If you have a leaning fence post, there can be several reasons for it. Let’s dive into how to address and fix this issue.
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If you have a leaning fence post, there can be several reasons for it. Let’s dive into how to address and fix this issue.
First, inspect the leaning post. If the fence is old, the post may be rotten just above the foundation and snapped. In such cases, the only solution is to take down the section of the fence, remove the foundation, and install a new post. However, if your fence is relatively new and the timber is still sound, the problem might be with the foundation rather than the post itself.
To determine the cause of the leaning, try to get the post into a vertical position. If it’s impossible despite applying force, you’ll need to dig around the foundation to see what’s happening. For instance, in my case, I found that my garden’s fence posts, although only a couple of years old, were leaning due to inadequate foundations.
Start by digging around the foundation. Use a pointing trowel if you can’t find your garden trowel. Dig carefully until you reach the foundation. In my case, the foundation was too shallow and lightweight for the size of the post and fence, causing instability. The solution was to break out the old foundation and cast a new one.
This is where having the right tools, like an SDS drill, comes in handy. Use the drill in hammer-only mode with a chisel to break away the small amounts of concrete. This method is effective for small volumes and lower strength concrete. After removing enough concrete, you’re ready to set up for the new foundation.
Set up string lines to align the post correctly between the other posts. Compact the remaining earth in the hole, then prepare for concreting. It’s crucial to ensure the new foundation is significantly more robust than the old one to support the post adequately.
Instead of using mix-in-the-hole postcrete products, I prefer hand batching a standard concrete mix of cement and ballast. This ensures proper mixing and the right water content before placing it in the hole. Hand batching allows for a well-mixed and strong concrete foundation.
To keep the post in place while the concrete cures, use a temporary A-frame arrangement. Pin one end into the lawn to hold the post vertically in the correct position. Leave the frame in place for at least 24-48 hours to allow the concrete to gain strength.
Once the concrete has cured, dismantle the temporary supports and fill in the hole around the post. Slope the surface of the concrete away from the post to prevent water from pooling and reduce the risk of future rot.
