Wooden fence posts sitting on concrete

hatt55

I feel like some simple fence panel replacement could be within the realms of my ability (and therefore save me a bit of money for stuff that needs a professional!).

There are 4 fence panels to be replaced. The lower half is a wall, so the upper 4ft is the fence panel. At the moment these are attached using a right angle bracket which is set into the concrete below and then the fence post is attached to the bracket i.e. the fence post does not touch the ground.

A friend is going to help me do this and has suggested that we get longer fence posts than are currently used. These would still be attached to the right angle bracket but for extra support they would go down further and just 'sit' on the concrete below. 

I can see how this might help make things a bit sturdier, and perhaps just be a little bit easier to do for amateurs. The concrete is a bit uneven but I'm not really concerned about the aesthetic. What I would worry about is whether allowing the fence posts to sit on the ground in a shady part of the garden will speed up the base rotting.

I have searched for some kind plastic 'foot' for the base of the post but can't seem to find anything that fits the bill. Alternatives seem to be to dip the posts in bitumen/creosote/similar, though I would already intend to buy pressure treated wood.

Or, we just buy shorter posts and replicate the current set up where they don't touch the ground.

What would people suggest? Is sitting the posts on the floor providing any kind of benefit anyway or is that not how a fencing structure works?!  

Bookworm105

what is "wrong" with the existing set up? Is the fence inadequately supported by the angle irons and therefore the posts need to be touching the ground, but not embedded?

What would happen if the bottom 50mm of the fence post rots out anyway if touching the ground? Still supported by the angle iron 

how long do you think it would take to reach that stage? Pressure treated post sitting on the ground could take 10 - 15 years to show any meaningful extent of rot. By that time the angle irons will be rotting anyway 

hatt55

One of the existing posts has rotted part way up and the panels themselves are beginning to fall apart. So in that respect the existing set up works fine, its just the timber seems to be coming to the end of its life. 

And you're right, I'm not sure that there would be any issue if the bottom of the fence post rotted. I think the suggestion has been made just because it might be easier to install the posts back into the brackets if they are rested on the ground and perhaps would make things a little bit sturdier.

The angle irons (I've been searching for what they're called!) or pretty rusty at the moment. They're caked in a thick layer of paint but I'm hoping that they're still sturdy enough that they could be re-used. If they fall apart when the posts are taken out then this whole plan is a bit scuppered!

Eldi_Dos

Place four nylon washers underneath each of the posts, they will keep post from touching concrete and help base to stay dry.

Murmansk

If the posts are attached to the wall somehow then there's no advantage in making them touch the concrete - it's not as though they are taking a lot of weight. 

ThisIsWeird

A photo would help to understand, but it sounds as tho' your friend is thinking in terms of the longer post being able to 'take the weight', so all the brackets then have to do is handle the sideways leverage?
As Eldi suggests, it's worth having some form of spacer positioned in the middle of the post's base to keep it off the ground. 
Every few years, during a good dry spell,  worth using a garden spray to apply something like Everbuild Lumberjack to the posts, concentrating on the tops (which I presume will have caps), the bracket fixings, and any bits in contact with the wall. Allow the excess runoff to end up slowly at the bottom, where it should get sucked up by that end too - even fire a squirt up there.

Lorian

I took can't picture the brackets, but if I was just doing a quick job to refurb them I'd give the a good cleaning with a wire brush then a coat of zinc spray or kurust then a coat of hammerite or rustoleum.

twopenny

There are all sorts of metal feet for fence posts resting on concrete.

Just search for "holders for fence posts uk" - because I don't know what they're called but they're cheap enough.

That would be an extra strength to the posts.

stripling

hatt55 said:

I feel like some simple fence panel replacement could be within the realms of my ability (and therefore save me a bit of money for stuff that needs a professional!).

There are 4 fence panels to be replaced. The lower half is a wall, so the upper 4ft is the fence panel. At the moment these are attached using a right angle bracket which is set into the concrete below and then the fence post is attached to the bracket i.e. the fence post does not touch the ground.

A friend is going to help me do this and has suggested that we get longer fence posts than are currently used. These would still be attached to the right angle bracket but for extra support they would go down further and just 'sit' on the concrete below. 

I can see how this might help make things a bit sturdier, and perhaps just be a little bit easier to do for amateurs. The concrete is a bit uneven but I'm not really concerned about the aesthetic. What I would worry about is whether allowing the fence posts to sit on the ground in a shady part of the garden will speed up the base rotting.

I have searched for some kind plastic 'foot' for the base of the post but can't seem to find anything that fits the bill. Alternatives seem to be to dip the posts in bitumen/creosote/similar, though I would already intend to buy pressure treated wood.

Or, we just buy shorter posts and replicate the current set up where they don't touch the ground.

What would people suggest? Is sitting the posts on the floor providing any kind of benefit anyway or is that not how a fencing structure works?!  

Buy a tin of Blackjack creosote paint. 
Only use minimum 4 x 4 posts. 
Paint the creosote on all sides at the bottom end of the posts and underneath - 2 coats.
Either fix them back to the brackets or fix them to bolt down plates (that fit around the posts)
Use big bolts and make sure all nails/screws/whatever is metal are galvanised. 
Even better - paint posts and panels afterwards with a good fence paint. 
Put caps on the posts. 

That should last ok. 

hatt55

Thanks all - some useful suggestions. For a bit of context, this is what the set up looks like at the moment (and then similar posts to the left as you move along). Whoever rendered the house did it around the existing fence panel so I'll move the panel away from the wall. This post will probably need to get moved to the other side of the bracket so it isn't up against the house. It may not end up being to professional standards, but it will feel like an achievement if we just manage to get a sturdy fence in place!


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