setting barn posts in dry cement

MMILLER · Mar 22, 2004

If this is the method that Morton uses you can believe it is a good one. From what I understand about there pole buildings they have one of the best warranties on the market But for us do it your self types a little info, a big dessision and a lifetime of living with it. It all boils down on to your choice after weighting information.

Gatorboy · Mar 22, 2004

I wouldn't use cement at all -- cement will cause your posts to decay faster. Just place a concrete patio stone in the bottom of your hole, nail a 12" board to the bottom of your post to create a T and set that into the hole. This will prevent the posts from being able to lift out. Then just backfill with rock.

This should be all you need.

EastTexFrank · Mar 22, 2004

I've used the "dry method" to set fence posts and the likes but I'd be reluctant to use it on anything like a pole barn. What would worry me about it is that the cement in contact with the soil would absorb/react with the water first and start to set up, effectively restricting water from contacting the cement around the pole. If water did perculate through over time, the quality of the cement would be very poor. That wouldn't be a big concern on a fence post but a pole barn?

What I do on permanent structres is hammer in a couple of big nails in the bottom of the post and surround that with some premixed cement, them backfill and tamp the dirt back in the hole. I don't know if it is the best method but it's worked so far.

Soundguy · Mar 22, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( This will prevent the posts from being able to lift out. )</font>

It takes alot to snatch a post out, as long as there is any horizontal force on it. Straight up.. they can be lifted out.. put some horizontal pressure on them, and then they really stick. That's why they call them 'friction piles'... I would think you would do better to backfill with soil as it will provide more adhesion than gravel.. but that is only my .02$ ( The voids in the gravel will fill in in time anyway.. )

Soundguy

DannyD · Mar 22, 2004

Is that not what I said they did. The concrete was the footer, soil tamped back in around it and they are stuck

SPIKER · Mar 22, 2004

I would not do it that way, you can buy premade concrete waffers, that are 12~24" dia and are 8~12" thick. which are MADE for this reason, any place that is selling pole barn kits will have them and they are cheaper than the bagged concrete! no muss fuss or extra work of mixing. just drill & drop them in the hole. drop the post on top and bang the pad about 4 or 5 times to SEt the concrete waffer in a level looking condition. then get in the poles held into the level plumb and straight woth a string down the sides. at that point begin backfilling maiantaining the flat & string level sides. DON'T use the mix dry for the poles at all, and that is barely ok for fence posts as the water mix and chemical cure will not happen corectly when done this way.

Mark M

TBAR · Mar 23, 2004

I set the poles of my pole shead in the holes and poored two bags of dry concrete in each hole..........................but then I also had a foot of water standing in them so I sort of mixed it as I went.

One thing I was concerned about was condensation accumulating in the poles or ground water seeping into them. FWIW I also poored concrete down the poles to a level of 3-4 feet above the ground(PIA) and drilled an 3/16" hole above that to drain anything that accumulated. I did the same with the OHC poles.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/43399132/43410414tPKDmZ

TBAR