Round or square fence posts

[quicksandfarmer]

I'm going to be putting up some livestock fence in the spring, and for the corner posts I can get 6" round or 6x6 square for about the same price. I can think of advantages to each -- round fit better in a round hole, square are easier to fasten braces to, and so on -- but nothing that really tips the scales. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[weldingisfun]

Go with the most cost effective. There are no advantages of one over the other. Good luck with your fence and remember the best thing about putting up a fence is getting to the last post.

 

[radman1]

Round will certainly fit in the hole better and allow easier placement in the hole to one side or the other. Round is probably easier to tamp around. Square will require more work to align with wire later. Fence will tighten better and be easier to wrap around a round post. If the rest of the fence is round, I would stay with round. I vote round.

 

[RonMar]

With a round post, you don't have to align the faces of the post with the fenceline? But with fence materials costing what they do, go with whatever is least expensive as it adds up quickly...

 

[hudr]

Round.
My wife HAD to have square on her garden spot w/ picket fence panels. What a pain to get everything to line up and keep the posts square w/ the panels. Expecially when she threw in the offset/corner gate concept. Of course, she was asking this of a "t-post and pipe corner" fence guy.

 

[riptides]

Whatever you decide, don't go with half rounds. Flat on one side, rounded on the other.

-Mike Z.

 

[biggerten]

Go with the round posts, square augers are expensive.

 

[IH3444]

The ones with the most, or highest amount of perservative in them. Check the label for amount of pressure treatment. Then look at a few ends to besure that the pressure treatment has penetrated deep to the center.

 

[tallyho8]

The ones with the most, or highest amount of perservative in them. Check the label for amount of pressure treatment. Then look at a few ends to besure that the pressure treatment has penetrated deep to the center.

I don't think you can look at the ends to see how far the treatment has penetrated unless they were cut off after treatment which would make the treatment null and void.

 

[deereguy]

Look at the pressure trated rounds before you buy, if they have a stainless steel tag (about 1/2" dia- on one end) they will be warranteed for 30 years. Talk to the dealer that you are purchasing from concerning warranty, etc. Not sure if TSC and the like supply those or not!