Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: Seanav on March 12, 2021, 18:14
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Hi
I need to put a fence around my plot and cant decide whether to dig a hole and put some concrete in or use a Metpost/Post spike. Site is quite windy , soil can get very damp and soggy (theres a flood relief programme going on at the moment) .
Metpost is the more expensive option but i dont like the idea of having to dig up the concrete in 10 years when the post rots
So i suppose my question is are metposts/spikes secure enough for an allotment environment that can be very very windy and flood ?
Thanks in advance
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I've used several Metposts over the years, both 3" and 4", and find them robust and of course much easier to put in!
Can your design include a right-angle or two, because that would strengthen your structure by a lot!
Also, you can get them out of the ground with some long lever, which would be very difficult with a concrete mass!
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Could you use concrete posts? What sort of fence do you need to have? Could it just be of pig netting?
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we fenced our plots with round wood [treated] pointed stakes or post's we dug a hole to let the post in then knocked it down with a sledge hammer no concrete just braced the corners then put sheep or pig netting to the post's the fence has been put up at least ten years no probs and if a post does rot of or gets broken all one needs to do is replace it with another wooded stake its cost effective and basically a no brainer for fencing of your plot
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You can fill the hole around a wooden post with stones and gravel and tamp them in. Takes longer but is quite satisfying if you have a stony plot like I have and want to use the stone for summat.
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Concrete would not be allowed on our sites. Double check the rules on yours before you do anything permanent!
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Thanks all , decided to go for the metpost. Concreting is allowed but a lot of broken fences on the site so I'm wondering just how long a post lasts in concrete .
Will update ,with pictures if a success
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Hello if you use 24inch or 30 inch met posts they should hold, I put the posts in the sockets first then knock the lot in with a gentle pursuader (14 pound sledge hammer) usually 2 good wollaps sink a post and socket to soil level ,be careful with the gentle persuader I lent a neighbour a 28 pounder he lifted it and dropped it on his foot jezza
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I'm looking at getting some here for this week. To get them in (using a Birmingham Screwdriver), I position them, then just use a short 6" piece of wood stuck in the metal top, to clout the thing into the ground with a club hammer - it saves stretching too high with a heavy 'persuader'!
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What's a Birmingham screwdriver' is it like an 'Irish one'. Postcrete is one of the products that is most in short supply at the moment and the price when it is available again is going to be 'sky high'. We are 14th on the list from where we usually source it from. We have spent most of today going through our timber, glass and sheet materials lists raising the prices. Timber this year has risen 80% as the USA is buying it all up. Our normal supplier thought he had some but the ship docked and then was told to go to the USA as they had bought the lot at risen prices.
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Probably, Wighty, it's a heavy hammer...
As for timber, a chum here manages a largish timber company, and what you describe is word for word what his wife told me just last week! We have some decking on order for a chum, and - fingers crossed - we'll get it on Friday...
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Might lumber yard is putting prices up, just as well I bought my wood cheap and lots of it.
Hubby now very happy with his new man cave, proved I can design a good shed :D