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Pro tip: I was setting posts in clay for a decade before a guy in Boise showed me his gravel trick
He packs pea gravel around the base after the concrete sets, says it drains water away and stops the post from rotting. Anyone else use this method for wet ground?
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nathan9019d ago
Wish I'd known that trick years ago.
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the_harper9d ago
Yeah, the gravel at the bottom is key. I learned the hard way after replacing a whole row of mailbox posts that rotted right at ground level. Now I dig the hole a few inches deeper than needed, pack in some crushed stone, and then set the post. That little bit of space lets any water that gets in drain down and away from the wood. What mix do you use for your concrete?
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stellaperry9d ago
Tried the gravel thing after losing a fence line to rot. Honestly, it's a solid move for drainage. I go a step further and put a few inches of gravel in the bottom of the hole before I even set the post in concrete. That way water has somewhere to go from day one. It keeps the end grain from sitting in a soggy concrete cup. My posts from five years back are still solid, so it seems to work.
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