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Noticed a big shift in how we handle cedar fence posts around here
About five years back, most crews in my area were just setting cedar posts in concrete and calling it good. Now, I'd say 8 out of 10 jobs I see use a gravel base at the bottom of the hole for drainage. The change really started after that super wet spring we had, when a bunch of fences rotted out at ground level. It adds maybe 15 minutes per post, but the wood lasts so much longer. Anyone else made that switch and seen the difference?
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dixon.nathan6mo ago
My buddy Steve had his whole backyard fence go soft and lean after three years. Every single cedar post rotted right at the concrete line. When he replaced it, his contractor used a solid six inches of gravel in the bottom of each hole. That was seven years ago and the new fence is still rock solid. He swears by the gravel trick now, says it lets the water drain away from the wood instead of trapping it. Seeing his old fence collapse made me a total believer in the method.
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coleman.derek6mo ago
That point about water getting trapped at the concrete line is key, @dixon.nathan. People forget that concrete soaks up water like a sponge and holds it right against the post. Gravel at the bottom creates an escape route. I've even seen guys take it further by wrapping the buried part of the post in a waterproof membrane before setting it in concrete. It's like giving the wood a raincoat right at the spot where it always rots.
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