Saving fence posts? Ideas and help please!

Royboy · Aug 5, 2013

Hi folks!

Our pasture is 3 board fence with 3/4 round posts. Some of the posts have rotted out and had to be replaced (pain in the butt). Some others are solidly in the ground, holding nails well, but the tops have begun to rot out in the middle. Despite being cut on an angle for run off when they were installed the middle 'core' of the posts are coming apart leaving an ever deepening hole in the middle of the top of the post, making it impossible for rain to run off. Has anyone else run into this problem and come up with a way (at this point, not new install) to deal with the problem in order to extend what life is left of these posts? It seems like some sort of filler might work but most of what I have seen would be expensive to use in the volumes I would need.
If anyone has any ideas I would love to read them!
Thanks very much!
Roy

SPYDERLK · Aug 5, 2013

Fill hole with tar to keep out insects and cover the top of the post with a shingle or board so water will run off.

yelbike · Aug 5, 2013

Would a soup can placed up side down on top and secured with a single roofing nail from the side work? May not look great, but if it works why not.

willi67 · Aug 5, 2013

A cheap way to fill the rotten core is to mix some fine sand and cement, don't add water, sprinkle it down the hole while tapping the post with a hammer so that it settles all the way in. When the sand and cement has gone hard paint over with tar or bitumen paint as mentioned above.

sseelhoff · Aug 5, 2013

Our neighbor uses metal flashing (comes in rolls) cut into squares folded over the top of the post then nailed in place. Seems to work well to protect the tops. I would fill them as suggested before covering.

SSdoxie · Aug 5, 2013

I don't know of a way to restore what is already rotted, but you could build a cap for the posts. 1 idea is use metal flashing, cut in strips a little wider than the post, nail one end to the flat side above the top board bend it over the top and nail it to the back side. Another idea, find some PCV end caps that fit over the post, cut the top of post off level and slide cap over the post and put a screw or nail into hold it.