The Ultimate Fence Post Foam Face Off! Sika Pro Select vs Postloc vs Concrete

As a seasoned professional fence builder, you’re content is always right on point!

Joe, Thanks for your demonstration. You mentioned not seeing the need for a pull out test. On the farm we experience damage frequently so post replacement is not uncommon. After more than 60 years of installing and replacing fences, I can see the value of these quick and easy methods of filling around the posts (light weight etc) but my preference (on my own property) is still 5/8" minus crushed rock. Tamp it down solid and it will hold a post like concrete (allow 2-3" around the post) it's cheap, don't need water, no need for disposal if repair/replacement it required, when the damaged post is pulled just re-dig and mostly reuse. Farmer Lance :)

This is pretty exciting. At the very least very handy for repairs on old fences. As a business owner I’m always thinking/looking for the best way to produce. Great content

I used Sika Pro for a couple Trex Fence posts that supported a gate. I used 2 bags per hole. That did not hold up well; but the good news was I could dig it out with a spade shovel and pour concrete in its place. FWIW, I have clay soil and I think that contributed to the problem.

Great comparison. And the best I've seen on this subject. Thank you!

Great video brother! I am planning on building a fence in my back yard and this was very informative!

Based on your first video, I got some Sika and put in posts yesterday. I learned one thing...Foam can and does make the pole move as it expands. I had it braced, but I learned the hard way I had better keep it level by hand for the 5 minutes it is curing. It pushed my pole out of plumb by half an inch. This happened I think because the pole wasn't in the exact center of the hole, so there was more force on one side than the other. The other thing was something you mentioned, that is, from bag to bag the quality is different. Sometimes it expands a lot, sometimes not so much. So I ended up with teh foam filling some holes and not others.

this gave me the confidence to use foam for a fence along side my house, was dreading hauling bags and bags of concrete

Thanks for the video! I've been wanting to set some T-posts in buckets so that I can move them to different locations and set up screens between them. I deal with a bit of wind, so maybe the foam in the bucket would be too light to do the job. On the other hand, just driving some stakes and tying off the posts could be easier than lugging a bucket full of cement. The previous video told me that the Sika probably won't do what I want. Maybe the Postloc would do what I want.

Happen to live in one of the Hurricane alleys ... have seen local power companies use foam to set some power poles ... my issue is we get a lot of wendy days even without a Hurricane .. could envision the constant post movement crushing foam cells and loosening before it gets hit with really high winds. well.

omg! I repaired a lot of fence with foam. But have never gone back to see how it worked out. I liked the quick set because the fences were on rental property. The renters would test your work after leaving with cement and the nest day the post would be crocked. So I would use foam and quick set cement to top it off. After watching you I am sad I ever used foam. I have never gotten a call back but that doesn't mean they didn't fail.

Fair and honest and interesting test can’t say anymore 👍

Awesome content thanks Joe. We are going to install about 600 LF of fencing, so about 75 posts all in a straight line. I'm trying to decide between postloc or concrete. After watching, Im leaning towards postloc

The pull test may not appear to be a reasonable test at first glance, but a pull test would definitely show the adherence factor between the foams and the surrounding material the foam is attaching to. What I would like to see is a mix of maybe sand or pea gravel mixed in with the sika or post loc to see the bonding difference with solid material the foam can work around and use as a stabilizing agent. Also, with the post themselves, could it be beneficial to put peg-type anchors through some of the holes (say every 4-6 inches) below grade to give the foams a better chance to adhere to the post themselves?

Another great video joe look forward to the live tomm

I would be curious about frost line upheaval with all of those close cell air pockets? Great videos!

Great tips!! I would use it for a quick project like a post mailbox or 1 or 2 posts. Not much cleanup versus concrete. Quick and fast.. thank you!!

Did I miss something in the first video with Sika brand you came back several days later to find the foam had shrunk. But in this video you did not do that. I know the conditions were different but I'd be curious to know how the Postloc did after several days or longer. Did it shrink? thank for these videos they are very well done and super informative, You are a great teacher.

A pull test interest me for cattle fencing. They pulled so many fence posts out of the ground with their heads this spring.

Thank you for the information very helpful.