Plastic sock / post protector for poles on pole buildings?

Alan K · Apr 13, 2014

I was reading some older posts and someone mentioned a plastic sock of some sort to put over the poles before putting them in the ground on a pole building to protect the pole from rotting. Does anyone have any information on them or where to buy them?

730 virgil · Apr 13, 2014

i need something like that too, or fiberglass post
they will be used in cement cattle lot

G1355 · Apr 13, 2014

I've seen them on posts before, would using a short piece of tile with a end cap work also, might be more expensive than what your talking about though.

andy r · Apr 13, 2014

I have studied them some and think they would be a good idea. Post Protector is one brand name. They are made for different sizes of posts. Talking with many builders there is not a whole lot of experience using them yet. I think they cost around $30 each. Some are completely enclosed and some are open on the bottom. The open ones are more of a sleeve which protects the post a foot or two up and a couple of feet down. They claim the rot is reduced due to the fact that the sleeve reduces the water and air which feeds the microrganisms. The perma-column posts are more like $100 each for just the concrete bottom part. I think you can goggle "post protector" and get more information.

showcrop · Apr 13, 2014

(reply to post at 12:03:32 04/13/14) [/quot

The most important thing is to have some porous material close to the bottoms of the post holes so that the water will not stay around the posts.

C. Amick · Apr 13, 2014

I wrapped mine with shrink wrap near the ground surface where they usually rot off. I don't know if it helps or not.

Bob · Apr 13, 2014

INTERESTING... when I was a kid in 1961 and the polebarn on our farm was being built, they wrapped ground-contact area of the poles in some kraft paper stuff lined with some nasty-smelling creosote and insecticide/fungicide.

I think they used it when they installed power poles in those days.

ANYHOW, to this day, it still stinks on hot days and the poles haven't rotted off, 53 years later!

Probably causes cancer in California, though!

Is there anything like that still on the market today?

Alan K · Apr 13, 2014

Ah yes....the old creosote lol. I remember dad "painting" the wagon floor with it. I can still smell it when I think about it. I don't think there is anything left on the market like it, which honestly is probably a good thing in the long run health wise. A hundred years from now no one will know what creosote is but....that power poll will still be there lol.

jennifer408 · Apr 13, 2014

i can't believe folks are even considering putting wood in contact with earth anymore. here is the correct way to build.

Alan K · Apr 13, 2014

I wondered about those as well but with the winds we get here Im not sure it would stand up in the long run.

jennifer408 · Apr 13, 2014

simpson strong tie company sell the Column Bases

jennifer408 · Apr 13, 2014

(quoted from post at 20:18:35 04/13/14) I wondered about those as well but with the winds we get here Im not sure it would stand up in the long run.

you could make the concrete pier 20' deep if it made you feel better. concrete rots a lot slower than wood.

da.bees · Apr 13, 2014

When I was a kid dad mounded soil up around barn posts and fence corners. Having seen the results over the years,I'm convinced it realy helps. The upper part of mound drys quicker while the soil at grade level is wet,it is starved of air. Takes both to rot the post.

Kansas Cockshutt · Apr 13, 2014

All those devices do is make a hinge at the joint of the concrete and post in windy climates. Any flex/or shrinkage starts a rocking and cracking/seperation, compounded over time. It would probably be fine where the wind does not blow all the time.

jennifer408 · Apr 14, 2014

(quoted from post at 21:19:37 04/13/14) All those devices do is make a hinge at the joint of the concrete and post in windy climates. Any flex/or shrinkage starts a rocking and cracking/seperation, compounded over time. It would probably be fine where the wind does not blow all the time.

yes, it would require a cross support

after all " over time " how much does rotten wood support ?

showcrop · Apr 14, 2014

You can buy precast post footings as well.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 14, 2014

Money; the concrete stubs aren't cheap unless you are doing it yourself. One contractor wanted an additional $200/post the other $300/post to use concrete stubs. The wooden posts built from 2X6's treated with the old treatment that can only be used below ground have a 60 year guarantee. Might not last the full 60 years and the supplier might not be in business at that date, but should easily last for my lifetime.

Alan K · Apr 14, 2014

Its not going deeper in the ground with the concrete that would concern me, it is creating a "give" point on the post bolting it to something. I do see your point, and concrete does rot slower than wood but some trees seem to do ok.

mkirsch · Apr 14, 2014

(quoted from post at 20:32:20 04/13/14)

(quoted from post at 20:18:35 04/13/14) I wondered about those as well but with the winds we get here Im not sure it would stand up in the long run.

Click to expand...

you could make the concrete pier 20' deep if it made you feel better. concrete rots a lot slower than wood.

It's not the pier, it's the single pin holding the pole to the pier. It's a VERY weak joint.

No matter what you put there, plates, braces, strapping... It will NEVER be as strong as a solid 6x6 buried 4' deep in the soil as far as wind shear is concerned.

showcrop · Apr 14, 2014

(quoted from post at 12:08:19 04/14/14)

(quoted from post at 20:32:20 04/13/14)

(quoted from post at 20:18:35 04/13/14) I wondered about those as well but with the winds we get here Im not sure it would stand up in the long run.

Click to expand...

you could make the concrete pier 20' deep if it made you feel better. concrete rots a lot slower than wood.

Click to expand...

It's not the pier, it's the single pin holding the pole to the pier. It's a VERY weak joint.

No matter what you put there, plates, braces, strapping... It will NEVER be as strong as a solid 6x6 buried 4' deep in the soil as far as wind shear is concerned.

Google Perma Column. Its a lot more than a single pin. I am sure there are many different types including some way stronger than a 6x6 depending on what you need.

Plastic sock / post protector for poles on pole buildings?

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