875

L'P 3m

L-1368

CONCRETE FENCE POSTS

Bill R. Stewart*

Concrete fence posts are both durable and 1 inch of concrete should cover reinforcing in corner
attractive. Well-made concrete posts last for 40 posts and corral posts.
years or more without significant deterioration and
Reinforcing bars or wire should be clean and
little or no upkeep. They often are used for dec-
free of oil or rust and scale. Wires are cut approx-
orative yard, boundary and farmstead entry fences.
imately 12 inches shorter than the post and placed
Posts must be adequately sized for the expected to extend within 6 inches of each end of the post.
use and properly reinforced. Table I gives sug- Reinforcing for shorter electric fence posts should
gested dimensions and reinforcing for various types extend to within 3 inches of the ends of the post.
of posts. Materials required per 100 posts also are
given. Figure 1 shows a typical wood mold which
CONCRETE
may be constructed to cast posts. The base should
be constructed with %-inch plyform plywood when Durable posts require a good quality concrete
posts are to be less than 8 feet long. For longer which has been placed and cured properly. Con-
posts, use I-inch by 6-inch tongue and groove lum- crete should be made with quality, well-graded
ber cleated together with two-by-fours 2 feet on sand, type I portland cement, pea gravel of a max-
centers. For tapered posts, spacer boards need to imum aggregate size of % to ~ inch and clean
be tapered and spaced at each end to give the water. If concrete is ordered from a ready-mix
proper taper. Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show typical plant, specify a six-sack mix with no more than
post details. 5~ gallons of water per sack of cement. This pro-
vides a high-strength durable concrete which re-
When many posts are to be cast, it likely will
sists moisture penetration. For those who want to
be more economical to construct a metal form or
mix their own concrete, use the following mix:
mold. The metal mold should be made of 16-
gauge steel (or heavier) for durability and ease of 1 sack portland cement
fa brication. 2Y4 cubic feet sand
2~ cubic feet gravel
Wood molds require an oil coating on the wood
surface before casting the posts to prevent bonding 5 gallons of water
of the concrete to the wood. For a slick surface, the For the first batch, mix the cement and water
form can be covered with epoxy paint. together first. Then slowly add sand and gravel in
about equal proportions until the mix is smooth
and not souPy. As the sand and gravel are being
REINFORCING
added, notice the consistency of the mix. If it looks
Reinforcing requirements for posts are shown too rocky, increase the sand content slightly. For
in Table I. These bars or wires should be spaced economy, get as much gravel as you can into the
at each comer and have a minimum cover of % mix but keep enough sand in to provide a smooth
inch for all but corner and corral posts. At least finish. After completing the first trial batch, de-
termine how much sand and gravel was used. This
-Extension agricultural engineer, environmental control and
tells you what to add for future batches, using the
structures, The Texas A&M University System. particular sand and gravel you have. If the sand

2.3

John . H t
is wet, reduce the water you add per sack by about the fine material to the surface, resulting in later
Y2 gallon. flaking of the surface.
When placing the concrete in the form, be sure After the concrete hardens, cover it with wet
the reinforcing is kept in place and the concrete is burlap or plastic sheeting to prevent rapid drying.
worked thoroughly into the form. Vibrate the form For best results, keep posts moist for at least 4 days
with light hammer blows, or better yet use a rod before removing from the form. Posts should be
to work the concrete around the steel and to work carefully stacked and kept wet for another 3 to 5
out air bubbles. After the water disappears from days before placing them in a fence. Do not attempt
the surface of the concrete, trowel it lightly to to cast posts when the outside temperature is 40 de-
smooth the exposed surface. Do not overwork the grees or below, unless you can do this in a heated
surface while it is wet as this brings too much of building.

Table 1. Suggested dimensions and reinforcing for various types of concrete posts.

Post use Size Diameter Quantity Materials per post

General fencing 3y:!" X 3y:!" X 7' #6 gauge wires 4 0.6 cu. ft. concrete
24 ft. wire
Corral fences 5y:!" X 5y:!" X 8' ~ inch wires 4 1.65 cu. ft. concrete
28 ft. bars
Electric fences 3" X 3" X 3'6" #6 gauge wires 4 0.22 cu. ft. concrete
12 ft. wire
3" X 3" X 5' #6 gauge wires 4 0.31 cu. ft. concrete
18 ft. wire
Corner posts 7y:!" X 7y:!" X 8' y:! inch bars 4 3.12 cu. ft. concrete
28 ft. bars
Clothes line 5y:!" X 5y:!" X 9' % inch bars 4 1.89 cu. ft. concrete
32 ft. bars

BULKHEAD FOR
CASTING SHORTER I/~'A STRIPS TO
POSTS
FORM GROOVES
IN POST

4 REQUIRED

BLOCKS AND WEDGES

8 SETS REQUIRED

T.aG·

2 REQUIRED

FIG. I GANG MOLD FOR CONCRETE

FENCE POSTS. A ONE SACK BATCH
OF CONCRETE FILLS THE 7- POST
MOLD. MAKING 7 OF THE 7-FT. POSTS.
 -It)
U)
-0')
=0
-0 _I
_I
-0
I
-- =0
-0')
GROOVES I
FOR WIRE
-0 TIES
--1 -0')
0')

= -0')

0
0')
I
"U)
I
-,....
-- --1 GROUND

~
0')

~~
~~ ~~
~~

U) -U) U)
1 I I
-(\I N N

FIG. 2 STANDARD WIRE SPACING FOR BARBED WIRE FENCES

FIG. 3 METHOD OF FASTENING

FENCE WIRE IN THE GROOVES
IN THE CONCRETE POSTS
PLACE WIRE 3 FT. ABOVE GROUND
OR 3/4 HEIGHT OF ANIMAL

ATTACH WIRES AS SHOWN

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FIG. 4 CONCRETE POSTS FOR ELECTRIC FENCES. ELECTRIC FENCE

WIRE SHOULD BE INSULATED FROM POSTS IN THIS MANNER.
 '8 -.,.,. .~I ~
7 Y:" SQUARE
3//' ~ STRIPS
,~ ..
~'

GREASED, SMOOTH RODS.

~ ONE FOR EACH STRAND OF
: WIRE.

SECTION
5 ~;' THIC-;-- :--- OF FORMS

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(. 1,# ~
I ' . . .4>:
5'-0" I
/ . I
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'-
"(' " I
I I
ELEVATION (--(/ I I
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FIG. 5 SUGGESTED FORM CONSTRUCTION I I
'_ I
-'v
FOR CONCRETE CORNER POSTS AND
END POSTS. GENERAL VIEW OF FORMS

1'-6" 3"

~
co
I
10
CROSS ARM
CONNECTION

POSTS SPACED
=(0 ABOUT 30' TO 40'
I
-N

15 5/8'1 SQUARE 3/8 " ¢ REINF.-BAR

SECTION A-A

FIG. 6 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS FOR

CONCRETE CLOTHESLINE POSTS

Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people of all ages regardless of socio-economic
levels, race, color, sex, religion or national origin.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, The Texas A&M University System and the United States
Department of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and
June 30, 1914.
3M-6-75 AENG