Hammering in washing line spike

chalky_bertie

Cut a small square of grass out, dig a deepish hole, make sure the top of the spike is above ground level and then fill the hole in with concrete - best to use 2 lots to make sure it is secure, dont use concrete to top, once dried put a little topsoil ontop of the concrete and then relay the grass ontop of that and the grass will keep growing. Lawn will still luck nice.

purplepatch

Thanks everyone - can anyone point me in the direction of the cheapest concrete that will do the job?

bigchasbroon

postcrete is available in a bag for about a fiver or less. its easy just pour water in the hole then empty the bag into the hole (with the spike in) and wait for it to set. B&Q or homebase will stock it or an equivilant.

Paulo

http://www.lidl.co.uk/gb/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20060622.p.Screw-in_Pole_Stand
This might be useful for you if it is as easy as it sounds.

Pipcola

There is a similar screw in post anchor in Aldi's but much more robust - having moved our rotary line several times bought one of these for new 4 arm rotary line. Absolutely wonderful no concrete absolutely vertical suits various sizes of post. Was on offer about 2 weeks ago so cannot find url to post.

Wig

IF the ground is hard chances are if you get the thing in there it won't move again.

I'd try hammering it in and if it moves or becomes loose in the future then try concrete.

How big is this spike? Try drilling a hole first, whats the longest biggest drill bit you have? For example onle of these would be ideal

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100211&ts=79601&id=10893

failing that a wood auger bit like this

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/cvfsupplyco-store_1900_7072218

or a long masonry drill just to see if there are any stones down there

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100175&ts=79914&id=14859

I'm not suggesting buying these bits, just saying use what you got already.

Try hammering some sturdy metal rod into the ground first to make a hole deep enough then remove and put in your washing spike.

purplepatch

Did the helpless female bit with my handyman who's currently painting my windows.

He had a go at it with a plank of wood on top and managed to bash it almost all the way in with a brick, but is bringing a sledgehammer with him tomorrow - he thinks it will go in fine and I certainly can't see it budging - the ground is HARD and the spike is HUGE!

Many thanks for all the advice

waaag

If the ground is hard, you could leave the hosepipe running onto it a while then the ground will be easier to hammer into.

purplepatch

waaag wrote:

If the ground is hard, you could leave the hosepipe running onto it a while then the ground will be easier to hammer into.

Got a hosepipe ban though

The sledgehammer did the trick and the washing line is now up and running.

:j