Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:14:17 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215060#Comment_215060 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215060#Comment_215060 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 17:17:01 +0000 djh

I suppose I dig a hole, but how big? Put a layer of gravel in the bottom? How deep? Then put the post in and fill around it with gravel, compacting it down. What type of gravel/aggregate to use?

Thanks for any pointers.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215063#Comment_215063 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215063#Comment_215063 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 18:01:18 +0000 SteveZ https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215075#Comment_215075 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215075#Comment_215075 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:15:25 +0000 DeClock https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215080#Comment_215080 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215080#Comment_215080 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 20:43:14 +0000 djh
They're treated softwood, 2.4 m long, 150 mm square and blunt. One post will be in soil, which is clay. The other will be in the boundary between the Type 1 hardcore that's underneath the house and the soil.

The gates are 1.2 m x 1.75 m (WxH), close-boarded timber. I guess they're around 40 kg each. They're a rebated pair and there's nothing else connected to the posts except some short filling timber up to the house on one side and the boundary fence on the other (the gap they're filling is just shy of 3 m).]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215081#Comment_215081 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215081#Comment_215081 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 20:59:10 +0000 owlman For the other side you may be better off with a hardwood post, or for something different maybe concrete with timber cladding to match the other, or steel tube.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215082#Comment_215082 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215082#Comment_215082 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 22:39:11 +0000 djh Posted By: owlmanI have a similar gap at the side of my house to the boundary but only one gate. The hinge post side, I "strapped " to the house wall to give a good firm fix. If you did that It's possible to have that side out of the ground altogether and perhaps into a metal ground shoe.
For the other side you may be better off with a hardwood post, or for something different maybe concrete with timber cladding to match the other, or steel tube.
I don't want to fix to the house (it's straw bale), so I'll wait and see what people suggest for anchoring the softwood posts, thanks.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215101#Comment_215101 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215101#Comment_215101 Fri, 12 Dec 2014 13:44:44 +0000 PaulJ https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215102#Comment_215102 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215102#Comment_215102 Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:16:59 +0000 bot de paille https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215137#Comment_215137 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215137#Comment_215137 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 09:13:48 +0000 DeClock I would never dig a hole less than 900mm deep on the low side and preferably 1000mm. I would use the traditional method of rammed stone to secure the post. This method involves driving in angular rocks around the post until they are wedged incredibly tightly, you start at the bottom and work up. The first and last 200mm are the most important as this is where the strain is, however i always make sure that the whole post is secured tightly from the bottom to the top. I drive the rocks in with a 1.6m crow bar which has a flat rounded end welded on it, big rocks first then drive wedges into the gaps until it all becomes solid then just work on up ! This method allows natural drainage and does not hold water next to the post, it is however tricky to do well if you are not experienced. The posts that you have are just to short for this method as you must get a minimal of 900mm in good ground, if the ground conditions are not good then you need to increase your hole depth and may need to attach a bracing "foot" near the very bace and at the back of the post and another just below the surface on the inside of the post at the top. If you research traditional methods for putting in a "fence strainer post" you should be able to get some diagrams. Just remember your not going to be fitting a "fencing strut" so the solid securing of the post is going to be vital. The problem with concrete is that it never gives a good seal to the wood, as the wood expands and contracts. Water always get down inside and this cannot escape, this leads to early rot especially if you are not using proper pressure treated timber designed for a gate / strainer post....... A large hole filled with concrete and a quality metal foot designed for the specific purpose of a gate post would be a much more expensive and technical way to do it..... But i like the old traditional ways..... Thats just my tuppence worth.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215180#Comment_215180 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215180#Comment_215180 Sun, 14 Dec 2014 10:06:37 +0000 adwindrum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLx4e_Y0eU8

looks easy....]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215184#Comment_215184 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215184#Comment_215184 Sun, 14 Dec 2014 11:15:51 +0000 djh Posted By: adwindrumhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLx4e_Y0eU8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLx4e_Y0eU8

looks easy....
"Do not use for structural posts (piles, etc.) or posts under tension (clothesline posts, flagpoles, gate posts, etc.) ..."?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215250#Comment_215250 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215250#Comment_215250 Sun, 14 Dec 2014 21:14:09 +0000 adwindrum https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215556#Comment_215556 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215556#Comment_215556 Fri, 19 Dec 2014 22:11:20 +0000 wookey
It is important to have enough depth, as he emphasises, especially for gate posts. The ones that I had for my gates were too short, so it was probably only 0.6m or so underground, which for big heavy gates wasn't enough so they sagged a few mm together after a couple of years, despite chunky 6" posts.

None of the posts I've put in this way got anywhere near rotting, so I don't know how long they'll last. I'm pretty sure it'll be better than concrete, and it's greener to boot. It's a good game bashing stones in whilst keeping the post properly upright. A beautiful assistant is best to help with this.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215592#Comment_215592 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215592#Comment_215592 Sat, 20 Dec 2014 12:06:01 +0000 borpin Posted By: wookeyIt's a good game bashing stones in whilst keeping the post properly upright. A beautiful assistant is best to help with this.Or brace it (but only as a last resort after all beautiful assistants have turned you down).]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215718#Comment_215718 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12885&Focus=215718#Comment_215718 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 13:35:40 +0000 Justin I normally slap a thick layer of Waxoy on the steel before putting it in. If you chose ~10mm section is about 10 times thicker than an expensive "metpost", and it will outlast you.]]>