T-posts or treated 4x4's??

[Wacky]

Which would be better for a permanent fence around a garden t-posts or treated 4x4's. They will be 10' in length. Placed in a cow pasture that is hard clay. Just wondering which would be more durable over time. Concrete the 4X4's or not, in the clay? Thanks to all in advance.

 

[beenthere]

Usually comes down to looks, and what you want to put on the posts. Hard to nail up boards on T-posts

But don't concrete the posts in (they rot faster and are harder to replace).

 

[two_bit_score]

Which would be better for a permanent fence around a garden t-posts or treated 4x4's. They will be 10' in length. Placed in a cow pasture that is hard clay. Just wondering which would be more durable over time. Concrete the 4X4's or not, in the clay? Thanks to all in advance.

I think ence building is very localized. What works here is not always advisable there.

Previous reply made a good point about what you will put on the posts. Will you use 4-5 strand barb wire, net wire, boards, etc?

If you go to Stay Tuff Fence Mfg Inc. - High Tensile Woven Wire Fence and Fence Installation Tools they have a really good brochure on fence building you might find useful. Check with some fencing supplies dealers in your area and see what most people, especially professional installers are buying and using.

Personally I really like the staytuff product. Thre is also a 'staytite' brand that claims to be good for at least 50 years if properly installed.

If you don't have access to a good posthole digger (either a strong kid or a mechanical one) consider renting or hiring.

Good luck and post us some pics before, during and after.

 

[wirenut]

Which would be better for a permanent fence around a garden t-posts or treated 4x4's. They will be 10' in length. Placed in a cow pasture that is hard clay. Just wondering which would be more durable over time. Concrete the 4X4's or not, in the clay? Thanks to all in advance.

For me the biggest downside to building pretty much anything using PT lumber is warpage. Playset made using a 4x6 PT main beam, sags badly due to warpage-looks terrible. Fence using 4x4 post, in a few years looks like a snake. Looked great for a while. Impossible to predict which way it is going to warp, but it is going to warp. My neighbor spent a little more money and installed his fence using chain link fence post; still looks straight, although the 1x6 boards are popping loose.

 

[Wacky]

I think ence building is very localized. What works here is not always advisable there.

Previous reply made a good point about what you will put on the posts. Will you use 4-5 strand barb wire, net wire, boards, etc?

If you go to Stay Tuff Fence Mfg Inc. - High Tensile Woven Wire Fence and Fence Installation Tools they have a really good brochure on fence building you might find useful. Check with some fencing supplies dealers in your area and see what most people, especially professional installers are buying and using.

Personally I really like the staytuff product. Thre is also a 'staytite' brand that claims to be good for at least 50 years if properly installed.

If you don't have access to a good posthole digger (either a strong kid or a mechanical one) consider renting or hiring.

Good luck and post us some pics before, during and after.

Good read on their website. I will post pics when I decide what to do.

 

[Wacky]

For me the biggest downside to building pretty much anything using PT lumber is warpage. Playset made using a 4x6 PT main beam, sags badly due to warpage-looks terrible. Fence using 4x4 post, in a few years looks like a snake. Looked great for a while. Impossible to predict which way it is going to warp, but it is going to warp. My neighbor spent a little more money and installed his fence using chain link fence post; still looks straight, although the 1x6 boards are popping loose.

Yes, good points. How did he fasten the boards?

 

[Western]

I would use T-Post in the "line" with good corners set in. Metal last allot longer than wood.

 

[two_bit_score]

Round posts don't warp as bad a square posts. Use round posts if using wood posts.

 

[Ford tractor]

If you like the look of square posts and boards, what about using man made plastic posts? They won't rot nor warp like PT wood and the bugs won't eat them either.

 

[jimmyj]

We also use round wood posts at the corners and T posts in between. If it's a long run every 4th post is wood with 3 metal T bar posts in between. You can't beat T bar posts for longevity and ease of installation (or removal for that matter).

To attach wood to a T post I sister a wood vertical piece beside the T post and nail through the holes in the T post into the vertical wood piece. Then, attach the horizontal wood bits to the vertical wood bits.

For wire, we use the store bought insulators or attchers made for T posts.

If you are using the T posts by livestock I suggest putting a topper on them in case an animal rears up and comes down on one. They sell these too, they are very cheap.

Let us know what you do.

 

[Wacky]

We also use round wood posts at the corners and T posts in between. If it's a long run every 4th post is wood with 3 metal T bar posts in between. You can't beat T bar posts for longevity and ease of installation (or removal for that matter).

To attach wood to a T post I sister a wood vertical piece beside the T post and nail through the holes in the T post into the vertical wood piece. Then, attach the horizontal wood bits to the vertical wood bits.

For wire, we use the store bought insulators or attchers made for T posts.

If you are using the T posts by livestock I suggest putting a topper on them in case an animal rears up and comes down on one. They sell these too, they are very cheap.

Let us know what you do.

But 8' sticking out of the ground the wood post will be stouter in the long-run wouldn't it? Or would the added weight of the post move more and loosen up over time?

 

[jimmyj]

Sorry, I may be a bit confused. You are planning on using 10' posts and putting them 2' in the ground with 8' sticking out? That will be too wobbly for sure.

I thought you would put them 4' into the ground, just an assumption I made.

So I understand, you want how high of a fence?

 

[Wacky]

I have been told that 8' high is plenty high to keep deer out of the garden around here. So that is what the contractor and I agreed to do. You don't think it is high enough?

 

[beenthere]

I wouldn't think the posts would be deep enough. 12' post with 8' out of the ground. And it will keep most deer out.

But get something in writing from the contractor that a 10' post 2' in the ground will work for xx number of years (whatever you are satisfied with).

 

[whistlepig]

I was always taught that:

1) A treated wood post every ten feet is the best for wire.

2) Next best is a treated wood post every twenty feet with a T-post in between.

3) A wood post every thirty feet with two T-posts in between.

I do the treated wood post every twenty feet and one T-post in between. That has always worked very well for me.

 

[dcyrilc]

Sorry, I may be a bit confused. You are planning on using 10' posts and putting them 2' in the ground with 8' sticking out? That will be too wobbly for sure.

I thought you would put them 4' into the ground, just an assumption I made.

So I understand, you want how high of a fence?

Absolute minimun enbedment is 10% of the length of the post/pole + 2 ft.
Deeper is better.

 

[txdon]

8' is plenty high for deer, that is what I have. I'm with two_bit_score on using round post. Don't forget the gate(s). I got a 8' wide cattle gate and installed it on end vertically for the walk through gate and used two of them swinging outward for the tractor gate. I attached 4' (wide) of 8' (tall) deer fence on each gate. I attached a notched round post (with lag bolts) across the top of each gate post to keep the post from being pulled apart by the tension of the deer fence wire. 10 years now with no deer or gate problems.

 

[wirenut]

Yes, good points. How did he fasten the boards?

Neighbor carriage bolted 2x4 runners to post, then hot dipped galvanized 6 or 8 penny nails. I made the mistake of using some electro-galvanized nails on some of my boards; they last a few years, then rust out. I have used nails and screws in my fence, and was amazed that after a few years, many of them work loose. Don't understand how exterior screws didn't last forever.

 

[Wacky]

Absolute minimun enbedment is 10% of the length of the post/pole + 2 ft.
Deeper is better.

Makes sense.:thumbsup: 12ft I will go.

 

[Wacky]

8' is plenty high for deer, that is what I have. I'm with two_bit_score on using round post. Don't forget the gate(s). I got a 8' wide cattle gate and installed it on end vertically for the walk through gate and used two of them swinging outward for the tractor gate. I attached 4' (wide) of 8' (tall) deer fence on each gate. I attached a notched round post (with lag bolts) across the top of each gate post to keep the post from being pulled apart by the tension of the deer fence wire. 10 years now with no deer or gate problems.

You don't happen to have any pics do you? I was thinking of getting 6x6 posts or creosote treated railroad ties for the gate posts.