3 Ways to Set a Fence Post (+1 Bonus Method)

Pair of legends. Absolutely love jeff. I'm sure there are thousands similar to me out there because of jeff. Started watching him years ago. Gave me the confidence and knowledge to do my own bathroom, then a fence, then a patio, fireplace reno, kitchen and other bathroom - did the whole house. Saved probably 100k and enjoyed every minute of it. People found my work and I started getting paid to do it. More bathrooms, ktichens, fences, etc. Paid off my wife's student loans in no time. So if you read this Jeff- I want you to think of the thousands of folks you helped out there.

great show as i have some fence posts to put in next year, and I need one for the gate. Now i know what to pick up. very helpful

I have always used the dry pour and at times I will put a few galvanized nail into the post which assist the retention to the post. Also I do the same with vinyl fence posts. My neighbor had a fence company come in and put up a fence and after two years they had posts where already lifting.

I set a mailbox post two years ago with a different option. It's called Simpson Strong-tie easy Spike. It basically consists of a metal spike with a bracket for a 4x4 post at the top. Installing it was as simple as setting a sacrificial piece of 4x4 in the bracket and driving it into the ground with a sledgehammer. Then just set your post in the bracket, plum and level, and screw in place. Rock solid and if the post ever gets hit by a car or rots out it's as simple as taking a few screws out and setting a new post in the bracket. They make a longer version for fence posts. I have one sitting in my garage for a upcoming project where I have to remove part of a privacy fence and don't want to pour cement to replace the post.

Good to know nobody is ever removing the fence posts I put in (dry pour). My Brother-in-Law works for city parks and one of the old-timers said you could even just pour the dry concrete and leave it and it would eventually suck up enough moisture from the ground to harden on its own (if you're really not in a hurry).

I like using the foam for things that may need to be moved or replaced. Like satellite dishes, or similar. Makes removal a breeze.

Just what I need! Gonna put a fence out back this summer.

My dad's family had a special tool they called a "tamper", homemade. When they began to refill the hole around the post, they would tamp or pack the dirt down hard. I am 69 years old and they were here before I was. I have done the same thing and the posts are pretty sturdy. They have held cows and horses, which if they are tame, doesn't take much.

You put an extra half bag into the rapidpost hole - so it'd obviously be heavier. plus more material at the top of the hole, so less wobble.

My brother found another method. Filled the hole with sand and watered it down. His posts are solid.🙂

Doesn't get much better doing DIY experiments with you kid... Beautiful ❤👏🏾👏🏾

Jeff's turning into Hercules with that first post!

I used the foam for lamppost when that product first came out. It has held up just fine, surprisingly

Rapid post looks like the clear winner to me. I will have to see what its going for in my area assuming I can get it (thats an issue here often with products). For a few years I have been wanting to drop a few posts around an old concrete slab we have outback, just 3 or 4 posts for a kind of windbreak and privacy fence. I dont have the back anymore to do concrete unless I just did one at a time taking day or so breaks between, and I dont really have the budget for foam (would basically cost as much or more than the rest of the project finished). But that rapid post dry pour stuff seems the ticket at just a little more than concrete but also very easy to work with and no ticking clock until you are already done.

That was fun to watch. Thank you for sharing!

Looks like you're ready to do a Cabor toss great video

That was really good and really informative! Funny too! Saving this video!

Love love love love love you, your post about putting in posts, it's genius, thank you!

Definitely information I can use! Now, about that flat black post holder, would that be considered 'temporary" fencing? I guess I'll have to wait to find out...waiting :)

Hi Jeff. The way I was taught to set a post here in SW Ontario, was to auger a 8" hole 3' deep, put 6" of dry concrete in the hole, (half a bag) add some water, place the post and back-fill with soil. My fence has been up for 15 years and there has been no movement. The frost shouldn't catch the smooth fence post, and the ball of cement at the bottom will not rise or sink. I was told that all the post needs is a firm bottom so it will not sink. I do believe my method works. Thoughts?