If you plan on setting some fence posts in the ground, you have a few options at your disposal. One of the most common methods of setting a fence post in the ground is by using concrete as an anchor. However, there are also other ways to get the job done.
This begs the question of whether or not fence posts should be anchored in concrete in the first place. Today, we’re going to take a look at the pros and cons of setting fence posts in concrete, as well as what some of the other options at your disposal are.
Do Fence Posts Need to Be Set in Concrete?
Many people seem to think that fence posts absolutely have to be set in concrete. Yes, concrete is a viable option to anchor fence posts into the ground. It does provide fenceposts with very strong foundations that will prevent them from tipping over. This foundation is quite durable and should last for quite some time. However, fence posts do not actually need to be set in concrete.
There are also other ways to set fence posts in the ground, so concrete is not really needed. Some people choose to set fence posts in crushed rock, gravel, or even just in the ground. Another alternative here is to use a fence post anchor, which is more or less a bracket with a spike that gets driven into the ground. Therefore, the simple answer here is that no, concrete is not totally necessary and it is certainly not the only option for setting fence posts.
Is Concrete the Best Material to Set Fence Posts In?
The simple reality is that although concrete is a viable option for setting fence posts, it is not actually the best material to use. Now, in terms of the benefits, concrete is cheap, easy to mix, and it does create a very hard and solid foundation.
There is no doubt about the fact that a fence post set in concrete, especially over the first year or so, while the concrete is still in good condition, will provide a sturdy base. It will be nearly impossible to remove the fence post or the concrete, knocking it down will be difficult, and strong winds really shouldn’t affect it either.
However, in spite of these benefits, concrete may not actually be the best material to use. One big reason for this is that concrete, for one, is very permanent. If you end up having to remove or replace fence posts set in concrete, you are going to have a hard time.
Prying that fence post out of a concrete anchor, especially if it is rotten or damaged, is going to be very hard and will require specialized tools. Then, even if you do manage to remove the fence post from the concrete, you still have a bunch of old concrete in the ground that needs to be removed. Furthermore, if you manage to remove all of the concrete, you will still be left with a large hole in the ground.
You then also need to consider the fact that concrete does shrink and expand due to both temperature and moisture. However, the issue is that concrete and wood, or your wooden fence posts, don’t expand and contract at the same rates due to those aforementioned factors.
This often leads to a small space being present between the concrete and the wooden fence post, which can let moisture in and then speed up the rotting process. Moreover, water may also pool up at the bottom of the concrete and cause the fence post to sit in that moisture, something else that can make it rot rather quickly.
3 Advantages of Setting Fence Posts in Concrete
Let’s take a quick look at the various advantages that come with setting fence posts in concrete.
1. It’s Fast and Easy
One of the reasons many people choose to use concrete for setting fence posts is just because it’s easy to do. You just have to dig your hole, mix some concrete, pour it in, and put your fence post in the concrete. If you have to set multiple fence posts, this is going to be the fastest and easiest way to do so, especially if you have the ability to mix a whole lot of concrete at once.
2. Making the Post Level is Easy
Another benefit to using concrete for setting fence posts is that leveling a post is easy. Concrete, when freshly poured, is generally thick enough to hold a fence post upright. However, it is also thin enough so that you can still move it around before it begins to harden. Therefore, leveling a post is made very easy before the concrete hardens. It’s much easier to level a post set in freshly poured concrete than in any of the other materials that may be used for this purpose.
3. It Provides a Solid Base
The other advantage that you get is that concrete is very strong and solid. When the concrete is still in good condition, that fence post isn’t going anywhere. It won’t fall over, tip over, or be affected by the wind. In fact, even running into it with a vehicle might not be enough to take it down.
5 Disadvantages of Setting Fence Posts in Concrete
Now that we know what the advantages of using concrete for fence post setting are, let’s figure out what the disadvantages are.
1. It Causes Wood to Rot
One of the main disadvantages here is that setting fence posts in concrete can cause the wood to rot. As mentioned above, water may pool up at the bottom of the concrete and expose the fence post to too much moisture. Due to the different rates at which concrete and wood expand from temperature and moisture, a small space may also form between the two, thus trapping water and causing your wooden fence post to rot rather quickly.
2. It’s Very Permanent
Another disadvantage of using concrete for setting fence posts is that it is rather permanent. You have to dig a hole and fill it with concrete. If you want to move or replace the fence post, you have to replace the concrete too. Then comes the issue that if you want to do something else with your yard, you’ll have a bunch of concrete-filled holes to deal with.
3. It’s Hard to Remove
Related to the above note, if you do need to replace or remove a fence post that is set in concrete, this will be hard to do. You need to remove both the fence post and the concrete, but with other fence post-setting materials, you may just be able to pull the post out of the ground. Removing a hunk of concrete from the ground is no easy task.
4. It Can Be Messy
There is also the simple fact that mixing and pouring concrete can be a really messy task.
5. It’s Not Cost-Effective
You then also want to consider cost here. Although concrete is not overly expensive, it is certainly not as cost-effective as gravel. You will pay anywhere from 100% to 400% more for the same amount of concrete needed to set a fence post as gravel.
4 Alternative Materials to Set Fence Posts In
Let’s take a quick look at some ways to set fence posts in the ground other than by using concrete. For a more detailed look at this topic, read my article about setting fence posts without concrete.
1. Gravel
One good alternative to use for this purpose is some simple gravel. Gravel is very cost-effective and fairly easy to use. It provides a relatively stable base for fence posts, yet still allows water to drain away, thus preventing the wooden fence post from rotting. Gravel does make it harder to level a fence post, but it’s not impossible and is not as permanent as concrete.
2. Crushed Rock
Crushed rock is very similar to gravel, although much finer. Crushed rock allows for a very steady and solid base, it’s cost-effective, and not too permanent either. That said, crushed rock can compact to the point where it may not let 100% of the water escape.
3. Soil
Some people do choose to just pound their fence posts right into the ground. Although this is the easiest and most cost-effective method, it doesn’t provide a solid base and won’t do you any favors in terms of moisture either.
4. Using a Fence Post Anchor
A fence post anchor is like a metal spike that is driven into the ground with a bracket on top that holds the fence post. This is going to be one of the most expensive methods to go with, although it does provide a solid base and a good moisture barrier too.
Summary
As you can see, while concrete is a pretty decent option for setting fence posts, it might not actually be the best option.
Fence posts installed in concrete may actually rot faster than those that are set in gravel or just in the soil. That said, concrete does offer a fairly solid foundation, and it is cost-effective too. Now that we know the advantages and disadvantages of setting fence posts in concrete, you can make a choice for yourself.