footing for pole barn posts

gerard · Dec 2, 2003

Like junkman said putting the pole on a rock 6 inches down would be fine in florida because once the whole structure is done sideways stability is inherent to the structure. Biggest problem as mentioned is frost heaving. If the base of the rock extends below the frost line you're ok, if not the rock has the potential to heave as will the pole sitting on it. Problem is there's no way of knowing what the shape/depth of the rock looks like without digging it out /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. Last thing you want to do is put up a building only to have a corner push up in february!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

mopower440 · Dec 2, 2003

good deal, they are below the frost line, so all is well, but i do need to figure out what to backfill the postholes with after the posts are up, not much dirt came out of the holes...? cant afford to have a load of dirt brought in just to fill the crazy holes...

Junkman · Dec 2, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( good deal, they are below the frost line, so all is well, ......... )</font>

OK.... OK...... I just have to ask the question or I will not sleep tonight..... how do you know that the rocks are below the frost line??? ...... that is unless you live in a warm climate.. You never have said where this project is taking place..

JLD · Dec 3, 2003

This is slightly off topic and may be covered in previous posts. But... what is the best thing to backfill around post to promote the health of the post? Some people say gravel to promote drainage, some say soil. There are plastic things you can slip over the post, but I would think they would tend to hold in moisture. I have always thought that concrete all around the buried part of the post would be the best environment for the wood. Any thoughts?

CTyler · Dec 3, 2003

If we want to take this to the Nth degree...

I have been told that if you pour concrete into the hole you should wrap tar paper around the pole. This keeps the concrete from attacking the post.

The post protectors sound like a good idea. I'm assuming the protector is either open on the bottom or has holes to let water out. Otherwise you would want to seal the exposed edge with caulking. Assuming that it is open or has holes then adding a foot of pea/road gravel to the bottom of the hole would be good. Drop your cookie, set your pole and fill/pack with dirt. Otherwise fill it with crete instead of dirt.

I didn't do any of that personaly. They builders dropped the cookie and filled it with dirt and packed it, well thier version of packing anyway /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif . I packed it, watered it in various ways /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif packet it again. Did that several times over a couple weeks until it would not pack anymore. Packed 6" of 3/4 crusher run, plastic wraped the poles/skirts followed by insulation around the poles/skirts and poured the concrete floor. Laid plastic over the rock as well.

dmccarty · Dec 3, 2003

MoPower440,

ABC at the quarry is around $7.5 per ton. Figure 18 cubic feet
per ton. Since you used a 9 inch auger to put in your posts its
not going to take a large amount of ABC to fill in the posts
holes.

I can get a 15-16 tons of ABC delivered for 160-175 dollars.

Later,
Dan McCarty

rambler · Dec 4, 2003

JLD, concrete is the worst thing to do. Holds the moisture in, swelling causes cracking, critters live in the moisture - just a mess.

Either dirt or gravel put back in is good. Depends some on what 'dirt' is where you are.

Posts will rot off about 6" below ground level. The part burried deeper will stay good. It's the part that gets wet & dry, & is exposed to the little bugs in the soil layer, that decomposes.

Gravel might help drain moisture, & the effects of the bugs, away somewhat.

Concrete will hold that stuff in.

Don't know what to say about the protective wraps, I'd think they hold as much junk in as what they keep out.

--->Paul