Any opinions? Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. For example, if you’re using 4 inch posts we know that your hole needs to be 12 inches square so measure out from each of the 4 faces of your fence post marker, 6 inches to create your 12 inch square.
Hold them upright near the top of the handles and close the handles together. However, my soil is a nice sandy loam. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Damn, I've already bought the fence, and there's no chance to return it. I like to save money and I also like to get things done so I’m tempted to just go dig them by hand. It is best to dig a part hole and pour water in to work and weaken the soil if you reach a tough part of the ground. She taught herself to sew in 2011 when she wanted to make cloth diapers for her first son. They are both cheap to hire, cheap to buy and readily available from most DIY stores, online or from your local builders merchant.
Never leave any post holes that have been already dug unattended. It’s a lot easier to loosen the soil first before digging it out with your post hole diggers. Secondly, if there are lots of stones or tree roots present in the ground you’re working in, power augers can easily bind on objects like these and when they do, if you’re not fully balanced it can easily send you flying! Designed specifically, these will take the least time and the least effort however a few things will need to be considered before digging. It probably makes more sense for decks and heavy duty structures. This site uses cookies. Also, trying to remove earth from a hole that’s fairly deep using a shovel is back-breaking work. The general rule is when setting a fence post into the ground, the height required above the ground should be divided by 3 and this figure is the hole depth required.
Position your load over your bucket or tarp and close the handles together to release the load. a San Angelo bar that has a sharp point on one end and a flat sharp end on the other, I DO NOT add concrete because it doesn’t prevent rotting, Gas Powered Hand One Man Auger/Post Digger, Affordable Advertising for Your Sewing Business or Blog, How to Keep a Water Trough Clean for Livestock, I believe the heavy double ended bar is called a, Posts: Go for pressure treated wood which is treated with chemicals to prevent rotting, Fence Driver (with machinery): This would require renting equipment, PTO Auger/Post Digger with Attachment for tractor: Rent or buy. Measure and mark the location of each fence post.
Restrictions apply, see product lead-time and post code checker for availability. Although any buried electric cables should be at least 600mm below ground level, and gas pipes around a similar depth this isn’t always the case so it’s well worth checking if there could potentially be any pipes or lines where you’ll be digging. Make sure you know the ground layer and stay well clear of piping.
Now that we know what tools we need to use and how big our fence post hole is going to be in respect to the size of fence posts we are using it’s time to get our post holes dug. I wanted to do a quick blog post about digging holes by hand.
If you’re digging your hole in soil, dig a small channel with your space to define the hole and if you’re working with something tougher such as concrete or asphalt, you can you a suitable marker or chalk to define your hole. We usually swap ends of the bar, alternating between the point and the longer sharp edge. Repeat step 3 and this step and work your way down to the required depth, occasionally stopping to measure your depth with the tape measure. Have you looked into renting one? This is an easy task if you’re not digging a lot of holes or don’t have the money or access to a powered auger. Use the post hole estimator to quickly find out how much concrete you will need to set your fence posts. Before you start digging, unhook your string line from one end and move it out of the way so that it doesn’t get damaged. I did research online, but I'm getting mixed reviews.
8"-10" auger will be fine. I will often rent one. Which is it? I keep telling myself “it’s really not THAT many posts.” LOL! I’m in the Northeast and its a lot of spud bar work... Everyone is reading this as though you asked if the augur should be 6” or 8”. Thrust your digger into the ground and jiggle it around before opening the claws and extracting soil. To break up the rock, we use a San Angelo bar that has a sharp point on one end and a flat sharp end on the other. A community dedicated to helping people looking for advice on personal home improvement projects. In her spare time, she gardens, reads, horseback rides, and has a small homestead with goats and ducks. The bottom of the fence should be below the frost line for your area as well. Post hole diggers have a maximum effective depth of about 3/4 of their handle length, so a five foot pair will dig about 3 1/2 half deep. I will need it for more than four hours (30+ holes and I don't want to be rushed), and then it costs like $75 for a day. 6 divided by 3 is 2, therefore the depth of the hole required is 2 feet. This is a MAJOR safety issue so please don’t skip this step. you'll want a good gravel/concrete buffer around the post. Even though I measured really well, I still found I needed some wiggle room when I put the posts in the holes. Essentially yes, but as with many DIY and construction jobs, there should be a tool made specifically for the job at hand. Digging post holes by hand is possible and affordable, but it requires a lot of sweat equity. Hold the post until the mix is semi set, then use left over soil to cover the layer to reapply the natural look. Don't fancy doing this project yourself? If I had really rocky or heavy clay soil, an 8" auger probably would have worked better.
Digging a simple hole may seem like a pretty easy job. We usually try to make our post holes around 2.5-3′. 3.14 x 4 x 4 -(4x4) = cross section area of 34. This means that EVEN WITH a 6′ fence, we still need the hole to be 2.5’+ deep… and a longer than 8′ post. Leave a comment! It is often the case you will experience roots and other hard objects, use the bladed edges to work the soil to allow for deeper penetration of the ground. With good sleeves you could even replace the wood without removing the concrete. The height of your post multiplied by the number of posts will equal the number of feet of post material needed. She’s been sewing everything from ecofriendly items to kids products to clothing since, as it has become a passion. dig the holes 12" in diameter, to a depth of 2 1/2 - 4'. Anchoring the Fence posts – Pouring concrete mix into the hole to keep the post stable is a common practice. That may make sense if you plan to add concrete, but I can’t help but think that’s a lot of concrete and a lottttt of hole. If you add 6″ to the bottom of your hole depth, you can add gravel to the bottom to provide better drainage and prevent the wood from rotting as quickly. Here are a four tips to help you find the correct fence post hole depth: Keep the height of your fence in mind when digging your post holes. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. I did 20 with a friend and a similar auger, we were both very much hurting afterward. For the width, you need to make the hole three times the width of the post … How deep you dig your post holes depends on a variety of factors – fence height, frost line, local building codes and more. You just need a shovel right? With a good amount of soil loosened up you can now start to remove it using your post hole diggers. It may be worth renting one for a few days over buying if you wont be using it again in the future.
As you turn the auger you need to apply some downward pressure, to force it down into the ground. The above information covers how to dig out a fence post hole, for more information on how to fix fence posts in place, see our project here. Finance Services Register no.470325. Also, reassess your fence layout and make sure your posts are where you want them. Digging the hole – You can find at all big house and garden suppliers a tool named a post hole digger. Credit is provided by PayPal Credit, a trading name of PayPal (Europe) Sarl et Cie SCA, 22 - 24 Boulevard Royal L-2449, Luxembourg, authorised and regulated by the Finance Conduct Authority. Still have questions? Are you talking "metal link fence" post or 4X4? Repeat until your hole is the depth you need. At least 33 percent (or 1/3) of the fence post will need to be buried. Visit her shop to buy patterns or her sewing eBooks.
*Free delivery area varies by product range, see individual product pages for details. They are probably cost prohibitive though unless you cut your own posts. Follow the correct concrete instructions, avoid a quick job as it will have minimal effect on the post. That way you can be sure that the holes you dig are the perfect size for the fence panels. Ensure your string line is straight and inline with where you want your posts to go and that the front face of each stake it flush with the line.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'diydoctor_org_uk-incontent_5','ezslot_22',688,'0','0'])); Using your tape measure, measure out from each face of the fence post marker the correct distance for the size of fence post you’re using. How to Dig a Deep Hole for 4 Inch Fence Post. For example, a 6-foot tall fence will need at least 2 feet of post …
The calculator will give you the results in cubic yards and number of pre-mixed bags of concrete (40 lb, 60 lb, and 80 lb bags).
Most people use pine 2x3s.If you use galvenized steel and strong rails that fence might last 30+ years. ~$30. This is an interesting video I watched on this: Call Ms. Utility (I think it’s 811 in the United States) to have them mark electrical and other underground wiring BEFORE YOU DIG. Post hole diggers have a maximum effective depth of about 3/4 of their handle length, so a five foot pair will dig about 3 1/2 half deep. Taking steps to properly plan your fence project before digging your first post hole will save you time (and headaches) in the long run.
For example, if you are erecting a 6 foot high fence using 4 inch fence posts, the posts need to be 6 feet above the ground. Once your posts have been set, see our project here for information on how to fix fence fence panels to fence posts to get your whole fencing project completed. I am ordering a post hole digger for my Kubota L3400 tractor to be used in setting 4x4 (actually 3.5x3.5) posts for fence. As they’re alternate name suggests, they are a simple clamshell-like tool that you shove down into the hole, close together and then lift, removing any waste earth. Credit subject to status and affordability.
I was glad I got the 12" for that reason. Pull your handles open and take the digger out of the ground, piling the removed stone and dirt to the side. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. I'll look into this next time, but I got a good deal on posts and panels at only 1.2k for 35 panels & 10ft posts.