Stan in Oly, WA
Well-known Member
I want to thank everybody who offered advice about how I could make holes in my concrete slab to set gateposts. I did the first one, the one for the post that won't be supporting the gate, by drilling holes with a rotary hammer around the perimeter of the desired cutout, chiseling through the concrete between the holes, and then breaking up the concrete with a sledge hammer. That appeared to put a few cracks in the surrounding concrete, which was exactly what I was trying to avoid. Plus, it was way too much work for a worse result than I wanted.
I was so disappointed with what I got for my hard work that I decided to see if I could use a core drill for the other hole. I figured out that I could get a hole the size I needed by using the 6" core drill and overlapping two holes by 3-1/2". I would have to do this because I had decided to use 4X6 posts rather than 4X4's because that's what the rest of that run of fence has. I called the rental shop and asked if there would be any problem overlapping holes. I was told that I might damage the bit that way, and then I would have to pay for it. I went back to the rotary hammer method of drilling holes around the edges. I tried making a template that would guide the bit so that it wouldn't drift into the previous hole, but that didn't really work. When I was done with all my perimeter holes, I drilled a lot of larger holes in the piece of concrete to be removed, then took it apart with a masonry chisel and a hand sledge.
For those who recommended installing the posts by attaching brackets to the concrete---3000OH, JD Seller, Adirondack case guy, Billy NY---I want you to know that I considered doing it that way, but decided against it for what I felt to be good reasons. Adequately weatherproofing brackets I fabbed up myself was one concern, and the brackets having to be installed within a few inches of the edge of a slab of uncertain soundness was another. Thanks for taking the time to offer good advice, though.
I used to feel proud of myself for still being able to do projects like this at my age---which has been more than 65 for seven years now. I've gotten over that. Now I just worry about how much down time will be involved if I need any more rotator cuff surgeries or hip replacements.
Stan
I was so disappointed with what I got for my hard work that I decided to see if I could use a core drill for the other hole. I figured out that I could get a hole the size I needed by using the 6" core drill and overlapping two holes by 3-1/2". I would have to do this because I had decided to use 4X6 posts rather than 4X4's because that's what the rest of that run of fence has. I called the rental shop and asked if there would be any problem overlapping holes. I was told that I might damage the bit that way, and then I would have to pay for it. I went back to the rotary hammer method of drilling holes around the edges. I tried making a template that would guide the bit so that it wouldn't drift into the previous hole, but that didn't really work. When I was done with all my perimeter holes, I drilled a lot of larger holes in the piece of concrete to be removed, then took it apart with a masonry chisel and a hand sledge.
For those who recommended installing the posts by attaching brackets to the concrete---3000OH, JD Seller, Adirondack case guy, Billy NY---I want you to know that I considered doing it that way, but decided against it for what I felt to be good reasons. Adequately weatherproofing brackets I fabbed up myself was one concern, and the brackets having to be installed within a few inches of the edge of a slab of uncertain soundness was another. Thanks for taking the time to offer good advice, though.
I used to feel proud of myself for still being able to do projects like this at my age---which has been more than 65 for seven years now. I've gotten over that. Now I just worry about how much down time will be involved if I need any more rotator cuff surgeries or hip replacements.
Stan