Due to the width of my driveway and slope of the street, I am installing a steel frame gate. Each gate will be approx. 8.5 feet wide. The post will have to be 8 - 8.5 feet above ground. Will a 5 1/4 inch post do or is it over kill? At 8.5 feet above ground, how deep should the post go in the ground, I am thinking 4 feet minumum set in concrete.
2007-10-16 08:50:21 · 4 answers · asked by smd6169 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Certainly the greatest stress will be at the point of the gate/gates; farthest from the post. Give me a min. I'm trying to get over some confusion........
You state the posts must be 8.5 above ground. So that assumes codes allow and 8 ft. fence? BTW; there is no such thing as overkill. The issues might relate more to the substance of the soil; than strictly to the depth of the post/ concrete or not.
A 12 ft. 6x post, using 4 plus ft. Of concrete seems adequate; but as I said; soil substance matters; as well as the slope and drainage; Frost line; etc.
For gates that wide I'd be inclined to do double posts; especially if you aren't depending on a Fence corner to aid in support. Certainly you can add wheels to the center posts where the gates meet in closing.
Steven Wolf
Miles of Fencing
2007-10-16 12:34:56 · answer #1 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're right! 4feet into the ground! if it's a steel frame fence, a 5 1/4" diameter post is mega huge!! You probably only need a 2 1/2" or 3" post.
Double check with your fencing dealer. I think you may be a tad large on your post diameters, but your 4 foot depth with concrete is right on!!
2007-10-16 10:34:15 · answer #2 · answered by Rawstuff 007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The weight and surface area of the gate will have
a lot to do with it.
(Wind forces on the gate are a consideration.)
Also you don't state the profile or wall thickness
of the post.
A 4' deep post set in a concrete foundation sounds plenty strong, but I'd fill the post with cement/sand
mix to add stiffness.
2007-10-16 11:26:49 · answer #3 · answered by Irv S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you right on with your measurements.So you would need 12 1/2 foot posts.
2007-10-16 09:20:18 · answer #4 · answered by cog1233 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go buy a handyman jack (it looks like a bumper jack but is made out of substantial steel) and chain the jack to the post and just jack the post, concrete and all out of the ground most feed/farm stores have them and they are under $100 and are truly handy
2016-03-13 00:11:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋