Easy Process Of Strengthening 4x4 Deck Posts Without Pouring Concrete
In addition to defining property lines, fences create a barrier between your house and the rest of your neighborhood. Poured concrete is a popular option for burying fence posts, and while it forms a powerful anchor, the solid block makes it challenging to move the fence in the future. Gravel is one of the key components of concrete, helping to bind the cement substance, but when correctly compacted, gravel really provides a strong, solid basis for posts. Gravel makes it simpler to remove fence posts if you decide against building a fence and improves drainage around fence posts.
Things You Will Need
- Post Hole Diggers & Digging Bar
- Measuring Tape & Saw
- 2-By-4-Inch Lumber
- 16d Nails Or 3-Inch Wood Screws
- Hammer Or Power Drill
- Gravel Or Crushed Rock
- Torpedo Level
Step 1: Dig Your Hole & Cut A Support For Your Post
Using post hole diggers, a digging bar, or a mechanical soil auger, dig the post hole to a depth of at least 24 inches; if possible, put the post as deep as 40 inches for the best chance of averting upheaval. Two to three times the diameter of the fence post should be the size of the hole. Cut a piece of lumber (1 by 4 or 2 by 4) to double the diameter of the fence post. If you are unable to dig the post hole 40 inches deep, this item, known as a dead man post support, aids in anchoring the post in the ground.
Step 2: Attach The Support Piece & Add The Gravel
Use 16d nails or 3-inch wood screws that are going perpendicular to the fence post to nail or screw the tiny piece of lumber at the bottom of the fence post. Instead of the bottom end of the fence post, attach the board to the bottom of the fence post's length. It is highly recommended to fill the post hole's bottom with 5 inches of gravel or crushed rock. For the best compaction, use gravel with irregularly shaped, varying-sized particles, along with some gravel dust.
Step 3: Pack The Gravel & Install The Post
To create a level base, compact the gravel or rock using the flat end of a digging bar; use a tiny torpedo level to verify levelness. Place the post in the hole, use a level to make sure the sides are straight, and then adjust it until it is plumb. The horizontal piece of timber should firmly abut the post hole's sides.
Step 4: Add More Gravel & Ensure The Post Is Level
About 6 inches of gravel or crushed rock should be added to the post hole to complete the filling. Secure the dead man wooden support by tightly packing gravel or stones around it. Utilizing the blunt end of a digging bar, compact the fill firmly. Before moving on, use a level to ensure that the post's sides are plumb.
Step 5: Pack The Gravel
At each step, add 6 inches of gravel or crushed rock to the remaining portion of the hole, packing the aggregate with the digging bar and ensuring that it is plumb before adding the next layer of gravel.
Important & Useful Tip
Because crushed rock comprises rock fragments that range in size from a few inches to fine pebbles and gravel dust, it can pack more tightly than using rocks that are of the same size. If you decide to use gravel instead, you can improve compaction by combining it with coarse masonry sand.