How to Anchor Posts in Concrete
You don't have to be a cowpoke or live on a ranch to be able to put up a few posts now and then. All it takes is a hole, a post, some cement and before you know it you'll get that fence or gate up and ready to go. Everywhere you look, you can find evidence that someone has anchored a post into cement. Even stop signs and advertising billboards are sitting atop poles that are tethered in concrete. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Dig holes deep enough to accommodate the size and weight of the posts. Allow a proportional amount of extra room on the bottom and on all sides for the cement. A pole with a 6-inch diameter requires less depth than say, a pole of 24-inch diameter. In general, the hole should be at least as deep as the diameter of the pole.
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Mix cement with sand and water according to package directions. Use a cement mixer to stir the materials to the desired consistency, with no dry cement visible.
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Pour cement into the hole, enough to fill the hole about one-third full.
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Stick the posts into the center of the hole and push it down into place. Lift it up and down a few times to allow cement to coat and adhere to the pole, and then push it down a final time into place. The pole should be able to stand on its own. If it's leaning, hold it in place until sufficiently dried to stand by itself.
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Add additional cement to completely fill the hole. Fill it to a level equal to the surrounding ground. Use a trowel to press cement to slightly compact it. Smooth the top layer of cement with the trowel.
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Allow cement to dry for at least 24 hours, or follow drying instructions on the cement packaging.
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Hose down all tools when you're done to remove cement before it dries. Thoroughly rinse out the cement mixer, and rinse any clothing that may have come into contact with the cement.
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Tips & Warnings
Make the post hole footing wider at the bottom than the top for better hold in cooler climates.
