setting barn posts in dry cement

[doxhog]

anybody have any thoughts on setting pole barn posts with two 80lb. bags of dry cement and letting the moisture from the ground harden the cement, does this work as good as premixed cement, or at least good enough? i've got no water source out to where i'm building at, Troy

 

[Poppa]

Your profile doesn't say where you are from. If I tried that here in Eastern CO it would take six months and a thunderstorm to set the top of the mix and the bottoms would never turn into anything more than encased dust and gravel. Seems to me if you can get a 160 pounds of cement out there plus the posts themselves then you should be able to tote 40 pounds of water (5 gal). Grab some buckets and sleep better knowing the posts are actually set instead of wondering about it every time the wind blows.

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Does anyone else notice that doxhog and mopower have the same writing style - and the same profile (none)?

Troll alert!

It's a shame that mopower has poisoned the well, but I think suspicion is called for here.

 

[mopower440]

I aint poisoned nothing on here, what are you going to say when i post pics? Is this not what this forum is for is to ask questions or share experiences on building, give me a break, i will fill in my profile if it will make everyone happy.
here is one of the only pics i took ofthe thing way on back when i started the building of this project..

 

[Old_Hickory]

I done it on a deck I built.

 

[moeh1]

Cement curing is a chemical reaction, rate, heat, etc, can alter the final results. I have heard of less than perfect results in many cases doing this method. Have you thought about spreading a big tarp and catching rain water, then storing in buckets or barrels. I did that for my early work before the well went in. April showers are coming soon may do the trick for you! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

Using the dry method is fine for fence posts, but for a building that you want to last a long time I'd want the best I could afford.

Mixing your concrete before putting it in the hole is the only way to insure the maximum strength.

I also didn't have water at my site, so I brought three 5 gallon water containers with me everyday to mix my concrete. It takes more time, but the results will be much better.

 

[DannyD]

When the boys that I hired built my barn, they used cement but only for a bottom in the holes. They put in about 10" of cement, went to lunch and came bach to set the posts. They would line them up, center them, check for square on the outsides of the posts and then backfill with the dirt, tamping it in as they went along. Posts are solid and there is no place for water to set in around the space that concrete will leave no matter what you do. But they did have to use water to mix with. I might want to mention, these boys also built their own barns this way, and I have seen them and they are still standing

 

[rambler]

Not that I believe any pole barn threads any more, but the info supplied is at least helpful to others reading. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

In the cold & hot & wet of my climate, concrete is not a good idea at all to encase wood poles. Either put a small footer at the bottom of the pole deep - don't bring it up to the surface - or build a concrete wall or peirs & attach your poles to the top of the concrete above ground.

Perhaps what you suggest works in your climate, but it would not in mine. Food for thought.

--->Paul

 

[jmc]

doxhog,

At that depth around here its red clay that is always damp. Morton just built my barn and they put the cement in dry. This is the second building they have built for me and in my opinion, they are extremely competent and conscientious. When I asked them about it, you could tell they get asked alot and said they would use water if it made me feel better. In the end, I relied on their experience(which may vary locally)

John