How to Dig and Pour a Concrete Post Footing

Digging and pouring cement for a fence post footing

If you want to build a fence or another structure that involves creating stable posts, it is important to dig and pour a post footing properly. If you set a wooden post directly into the ground it will likely shift easily and rot away quickly. Even metal posts will rust if buried in soil and they, too, are likely to come loose quickly if the footings are not dug and poured right. Here are some tips on how to dig and pour a fence post footing.

Instructions

1. Dig a post hole for pouring concrete that is ideally at least a foot deep. Post hole diggers are tools made specifically for the purpose, but you can use a narrow shovel, too. The depth of the hole will depend on the size of the post and how much support it will need to handle.

2. Water the fence post hole to moisten the bottom so the water in the concrete mix does not get wicked up by dry soil too quickly once poured.

3. You can mix your own concrete by combining sand, Portland cement and water or buy any of the ready-made cement mixes on the market.

4. Add water to your concrete mix to produce a thick consistency and to fill the bottom of the hole.

5. Wooden posts should be screwed to metal hardware made for sinking posts. Once attached, the hardware will be set into the hole and the rest of the concrete can be poured to fill the hole. Setting the wood directly into the wet concrete is not a good idea as it will probably rot faster with direct contact to water-retaining cement and soil. Also, if you screw the hardware to the foot of the post it will be easier to change out the post if, over time you need to replace it.

6. Once your post is set into place, use a level to make sure it is perpendicular to the ground. Then fill in any remaining concrete. You can smooth the top with whatever finish you want or leave the top couple of inches below the ground line to fill with soil so the concrete remains unseen.

7. Since you are not creating a fine surface with the concrete, you do not have to fuss with the careful drying procedures you should use on walkways and other exposed cement surfaces. But it is still a good idea to keep the soil around the cement footing of a post hole moist for a few days to keep the concrete from setting up too fast and cracking.

8. It isn't difficult to set a post in a solid concrete footing. If you dig and pour your fence post footing right it should be strong and long-lasting.

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