privacy fence

My daughter wants to put in a privacy fence in one day. Are there special treated posts for back filling with dirt? I'm posting a pic of a treated 4x4 that was removed after 15 years in sandy soil next to my house. Who sells better 4x4 treated posts?

I had a privacy fence installed 25 years ago. They back filled with concrete, which was a 2 day process. Posts were set one day, back filled with concrete, and allowed to set. Posts are still good. It's possible the posts were better than the one I used.

So, to get the job done in one day, I was thinking of making a cheap quickcrete by mixing portland, sand, and white rock in cement mixer. Perhaps adding a little water to keep the dust down. That way the mix can be packed in, posts will be firm. Another thought is to just back fill with rock to allow water to drain. I have proof that dirt and today's AC2 posts won't work long term.

CCA treated lumber, see if you can order it,link below should be of help. There is an issue with concrete at the elevation it terminates at on the wood post, but I believe that is if you embed the bottom as well, no weep or drain. I have worked up a good mix and very carefully finished around a post, bottom is open, though there is shrinkage, you could seal that joint between the post and concrete with an appropriate sealant that is known to bond to each material. It was common to use a dry mix of concrete, let the moisture firm it up or water it from the top. I think with CCA, well packed and drained gravel and not being in a water table ought to work just fine. If I could only get ACQ, I'd find a way to make coal tar creosote or a similar substance, there are recipes on the web from what I have seen, let the lumber dry out and immerse the posts until they have absorbed enough, let them dry but good, then install, I've done that with actual creosote here and the bottom of the posts are fine, at least one I pulled was, and there was no leaching, these things get banned because people are foolish, no common sense when it comes the use of such materials.
Koppers/CCA

Hello Geo-TH,In,

How about a maintenance free fence, Like trees?. Unless you in a concrete jungle some species do just fine,

Guido.t

Guido's response got me thinking. What about some of the tall grasses? Or you could do something with vines on a trellis of some sort (though that would involve posts also I guess). Steel pipe for posts? Kind of depends on if your daughter wants the fence there all the time, or if not needed in the winter/non growing season.

Just some thoughts.

Good luck and give an update.

If you have adequate equipment to dig the holes, and the water table is low enough, you can put ten inches of 3/4 stone under the post, then crusher run gravel packed around it, and white pine will never rot.

(quoted from post at 07:36:58 05/21/15) If you have adequate equipment to dig the holes, and the water table is low enough, you can put ten inches of 3/4 stone under the post, then crusher run gravel packed around it, and white pine will never rot.

Click to expand...

he wanted a fence in one day....................too late now, the day has passed. Sorry.

A hedge of Lilac bushes works well as a privacy fence. They do take up some space though.

Put in posts made from Osage Orange trees. It's a very dense hardwood that is unaffected by insects or fungus, and will last for decades.

:>)

the construction pros got you covered.
like to add to not forget drainage. Depending on your property, drain tiles, etc to keep ground water away from the posts helps.

I like natural screens. I plant 2 rows. One row of the good looking when grown species, like arborvitae.
Another row nearby of something very fast growing, hybrid willows, etc. When the arborvitae grow tall enough, you can remove the row of 'temp' trees.
Tip on the hybrids, when they shoot up to 15 feet or so...2-3 years...chop them off at the trunk at about 4'. They are indestructible and will recover instantly by growing new limbs everywhere on the trunk. In 2 months, very dense screen/fence.

The electric utility here is backfilling poles, even the very tall transmission line poles, with foam. No bugs, no rot, and sets in a few minutes.

(quoted from post at 07:50:32 05/21/15)

(quoted from post at 07:36:58 05/21/15) If you have adequate equipment to dig the holes, and the water table is low enough, you can put ten inches of 3/4 stone under the post, then crusher run gravel packed around it, and white pine will never rot.

Click to expand...

he wanted a fence in one day....................too late now, the day has passed. Sorry.

Click to expand...

Try rereading

Jessie, I can always count on your words of wisdom. Have a great day.
George.