Does cementing fence posts into the ground rot the post causing the post to eventually snap off?

Question

p.s.The posts are pressure treated

Answer 1

Yeah, cements have lime and other corrosives in it that just tear wood up.

Answer 2

Well, eventually all wood posts will rot. Basically it is the soil type that determines the length of time. Sandy soil drains well and your posts will last, most likely, for the duration of the time you'll be there. Clay soils however retain water badly. Concrete or no concrete, the post will be subjected to water saturated conditions everytime it rains and for a while afterwards. And if you have a high water table, they will be subjected continually to water. If either of the last 2 scenarios is your case (a high water table) you might try coating the buried part of your posts with something like creosote, the tar-like black substance used on telephone poles. As long as the pole depth is deep enough (here it's 42") pea stone works as well as concrete for setting a post. And should you ever need to replace a post, you won't have to remove a large chunk of concrete to do so.

Answer 3

It does not if it is done properly. The post should be pressure treated or redwood. The concrete should slope up towards the post on all sides so that when water fall it runs away from the post. If done improperly the concrete could cause water to puddle and seep between the post and concrete and rot the wood. A properly set post should last thirty years or more.

Answer 4

Always use cement.....on a 4-7 ft fence, put 1 foot of the post underground in cement. For the gate posts which need more strength put a foot and a half to 2 feet underground in cement. There are 60 lb bags which are designed for posts, sacrete rapid set, put the post in, pour the bag in, level/plumb the post and add water.

Answer 5

Experience is the best teacher for me,
I did put them in the ground with concrete and tried to be conservative with the concrete. I filled the top 2 inches with dirt over the concrete with the post in it... big mistake, what I did was make a pool for the wood to set in,... so, when I re did the job with the new post I brought the concrete up out of the ground a bit and made a dome so water ran off and it was above the soil level... now there is not water standing and no rot... lesson is be generous with your concrete.

Answer 6

Not if the post is properly treated before it is set in cement. And it stands to reason that if it were put into the ground not cemented, then it would rot faster to begin with.

Chow!!

Answer 7

One way to reduce rot is to adding 6 inches of gravel in the hole first. Then the post, then the concrete. That allows water to drain away from the post.

Answer 8

it depends on what type of wood ur using.....we use pressure treated lumber....and no it will not make it rot.......i know this because i have had to replace fence post that were in concrete and they only snapped when a car can over them, lol......that post had been there she told me about 10 years....

lic. gen. contractor

Answer 9

no, what the cement does is hold the post in the ground longer than it would if you wouldnt. it doesnt affect its rotting or anything, or snapping off .

Answer 10

You cement make a cement cylinder with a bracket in it, and attach the post to the bracket.