Setting Fence Posts in water

[Eric_Phillips]

I have come to an area in my pasture where the water table is only about three feet down. I dug a hole for a corner post and the bottom several inches is full of water. My system has been to set the corner and brace posts in concrete and the line posts are just driven. The soil is very sandy. Is the bottom of the post just going to rot? Should I start to drive the corners and braces so they will be easier to remove when they rot?

 

[kidr]

How about sliding a piece of pvc with a cap, over the post to waterproof it?

 

[ToadHill]

See if any one around you has any Black Locust and use those posts in the wet areas. Black locust will survive in wet conditions for over 50 years, I have some posts in an old pasture that I know have been there for going on 75 years.

 

[20 20]

I'm with black locust also

 

[J_J]

Perhaps something like this would work. Take a 5 gal bucket and then coat the post with a sealant and place in bucket. Then add enough cement to fill the bucket, and when dry, just set the post, bucket and all.

Home Depot has a PVC post that slips over a 4 x 4 wood post. Just cap one end and place rebar in the center, and fill it up with cement. You could also add metal fingers to hold some wire.

 

[Eric_Phillips]

From what I have read before people were saying not to have concrete under the end of the post since it could trap water like a cup and hold it around the post. In this case where I am knowingly putting the post in water maybe trapping a little water in a cup is better. If so I could just dump the concrete in the bottom of the hole and not worry about a bucket. I am using 6-7" round posts on the corners so the PVC might be hard to come by. The black locust sounds good but I am not sure where to get it. When I went looking for round posts I could only find them at TSC.

 

[ToadHill]

I know that Black locuse grown in our area, I have about 2 acres of it on one of my hills. Perhaps you can call the local extension to see if they know of a stand in the Rochester area. Also try some local tree removal services.

All you have to do is strip off the bark and set them. When green the bark comes off in a snap.

As a last resort if you are willing to make the drive I can cut a few for you.

 

[forgeblast]

you could always post an ad on craigs list or call some lumberjacks or arborists, they know where to find everything.

 

[PBinWA]

You should be able to buy marine grade pressure treated lumber. They have different levels of treating for different applications. You could also coat the posts with some form of roofing tar to add extra protection.

 

[Ford850]

Just set the post as you would your others. Posts will rot off quicker in drier ground than water soaked ground. Ever notice how long stumps last in man made lakes? There's less oxygen and therefore slower deterioration.

 

[2manyrocks]

Yes, if it stays wet, it won't rot like it would rot if it repeatedly gets wet and dries out.

 

[bpattie]

I like JJ's idea of the bucket. I have also painted the below ground portions of poles with a tar before and that lasts forever. I helped a friend dig out some 15 year old post for a barn we moved and he had done the coating and it was still in tact.

 

[DJ54]

If you buy locust posts, ask the seller what time of year they were cut. The ones cut when the sap is down will last much longer.

I use the creosote treated posts. The ones we set on the home place in the mid 60's, other than a little surface weathering, are still good and solid.

In swails I have here, where the ground is wet like yours, in the early spring, I tamped limestone screenings in around them. That has been 10 years ago, and they are still good and solid.

Locust posts are great, and last a long time if cut at the right time of year. Also Osage Orange will last a great while. Although driving steeples in can be a bear, if they are seasoned properly, before setting..!!

 

[Eric_Phillips]

I have decided to coat the bottom of the post with some roofing tar. If nothing else it is a cheap make me feel good solution. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Ken45101]

Just set the post as you would your others. Posts will rot off quicker in drier ground than water soaked ground. Ever notice how long stumps last in man made lakes? There's less oxygen and therefore slower deterioration.

Yes, I've heard that logs can be stored long term under water for many years without rotting. In fact I've heard of recovery of 100 year old sunken logs in Michigan and Louisiana which where then sawn for lumber.

However, the wet/dry cycle is probably the worst. Setting a post in a capped pvc pipe or a bucket would probably hold water that ran down the post and would slightly evaporate over time, giving a good area for rot (damp, but exposed to air).

I really don't think you would have a serious problem since many areas have high water tables and almost all areas have dampness in the ground.

But if you can get black locust (not honey locust), that's the best. The old joke about how to tell if a locust post might be going bad: Put a flat rock on top of the post. Inspect the rock every couple of years. When the rock deteriorates, the post might be going bad ;-)

Ken