Ways to Install Fence Posts to Ensure Durability

Fences can be a great addition to a home, for aesthetics, privacy, and security. When it comes to installing a fence on your property, though, you want one that lasts. The best way to establish a secure fence is to set your fence posts properly. First Fence of Georgia offers years of experience in the fencing industry, and our team has put together advice and tips on how to ensure your fence lasts a long time.

The Importance of Setting Your Fence Posts

Fence posts are the backbone of your fence. They help to keep your fence standing and stable. The integrity of your posts is important to maintain, because unstable fence posts lead to your fence falling apart, or simply not lasting as long as you planned. By setting your fence posts securely, you can extend the lifespan of your fence, and reduce the amount of upkeep you may need.

Check the Weather and Landscape

The weather and the lay of the land can be a large factor in how you should set up your fence posts and what materials you use for the posts themselves. By keeping these in mind, you can adapt to the best way to set the posts to accommodate for either.

Weather Conditions

The weather conditions where you live can play an important part in what fence post material you use. Excessive sunlight, rain, or snow can wear down fences over time. High heat can cause materials like metal to expand, while rain can make metal rust and wood warp. That’s why it’s necessary to pick a material that can withstand these conditions or is treated for them.

It’s also important to check the weather before installation begins. Rain and high humidity can make positioning your posts difficult and uneven. Avoiding days of extreme weather and picking the right material saves you the hassle.

Layout of the Land

The layout of your property can also play a big part in the set-up of your fence posts. Uneven ground, sloping terrain, and differing soil types affect the stability of fence posts and have to be considered when you set them up. You may need to use setting methods that better stabilize a post in loose ground or bury some posts deeper to match sloping or uneven ground.

Choose Reliable Fence Posts

Being prepared in regards to the weather and the landscape is important, but what your fence posts are made of is vital to whether or not your fence is durable. The materials you use have different strengths and weaknesses that you need to be aware of when installing them. Here are a couple of common materials used for posts:

Wood

Wood is a reliable and traditional material for posts, and is popular amongst homeowners. Common types include cedar, pine, and spruce, and they can come in a variety of shapes. Aside from being customizable and visually appealing, wooden posts are sturdy and durable for a fence. A disadvantage of wood can be that it can rot or warp over time, but if the wood is properly treated, it can last for a considerable amount of time.

Metal

Different types of metal are also a common choice for fence posts, ranging from steel to aluminum. These materials offer a long lifespan, as well as durability against damage and harsher conditions outside. While metal may be prone to rusting, it can be treated with customizable paints that prevent rust from forming.

Clear the Area

Preparing to set your fence posts means ensuring the area you’re establishing them in is clear of any obstacles. Anything in the way of where you want to set them up can make the process more difficult, or it could cause damage to your posts or property.

Remove Debris

Objects like shrubs and surface debris can get in the way of your posts, and so can objects underground. If you have rocky soil, you want to be sure any large rocks blocking the post holes are removed. The same goes for large roots from plants, as the growth of them can push into posts or even damage them.

Avoid Utilities

If you want to keep your fence posts secure, as well as maintain your property, you want to map out the underground utilities around your house. Digging close to pipelines and other systems can lead to unstable posts and damaged utilities, which can be a costly result.

Ensure Post Holes Are Deep Enough

Setting your posts deep enough will help keep them stable. The depth of your post holes should be 2 feet or more and about one-third of the length of your post. You also need to make the holes wide enough to fill with your setting material. With enough depth and width, you can ensure your posts can be filled to stay firmly in place.

Pick Good Setting Materials

When it comes to picking the materials you want to set your fence posts with, you need to make sure you follow the right steps, and that they pair well with the type of posts you have. Here are a few common materials and methods used to set posts:

Soil and Gravel

A traditional and reliable way to set your posts is by using soil and gravel. It’s an easy way to avoid using concrete while still stabilizing your posts, and it works well for different post types. The best ones to work with are metal and pressure-treated wood.

For the process, the post holes are filled with layers of soil and gravel and tamped down until compact before a small mound of gravel is placed on top. This keeps the posts in place, but the gravel allows for proper drainage to prevent rusting and rotting in your posts.

Concrete

Concrete is a common and effective way to set up sturdy, unwavering posts. It’s best done with metal posts, given that wood needs to breathe to prevent it from breaking down. A small layer of gravel is placed at the bottom for drainage before the post is placed in and the concrete is poured. While it does take a longer time to dry, concrete allows you to set your posts in the desired position and keep them right in place.

Metal Footing

This is a simple and efficient process where posts are secured to metal bases that are nailed into the ground where you want your posts. The footing is first secured using large screws or nails, and then the post is placed in and fastened to the footing with screws. With the established base and the grip of the nails or screws, a post held by metal footing is guaranteed to stay in place.

The Importance of Choosing a Reputable Fencing Service

Effective installation methods are important, but having an expert hand in the process is what makes it all the more successful. Hiring a professional fencing service is a great way to install secure fence posts, and picking a reputable one ensures your fence posts can stay standing for a long time.

At First Fence of Georgia, we offer high-quality fence installation services. This includes making sure your fence posts are durable when they’re installed. Our team members are experts in the industry and work hard to use the best methods suitable for the posts you want in order for them to last for years to come.

If you’re looking to install a fence on your property, contact us today for more information, or to schedule a service!