Rotten fence posts set in concrete - any advice?

Astrolabe

Hope this is the right place to ask an outdoorsy DIY question?

We need to replace a run of fencing along side our drive. All the posts are showing signs of having rotted close to the base, the difficulty is that they are set into the concrete of the drive. Although I wish we didn't have a concrete drive we aren't contemplating digging it up due to the massive task and expense of replacing it, so we are wondering how to a) extract all the rotten wood out of the post holes, and b) fit new posts when the holes will be virtually exactly post sized - i.e no room for extra cement or even a Metpost type thing.

Our boundary is the edge of the concrete drive, and although we get on well with our neighbours, I don't think I could ask them if we could erect a new fence effectively in their garden, which is the only other thing I've thought of.

Has anyone does something similar and been successful? What do you think our options are?

Andy_L

if the concrete is sound you can get bolt down metpost type things
http://www.metpost.co.uk/mp_boltdown.html
and just offset the new posts from the existing holes - ie start with a half panel.

Poppycat

Yes I seen those bolt down metposts in B&Q, I am not sure how secure they are though.

WestonDave

The bolt down post anchors are fine if bolted down properly - i.e. a proper concrete expansion fixing, not a big screw into a rawlplug (as our gardeners tried to get away with). The key is to get a bolt which is as near as possible in size to the hole in the metpost bracket so that the brackets can't walk because of spare room around the bolt.

The alternative in your situation is to use one of these repair bracket - I've never used one of these but the principle seems sound - i.e. you use the existing concrete hole with the existing wood to keep the thing rigid.

Given that the bolt down ones would bolt outside the existing post hole you may be able to use a combination of both - i.e. the repair ones where the wood is still fairly sound underground and the bolt down ones for posts which are totally shot under ground.

Greentea

Sounds like you need to remove some or the concrete driveway to remove existing posts. This can be recemented when you put in the new posts. Cementing posts is the only way to ensure posts will remain.

Poppycat

Those bolt down things are not good for gates but probably not a problem on here

Poppycat

One question whats best solution with posts in soil as we just recently moved house and posts are unstable wont last more than a good storm

I am sure I seen concrete posts where you wedge the panels in but not very confident on us doing that.

moonrakerz

Poppycat wrote: »

One question whats best solution with posts in soil as we just recently moved house and posts are unstable wont last more than a good storm

I am sure I seen concrete posts where you wedge the panels in but not very confident on us doing that.

These are the best long term solution. The posts have a groove each side and the panels just sit in the grooves.

http://www.buildingsuppliesrus.co.uk/sections.asp?id=5793&aid=&aguid=&b=&guid=&gclid=CKGFjIX25YwCFQmyEAodJyYS2A

niccy

trying to think outside the box:eek:

is there an alternative to the fence and post method,

planters

that plastic rope type fence

bollards (with lights)

a water feature:rotfl:

Astrolabe

Thanks for your replies,
WestonDave - the combination of repair bracket and bolt down thing sounds very promising, cheers!

Niccy - thanks, outside the box ideas very welcome, but I should have mentioned we have a vigorous toddler, so ideas must help contain him and his Little Tyke car -the current fence can't take the pounding for too much longer and I worry he'll end up face down between the drive and the neighbours house soon!

never_enough

Poppycat wrote: »

One question whats best solution with posts in soil as we just recently moved house and posts are unstable wont last more than a good storm

I am sure I seen concrete posts where you wedge the panels in but not very confident on us doing that.

We have these & they're brilliant. When a panel needs replacing you just slide the old one out (although not on a windy day...:o ) & slide the new one in. When part of our side fence blew down in storms earlier this year we used those, the rest of the back garden has them already. Did it ourselves (& we're not too handy) dug holes, used postcrete so we didn't even need to mix concrete, it was dry in a couple of hours. Very pleased with ourselves we were too! Solid as a rock & the panel can be lifted out so a small digger can get through into the back garden ...which is *really* useful!!! :rolleyes: