in atmosphere and fence should last much longer.

[gregvancom]

@baboon445 That might work, however, any moisture that enters above that point through the wood, will become trapped at the bottom of the post you just enclosed. It would actually rot even faster. I did something similar to this on a post, at my house and needed to replace the post within a year.

[KacelaJ]

Another easy way to explain the problem is that the gravel fill offers the path of least resistance for the water, so it will pool there.

[gregvancom]

@KacelaJ Perfect explanation.

[superfluteman1]

This is my solution to the problem: Use close cellulose foam concrete instead of regular concrete. Closed cellulose foam concrete is moisture resistant. Adding gravel to the bottom of the whole will only help trap water and create a puddle below the porous concrete,unless you really good drainage or very hot climate most of the year. Also using cedar post will help in the long run of the fence and adding foam concrete of the close cellulose type will also aid in it's longevity. My 2 cents worth.

[Polarcupcheck]

If people looked up texture interfaces with soil, they would get the picture. Basically the reason why the drainage layer in potted plants is a myth.