c/fence-erectors

Shoutout to the old guy who insisted on using a string line for every single post

I thought it was a waste of time on a simple 50-foot vinyl run until I saw his fence was perfectly straight and mine had a visible wave after the third panel.

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johnson.ryan•2d ago

I finally figured out why my post caps kept popping off in high wind

It hit me after a job in Amarillo last month, I was setting the posts too deep in concrete and not leaving enough flex. The whole line looked great until a 50 mph gust came through and three caps just flew off. Anyone else run into this with those vinyl privacy fences?

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terry_shah17•2d ago

Back in '08 I bought a whole pallet of that 'no dig' post mix from a guy at a trade show.

It was supposed to set in any weather, but a cold snap hit our job in Toledo and half the posts on that property wobbled like crazy after two days. Cost me nearly $1200 in materials and a full day's labor to pull them all and reset with regular concrete. Anyone else get burned by a product that just didn't live up to the hype?

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nora10•4d ago

Question about using pressure treated posts in wet ground

I know a lot of guys say you HAVE to use them in soggy spots, but I just redid a 50 foot section in my own yard that was put in 8 years ago with treated posts. Every single one was rotten at the ground line. The soil here in Portland is just always damp. I switched to setting concrete footings and using metal post bases, and the difference after just one rainy season is huge, no wobble at all. Has anyone else found that treated wood just doesn't cut it in really wet areas long term?

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the_anna•5d ago

Had a whole cedar panel fence blow over in a storm last Thursday

It was a job we finished just two weeks ago in the West Hills area. Client wanted the full 6-foot privacy look. We used 4x4 posts set in concrete, everything felt solid. Then that windstorm hit, gusts up to 50 mph. Got the call the next morning. Drove out and the whole 40-foot section was flat on the ground. The posts snapped clean at the base. Turns out the ground there was mostly loose fill from an old garden bed, nothing for the concrete to grab onto. We never hit solid dirt. Now we have to pull it all out, dig deeper, and start over on our dime. How do you guys check for bad soil before you start setting posts?

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hugo50•5d ago

TIL I was setting my post hole digger up wrong for years

I was working on a cedar fence job in Tacoma last week and my helper asked why I always used the short auger. I said it was just how I learned. He showed me how he swaps to the long one for the first hole to check for rocks or old concrete before we commit. We found a chunk of an old foundation 18 inches down on the third post spot, which would have wrecked our day. How do you guys check your dig sites before you start?

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the_mason•6d ago

A job in Galveston made me rethink how I set posts in wet ground

We were putting up a 150 foot cedar fence right by the bay last spring, and the ground was pure muck after a rain. I was fighting with the post hole digger, trying to get a clean hole, and this local guy who was watching from his porch just yelled over, 'You're making it hard on yourself, son. Use a pressure washer.' I had never heard of that. He came over with his little electric one, and in about 30 seconds, he had a perfect, deep hole by just blasting the mud out. It was a total lightbulb moment for dealing with soft, sandy, or wet soil. Has anyone else tried this method for setting posts, and what kind of washer do you use?

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johnfoster•7d ago

Had a gate hinge fail on a job in Phoenix because I didn't check the concrete anchor depth.

The client's new aluminum gate sagged an inch overnight. I had to pull the whole post, drill deeper, and set new anchors with epoxy. Anyone have a better anchor brand for high wind areas?

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xena_kim82•7d ago

Rant: My post hole digger snapped on a job in Tacoma last Thursday

I was setting a 4x4 for a cedar fence and hit a rock about two feet down. The whole handle just sheared right off, not at a weld but in the middle of the steel tube. I had to run to the rental place and get a new one, which set me back half a day and $75. Anyone have a brand that can actually take a hit without breaking?

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nancy275•8d ago

Unpopular opinion: Pre-assembled fence panels are a headache on sloped yards

Last week, I had a job on a backyard with a slight slope (nothing crazy, but enough to mess things up). We put in those pre-built wood panels, but each one needed trimming or shimming to fit right. It added hours to the install, and the client was getting antsy by the end. I'm starting to think custom cutting on site is worth the extra effort, even for simple runs. What do you all do when the ground isn't flat? Any tricks to speed this up?

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dakota_rivera•9d ago

I cut my post hole depth in half and no issues

Used to swear by three feet. Two feet holds up just fine.

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cameron724•11d ago

My stubborn refusal to use power augers cost me a whole season.

I always dug post holes by hand, sure it built character. But after my back gave out and jobs piled up, I bought an auger and doubled my output. Who else has been won over by machinery they once avoided?

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matthewperry•11d ago

Hill fence job changed my mind on laser levels

I used to skip laser levels and just use string, lol. But on a steep slope last week, the string kept messing up, so I tried a laser. It worked way better - what tools have you guys switched to lately?

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rowan666•12d ago

Pro tip: Securing loose fence posts with concrete screws

I had a fence post that got loose after a storm and was leaning bad. Instead of pulling it out and setting a new one, I found a faster way. First, I cleared the dirt from around the base to reach the concrete footing. Then, I drilled a couple of holes at a slant from the post into the concrete. Next, I put in some heavy-duty concrete screws with a drill until they were tight. This pulled the post straight and locked it to the base. After that, I packed the dirt back around and it's been solid for months. It's a great save for when you don't have time for a full repair. Give it a try if you're in a pinch with a wobbly post.

3 comments

johnfoster•14d ago

TIL a neighbor's tip saved my fence from washing out

I was putting in a fence near a property line last week. The next-door guy saw me digging and told me about a drainage ditch that floods in heavy rain. I moved the post holes a few feet uphill. Now the fence sits on solid ground and won't get washed out in a storm.

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theawells•15d ago

Finally got a vinyl fence panel to fit right after a bad cut

Honestly, I was rushing a job last Thursday and cut a panel about an inch too short. Tbh, I was ready to trash it and order a new one, but then I thought about using a heat gun to gently warm and stretch the vinyl. I slowly heated the end and used clamps to pull it to length while it cooled. Ngl, it set perfectly and saved me a bunch of time and money.

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mila_mitchell•17d ago

My fence line shifted because I ignored soil compaction.

Compact the soil PROPERLY or your posts will lean over time.

3 comments