Removing Fence Posts Mounted in Cement Footings – DIY Fence Repair


The easiest way to take away a fence submit put in in a stable concrete base if the wooden submit is damaged off at floor degree with out digging or utilizing costly tools. There are many options on the web which can be passable when the fence submit is robust and durable: use a lever to boost the fence submit, excavate a trench in conjunction with the fence submit and push the submit out, increase the submit utilizing a bumper jack or excessive carry agriculture jack, or herald heavy tools – however every of those strategies actually would not sort out the widespread dilemma confronting a home-owner after wind harm – the wooden submit is snapped off.

All too typically the fence submit is splintered so there’s nothing out there above floor that’s stable, the bottom is of unknown dimension and depth, and the fence to be repaired is in a location near constructions that hamper accessibility of a backhoe (not even accounting for the rental expense or the hurt they could trigger to yards). Within the occasion that only some fence posts are broken on a fence, the brand new posts actually have to be set in the exact same place – chopping the damaged posts off decrease than garden degree and putting in the alternative wooden posts using an off-set is solely not an answer.

Making use of a mix of approaches is the perfect method – first minimize down the maintain the bottom has on the submit by utilizing the Wooden Put up Puller (a easy engineering answer to the dilemma) after which execute the perfect lifting method accessible. Making use of a brute power process of lifting concrete is plainly a poor concept; concrete is extraordinarily sturdy when compressed, however tremendously fragile when pulled – the truth is, the tensile power of concrete is just about 10% of its compressive power. Pulling the cement out of the bottom may be very more likely to trigger harmful flying chunks because the concrete fractures below the strain.

Fence Put up and Concrete Base Elimination

Step 1: Take away something mounted to the wooden submit and clear the realm close by the submit and cement footing.

Step 2: With the water hose hooked up and water flowing, push the spike instrument totally within the floor on the fringe of the cement base.

TIP – Try to wiggle the submit after the preliminary insertion – any kind of shift of the cement base within the floor (even a vibration) will permit the water to power its approach alongside the floor of the concrete footing and develop a skinny layer of mud. If the fence submit is damaged attempt to jam a pry bar into the prevailing wooden submit after which push the bar forwards and backwards, or hit the cement footing strongly aspect to aspect with a sledgehammer. Now attempt lifting the fence submit and cement footing utilizing the directions in Step 4 – typically the wooden submit will come proper out!

Step 3: Repeat step 2 at uniform places across the footing – typical fence repair spring tx posts will name for lower than 4-6 insertions of the spike instrument, however cussed posts can want the spike instrument to be inserted each 2-3 inches till you’ve encircled the entire cement footing. If you’re unable to drag out the fence submit and cement base in Step 4, replicate Step 3 at much more places across the submit.

Step 4: [Different lifting methods could be selected] Securely power a pry bar into the cement base at a couple of 45 diploma angle from the soil. Duplicate the association on the other aspect of the cement footing. The nearer the pivot is positioned to the footing the extra leverage can be utilized. Two 5-6 foot pry bars are glorious however a large number of assorted different issues is also utilized. Fully insert the spike into the bottom proper subsequent to the cement footing. With the water turned on fully to the spike, apply even downward power to each pry bars [requires 2 people], lifting the concrete base and submit. Don’t hurry up this step – allow time for the water to begin constructing hydraulic power on the underside aspect of the cement footing and assist out on the carry. The water should be on throughout this motion or elevating the concrete footing will begin constructing a sucking power pulling the fence submit again down.

TIP – If the bars are sinking into the soil, assist them with scrap items of 4×4, or previous fence posts.

TIP – Start the pry bar place at 45 levels or much less – if they’re too vertical the bars can be urgent in opposition to 1 one other and never lifting the cement footing out of the bottom.

Step 5: Alternately take away both of the pry bars and reset again once more to the 45 diploma starting place – utilizing the opposite pry bar to carry the concrete footing throughout the reset. After each pry bars are reset, repeat Steps 4 and 5 till the submit is totally faraway from the soil.

Warning – the submit and cement footing mixed are heavy (regularly over 100 kilos)! If the cement footing stays full it is possible for you to to drag out the submit and cement footing as one stable piece, if the cement footing has cracked very often the items could also be taken out collectively as a result of the truth that the pry bars compress them in the direction of one another like a jigsaw puzzle. Even when the wooden submit is significantly rotten contained in the concrete footing and parts break off they are going to be merely picked up after eradicating the primary portion – simply attain throughout the soil and peel the broken cement from the edges of the outlet and from the underside.

Instantly cowl or in any other case safe the opening to keep away from any unintentional entry or harm.

Given that you’ve eliminated the submit and cement and have a pleasant clear gap, do not duplicate the unhealthy choice by putting in your wooden submit with cement. Excavate a ten inch gap and set the wooden submit 1/3 of its size into the bottom [a traditional 8 ft wood post should be buried at least 2 1/2 feet]. Use the proper provides [a treated 4×4 fence post approved for direct burial] and set the fence submit with crushed gravel. Put 6 inches of crushed gravel within the backside of the outlet and compress the crushed stone firmly each 2-3 inches as you fill the outlet and true the fence submit. Utilizing this process, your fence must be vertical and durable for a few years.


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