Gate post/fence post

[TheMan419]

So SWMBO and I are "debating" what posts to use to hang gates. We have horses. Intent is to plant a wood post and hang 8 foot gate on it for the paddock. I am not intending to start the typical debate of do we just tamp in, use concrete etc.

The issue is what post to use.

I was thinking a 6x6 ground contact square post. Since we live in the great white north the wisdom is a 4 foot hole. Then make the typical "H" with another 6x6.

SWMBO thinks we should use a round post.

Around here the only place close by I can find a round post is TSC. They do not get the best reviews. The rub on them is that either they are crooked, split, knotted etc. or they simply have not been pressure treated with enough chemical and they rot out quickly.

Assuming the 6x6 post or the 6' round post has been properly treated is there any different reason to use one over the other?

 

[RNeumann]

EVERYONE knows it's round all day long- but only because that's what the SWMBO wants!

You are on the right track- it's all in the treatment. Skip TSC and call your lumber yard or pole barn contractor- you only want to do this once!

 

[Birdhunter1]

Square post vs round post is entirely an owner preference, I have set many of both and the gate, horse, cow or dog does not know the difference. In my opinion the deeper it is buried and the bigger the diameter (within reason) the more solid it will stay. At my place I have both round and square posts holding gates.

The only posts I have ever set in concrete have all rotted, in my lifetime, and I'm only 37. I can show you thousands of posts not in concrete, that are older than I am (some of which were set by my 70 year old father 50 or 60 years ago), that are still standing and holding fence wire.

I do find that round end posts are easier to wrap high tensile or barbed wire on than square posts. Again I have both round and square at my corners and ends.

When you hang your gate I like to use a threaded gate hinge pin for the top so I can adjust it with a gate still on it if I so desire, and the fact self tappers will pull out of the post long before the threaded with nuts on it.

I like using square posts to make H structures, to me it is a neater appearance.

 

[V65ozzie]

When I redid my gate, I used an old steel pipe that I recovered on a job, about 6" in diameter. cut a couple of holes through it at the base for a couple of pieces of rebar(to prevent twist) and concreted that puppy in, it's got a 12ft steel gate with an electric opener on it, so far it's holding up. Now I have to add some fence to it, so I'm going to bolt a 4x4 to it so I can nail the fence to it. Wood: easy attachment of fencing. Steel: a bit more problematic...
Thegate open was taken out by lightning, it actually blew the box off the old pole. Once I get the fence up I will relocate the box and replace the opener, This time I will ground it through the pole instead or relying on a ground strap. Also planning on putting a solar powered security light on top of the pole.

 

[ustmd]

We used 6 inch posts from TSC for our gates in the horse pastures. They have been in 12+ years, so far, so good.

 

[flyerdan]

Depending on what it has to match up to, a 4" sched 40 should be plenty for a small gate. Square tube would also work, the nice thing about steel is that you can use up a lot of drop to make up the length that goes into the ground.

 

[Ford850]

I would get something better than 'ground contact'. You need to have one rated for below ground use. Treated lumber companies are now recommending 'ground contact' lumber for most average uses, including all deck boards, because 'above ground' rated lumber isn't lasting like they thought it would. I would sink it at least 4', maybe 5' if possible. More work up front, but it really helps over the years.

 

[ThirdMan]

We have been building fencing using round posts for the corners and gates. There is a difference in quality between suppliers. We ordered some through Menards (they don't keep them in stock, but would special order). They were not very consistent in size or very strait. A new Farm and Home Supply store opened up near me and they have them in stock. Much nicer then what Menards delivered, and we can pick from the stack the ones we want.

A 6x6 square is more wood then a 6 inch round, and costs more. I built one post that way, but like the look and working with the round posts.

 

[Stimw]

First pic is with power poles set 5' deep with 2 12' gates.
Second pic is 6" posts from local ACE Hardware set 4' deep with 14' gate.
Haven't had problems with either one sagging.
A 6" round has more wood than a 6" square post and most 6" square are only 5" X 5".

 

[TheMan419]

First pic is with power poles set 5' deep with 2 12' gates. Second pic is 6" posts from local ACE Hardware set 4' deep with 14' gate. Haven't had problems with either one sagging. A 6" round has more wood than a 6" square post and most 6" square are only 5" X 5".

Ok so cement or just tamped? The first pic are they 6x6? I personally like the look of square. Se likes round. So you know we are going round unless I have a "scientific" argument that square is better.