Twisted & split fence posts

Therealdisraeli

I had a new fence put up last year and since then it looks like two of the posts have twisted so much they've split. One of them completely width-wise.

Is it worth trying to replace them (they're concreted in), or just secure them with metal straps & wood glue?

Boohoo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6682132/twisted-split-fence-posts

Who installed them and how long ago?

A wider shot is needed please.

I think it will have to be removed and a new one installed in its place.

Have you checked all the other posts that were if any installed at the same t?

Therealdisraeli

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82125654#Comment_82125654

It was two years ago, not last year.

A wider photo

This is the other post, you can see the twisting more here and how the wood is split lengthways

Boohoo

The wood is probably pressure treated or something like that but someone has only added wood stain/preserver on 1 side of the fence and gate so water ingress could be affecting the wood.

Also the very hot and dry weather over the past few months could of made the timber dry out if that's a thing.

WIAWSNB

The vertical - running-with-the-grain - shakes are not unusual, and shouldn't cause any particular issue, other than perhaps allowing rain in to advance rot.

The actual break in the first post is very unusual - I don't think I've ever seen that. It appears as tho' the vertical split has gone right through, so turned the post into two thin slices!

I'd be tempted to force in polyurethane glue, which expands to fill gaps. 'Gorilla' brand works well. Force it right in there - both the vertical split and the actual break - using a prodder like a piece of wire, and then firmly duct-tape over the cracks. Leave for a day or two. When you remove the tape, you should find the foam has been contained and shaped flat by the tape so it's pretty neat. If the foam has spread out, it can be chiselled or trimmed with a knife so it's flush. Then add a flat screw-plate to span the break well, using 2.75" screws to bite into the other side of that vertical split too. You can part pilot-hole through the first half.

I'd wait until the weather is dry again for a decent stretch, and then consider spraying into every shake with wood preserver. When that has dried, then ditto with fence paint, or just force it in using a brush working it in well - try and seal off these crack openings.

bjorn_toby_wilde

I’ve had a couple of posts behave like this and it doesn’t seem to matter how they’re treated after you buy them. The problem is IMO that the post hasn’t been seasoned properly before you got it.

When you buy this timber it’s still wet and as it dries out it springs back to its natural form.

Will it fail? Probably not, but it doesn’t look great. Poor quality timber but I don’t know where you can get good quality nowadays. I’m leaning towards composite posts next time.

WIAWSNB

Probably a combination of what you say, btw, and poor quality timber. But reassuring that it doesn't noticeably affect its strength.

OP, if that broken post is actually still strong, and you aren't concerned about that aspect, then you can probably skip the metal-plate bit. If in any doubt, tho', add it.

But try that Gorilla+duct tape trick. And you can add screws going through pilot/clearance holes in the 'broken' section, and biting fully into the back layer to pull and hold them together.