storage shed

question: I am wanting to build a pole barn for equipment. I want to use 6x6 treated post and concrete them in. I heard once that the acid in the concrete would damage the post and shorten life. Does anyone have any knowledge of best way to erect the post ? thanks randal

http://www.midwestmanufacturing.com...Id=178&productTypeId=46&productId=331

Or something outta steel that you cement in and set the post in/on top.

At short glance, you may be referring to lumber treated with the newer ACQ or a non CCA treatment, which is what you want(CCA) for a ground contact post. I don't have the technical information, but apparently the newer treatment, reacts with galvanized fasteners, (going from memory, could be wrong) you have to use fasteners compatible with the lumber and or its treatment. Do some research on the web, there has been discussions in the past here on CCA, AQ, ACQ wood preservative, you can likely find it by searching.

Concrete and posts, modern designs use precast or poured in place footings and then gravel around post bases, the concern is decay at the top of concrete where the post comes out, traps water etc.


There are other designs and materials if you like, perma columns ( look those up ) and similar that keep the posts out of the ground.

If you still want to go with a conventional pole barn, by all means source CCA treated 6x6's .60 if you can, its available for ag use, was banned for residential use some years back.

Erecting posts can be done a variey of ways, I did these by myself, 18'-0" posts 5'-0" into the ground, they were old CCA posts, sat unused for years, I soaked the ends in creosote and set them using a choker of the backhoe bucket, string level on a stringline for alignment and marked all the posts so I could set them for elevation, set them all without help, but wish I did have an extra hand, would not do that again, but when you have a free backhoe, you do what you must LOL !

I set my deck posts by digging 30 inches and pouring two fully mixed bags of concrete in the hole and let it set. Then set my post on top and pour two more bags around the post. This was to prevent wind lift on a deck which probably isn't necessary on a building but that it how mine will go in. Concrete is caustic until set so acid should be no problem. The only places I have ever seen treated wood to have an issue is where it alternates between wet and dry but it took 20+ years. Always wet or always dry never seems to rot. Your results may vary.

Hope this helps
Aaron

Here in TX we dig the hole, put a little gravel in the bottom, 6" or so, set the post, add about a foot of gravel, add cement to about 6" from the top of the hole and then sand or dirt. The idea is to NOT have water standing at the top or bottom of the hole.

all the information is very good. thanks i will put it to use.

You're better off with treated 2x6s laminated to make a 6x6 post. There's no way the teatment will soak all the way through a solid post.

Might try something like this-----------

My Astro pole building has a concrete pad in the bottom of the hole, with crushed limestone around the post clear up to ground level. 7 Years old, no problems noted yet.