Can I concrete in fence spikes? It depends on the ground, the purpose and planned lifespan of the fence, the type of fence and the reason to concrete in the spikes, and also the property, ownership and what the owners want.
One of the things to think about is cost. Is it worth the money, would the fence spikes be secure enough if they are simply hammered in firmly?
It may depend on the ground. If you have soft ground, if you’re in a wet area and there is the risk of erosion and the fence becoming unsettled, then yes, maybe concrete is needed.
Fences in very windy areas, for example close to exposed sea coasts or up on hillsides may benefit from being concreted in to improve their stability.
Also with metal fences with shorter spikes than wooden ones, concrete tends to be useful or necessary, as long as the fence is set properly.
I have recent experience of a badly set fence that was concreted in, they used a weak concrete mix and within a week one of the stays for the gates has come out, rendering the new secure locking gates useless.
However, a small light picket or slat fence may not need the extra hassle and expense of concrete, firmly hammered in posts or spikes may well be fine without it.
Some people may use spikes instead of concrete, you set the fence posts in hollow bracket spikes which go into the ground and hold the fence firmly in place.
If you do need to concrete, make sure it’s done properly, with a good mix. If you’re lucky enough to be on chalk, you are unlikely to need concrete!
My young days were spent putting in fences on chalk, the difficult bit was to dig into the chalk, if we were lucky we had a mechanical auger, but often it was done by hand, but once the fence posts were in and backfilled, they were going nowhere! So it depends a lot on your ground and type of fence.
What is the fence for? This Will Determine Whether To Concrete The Fence Spikes
Temporary livestock fences don’t need concrete of course, the more permanent post and rail of post and wire fences may need concrete depending on the ground and the owner’s wishes.
I’ve known strong livestock fence to go in with and without concrete, hammered in firmly or driven in by a tractor-mounted post driver.
It depends, concreted fence posts are thought to be more durable, the fence is expected to last a long time, but the posts can’t be moved or replaced with any ease.
Concrete is also said to rot fence posts from the bottom, despite keeping them steady, so it’s a gamble with two sides to it, whether or not to concrete.
I find that a horse ranch or stables may well have smart fences with the posts concreted in, because they are not going to need to move, and the fences look nice, but a livestock ranch or farm may well simply hammer the posts in so that the layout of the fields and yards can be changed in the future if necessary.
A lot of domestic properties will have their garden and yard fences concreted in to make them last longer and stay stronger. Normally this is a standard procedure and straightforward, it may be carried out by a landscaper or the house owner.
The important thing is a correct and well mixed concrete mix that’s divided equally round each post.
Make sure the mixture is protected from rain and frost and cordon the area off, keep children and pets away as the concrete dries, and give it at least 24 hours to dry, usually longer.
Fence spikes should be braced while being concreted in, in order to stop their movement disturbing and breaking up the setting concrete.
It is advisable to choose a time when the forecast weather is good, to avoid freezing weather and frost, which could crack the concrete, and to avoid rainy weather which could prevent the concrete from setting.
In some cases you may be concreting the posts in a hole and then covering the concrete with earth to hide it, in which case allow several days for it to dry fully, and make sure it does dry, the last thing you want is concrete that never set properly and the fence falling over or blowing over in the wind, the damage could be tremendous.
So, Should You Concrete In Fence Spikes?
So yes you can concrete in fence spikes if you need to, but only do it if you need to as it is extra time and expense, and if it is suitable to your fence plans and the area and type of fence.
If you have to concrete, concrete well, don’t do a rush job or skimp on materials, and watch the weather.
