How to Install a Wooden Fence Post

A quality fence is only as good as the posts. If you are building a fence or just setting a single decorative post, this is how professional fence builders install wooden fence posts.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wooden Fence Post
• Post Hole Diggers
• Tape Measure
• Level
• Skil Saw
• Hoe
• Pencil
• 80lbs Concrete
• Water
• Mixing tub

1. 
   Fence with post caps (click on the image for a larger view)

   Buy a precut post or a standard uncut post. If you buy an uncut post you will need to protect it from top rot by rain-shedding the post with a 33° angle cut, a 45° pyramid cut, or a post cap.

2. 
   Set your fence height correctly for easy yard maintenace

   Cut the post to the correct height. Most home improvement and hardware stores sell 8 and 10 foot posts. For a 6 or 4 foot fence you will need 7 and 9 foot posts. Cut the extra inches from the bottom of your post before setting. If you are building a 6 foot fence your posts should measure 74-76 inches above ground level, this allows for a 2 inch gap at the bottom of the fence pickets for weed eating, and to prevent ground level rot. If you are adding a post cap leave 2 inches above the picket for mounting the cap.

3. 
   Dig your hole to depth

   Dig an 8 inch diameter hole 3 foot deep. If you live in a northern state where the frost line runs deep, bell the bottom of the hole to prevent heaving.

4. 
   Mark and set your wooden post.

   Measure your post length and make a ground level mark on your post with a pencil. Set your wooden fence post in the hole in a plumb position (2 sides level). Check to see if your ground mark is at ground level, if not adjust it up or down accordingly.

5. 
   Mix your concrete well.

   Mix your concrete, approximately 80lbs, well before filling the hole. Fill the hole completely with concrete except the final 2 inches, this should be capped with soil. Step the soil firmly in place making sure your post is still plumb. The soil will provide two benefits, it allows grass to grow around your post and it acts as a sponge to draw moisture away from your post to protect it from rot.

6. Let the concrete cure for 2 days before building your fence or other outdoor project. You can buy Quick-Crete for same day construction, it is twice the cost of regular concrete. If your project is a large one save the money and wait a few days.

Tips & Warnings

• Dry setting ( pouring a bag of Crete in your hole and adding water) can sometimes result in a poorly set post that will lean or fail over time.

Resources

• Thomas Fence & Deck
• Ornamental Design Post Caps
• Universal Forest Products Solar Post Caps

[violetb1ue]

on 11/19/2009 I will do this. Thanks for the tips, especially about the Dry Setting; now I know why one of my posts 'gave out' after a few years: I dry set it.

[waters]

on 6/19/2009 Good step by step directions on how to install a wooden fence post. 5*