The day I stopped eyeballing post hole depth

For years, I'd just dig until the post felt solid, maybe checking with a tape measure once in a while. Then, on a big cedar fence job in the spring rains last year, I had three posts start to lean within a month. My boss was not happy, and I had to go back and fix them all on my own time. That was the kick I needed. Now, I use a marked digging bar as a depth gauge for every single hole, and I keep a cheap laser level in the truck to double-check before I pour the concrete. It adds maybe five minutes per post, but I haven't had a callback for a leaning fence since. Has anyone else found a simple tool or check that totally fixed a repeat problem like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

tara_palmer3d ago

Just a heads up, concrete can actually make wooden posts rot faster if it traps moisture against them.

juliawalker3d ago

But how much faster are we talking? I've seen plenty of old fences with posts set in concrete that held up for decades. It seems like one of those things that's technically true but maybe not a big deal in real life. If the wood is pressure treated and the concrete is above grade so water can drain, the risk seems pretty low. Sometimes these warnings make a small problem sound like a sure thing.