Dumb concrete question

Anonymous-0 · Mar 24, 2009

I am currently putting up a 12x36 lean-to for livestock. On Sunday (65 degree weather) I got all the posts set in the holes & filled with concrete. About 24 hours later, we had a front come in & the temps dropped down into the 20's. Will this mess up the curing proces in my concrete in any way?

Rimshot · Mar 24, 2009

I doubt it will hurt. The slower it cures the better and depending how deep the holes are it won't be 20 degrees down there.

pat sublett · Mar 24, 2009

No, probably not, depends somewhat on ground tempature. After 24 hours, should not be a problem.

kyhayman · Mar 24, 2009

I wouldnt think a nightime drop for a brief period would cause any severe problems with concrete below ground level. Its going to be giving off a whole lot of heat as it cures and the ground wouldnt freeze very deep or very long with just a one night drop.

Traditional Farmer · Mar 24, 2009

Mike M · Mar 24, 2009

The bigger problem is going to be down the line as I thought it was a no-no to encase posts in concrete ?

terry274 · Mar 24, 2009

Why should you not put the posts in concrete?

Mike (WA) · Mar 24, 2009

They will rot faster if the hole is just filled with regular concrete. Better practice is to mix dry cement with gravel, and use that to fill. When the mixture gets wet, it will make sort of a "semi-concrete", with lots of strength, but porous enough for water to get away, so not as susceptible to rot. At least in my county, posts can be set in concrete or just tamped gravel. Most still set in concrete, because on a large building, its much easier (get all the posts in the holes and braced plumb, then concrete truck comes and gets the job done in a hurry).

jack harmon · Mar 24, 2009

Well,i should shut up but what the heck,concrete actually makes your posts rot faster,now before we have this fight again,read the INSTRUCTIONS! 99.9 of all treated posts are not meant to be used in concrete,bare dirt only.ever try lifting a piece of concrete up and not finding it wet underneath?besides the acid in concrete ,the same stuff that causes rashes ,eats up your boots,etc concrete will hold water next to your post.WHATEVER you do dont take my word for it,prove me wrong!call and question the manufacturer,find out for yourself,and if all else fails read the instructions..AND let me know if you can find one rated for concrete because I need to build a barn also.

CWL · Mar 24, 2009

Would it help much to put some coarse gravel in the bottom of the hole then wrap the post with heavy felt tar paper before pouring in the concrete?

wijim · Mar 24, 2009

I dont know what part of the country you are in but here in wi we never concrete building posts in. The reason is frost has more to work on and will lift the posts up over time. But you can prove me wrong. Let us know in a few years.good luck. jim

J.C.in AZ. · Mar 24, 2009

When I was a dealer/builder for Astro Building's in the 70's-80's we set our poles on a 12"x8" concrete pad and poured a bag of con mix around the bottom of the pole. I have no record of pole rot from this practice.Morton,Menards,Wicks,Cleary and a host of other pole builders did the same in one form or the other. But,we never back filled with solid concrete. And I have never seen where other builders back filled with concrete.We and others have back filled with aggregate if needed from time to time.Creasote,Penta,CCA and oil treated Posts will all eventually rot at the top of the concrete back fill if this point on the pole is at ground level where wet exists.I do believe that if the poles are protected from the elements that no rot will occur ,but that is only my opinion ,so? JC

randy hall · Mar 24, 2009

they now have posts for a pole biulding that is concrete on the part that goes in the ground and wood above grade. it would be very foolish to fill a post hole full of concrete, it would be like setting your posts in a cistern, always surrounded by water.

Stewartinpa · Mar 24, 2009

Jack is right you should never put concrete around the post I've been in the contracting buisness for about 12 years and have only put concrete in the bottom of the hole even when I went to trade school they taught to only do the bottom of the hole

Stewart

Anonymous-0 · Mar 24, 2009

I agree it seems foolish, but that is what is REQUIRED by the building codes inspectors in my county. But the posts probably won't rot off in my lifetime. I hope.

paul · Mar 24, 2009

Concrete makes it's own heat as it cures, so should be good down to 20-25 for lows with no problem at all. In a hole in the dirt, no concern whatsoever, it will not get that cold in the hole. No worries on the weather for you.

I can understand a hunk of concrete around the bottom of the pole down below the frost line, 4+ feet deep. Keeps the pole anchored.

I would _not_ encase the whole post in concrete to the surface, 'here' that would lead to the post rotting off. Like any livestock post, the rotting is near the surface where it goes between dry & wet - and concrete makes that effect moreso worse than just dirt. 'Here' anyhow.

--->Paul

bc · Mar 25, 2009

I paint the bottom and sides of my posts that go in the ground with asphalt foundation coating. Gotta be careful putting them in but works for me.

Concrete is a no no unless you want some type of footing in the bottom of the hole and then I'd wait till its solid before setting the post on it. A footing would only be needed if settling is a problem otherwise a little gravel works fine.

In this heavy clay, I backfill with road sand. It absorbs into the clay with the freeze/thaw/heaving in the winter and the shrinkage in the summer. The sand moves instead of the post.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 26, 2009

Haven't tried it, but had a guy tell me once and showed me some posts that he set that felt like they were in cement, to dig the hole twice diameter of the post and 6 or so inches deeper than you want the hole then fill it with pea gravel (smooth) and pack it. Said that as the ground works through the seasons the gravel will settle and get tougher while still draining. Haven't tried it, but it sounded good.

Dave

Dumb concrete question

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Rimshot

Member

pat sublett

Well-known Member

kyhayman

Well-known Member

Traditional Farmer

Well-known Member

Mike M

Well-known Member

terry274

Member

Mike (WA)

Well-known Member

jack harmon

Member

CWL

Member

wijim

Member

J.C.in AZ.

Member

randy hall

Member

Stewartinpa

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

paul

Well-known Member

bc

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Similar threads