Fencing

Rotten fence post replacement - struggling to get drill holes due to unevenness of concrete

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.05 PM

I am trying to replace a fence post that rotten and fell over in the wind. I first got a metal support that should be drilled into the concrete for the post to go into- bolt down. However it has four bolt down points and I am struggling to get all four drill holes due to the unevenness of the concrete and the drill slipping. So now I wonder if I should try to remove the rotten wood left in the hole then put in the new post and concrete around it. I've never done this sort of thing before so am not sure I could do it or how, though I am trying hard to work it out. My neighbour (who is 80!) attempted to help me but honestly it was not help and just made things more confusing for me. The post is in a concrete path. Thanks. Sharon

Anonymous user

Hi Sharon. As silly as it sounds, just get a breaker to remove concrete, a hire station would charge £20 plus deposit roughly. Then get new post and re concrete. Hope you get sorted Many thanks John

Answered1 March 2014

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Anonymous user

You have the same problem as many and many of people.. to be honest sometimes it needs a hand that's experience. If I understand the question properly then There's a few options. 1.. after marking your points for drilling try pre drilling with a smaller drill first and go up in size to the size you need. 2.. is to remove the old wooden left overs although without the right tools this could be very difficult 3... re level the concrete with fresh concrete to make a more even and easier drilling base or 4. reposition the posts. New holes if there is an easier point to bed the posts. Good luck and I hope I have understood your situation from description.

Answered1 March 2014

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Anonymous user

Sharon, I assume the post is concreted into the soil in your garden in which case it's best to dig up the old lump and reset a new, treated post into the hole, get out your shovel and start mixing a new batch of concrete. If the fence is six feet high you will need an eight foot, tanalised or pressure treated post so dig deep!!!! If it's too shallow then it will easily be levered out by the wind or the big guy next door who leans on it when he's chatting you up!!!! The post brackets are used for setting wooden posts onto flat concrete or stone surfaces and not suitable for this job, unless of course I have totally misunderstood the situation and you have a lumpy drive!! Regards, Andre :-)

Answered1 March 2014

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Anonymous user

Hi! If you feel that its to much work to remove the old post and concrete fully then here is a little cheat for you. Make a small mix of cement and put a 100mmx100x lump of it on top of the old concrete and push the metal bracket onto of the wet cement. once cured this will hold the bracket in place for you to drill down onto an even surface. (don't forget to use a spirit level to plumb the bracket while the cement is still wet!) All the best! Arron.

Answered9 February 2017

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Millbrook Landscaping Services

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Hi it is always a good idea to completely change a post once it has rotted off if it is possible I always use a light weight electric concrete breaker and when I dig the old post out I find the edge of the concrete dig down the side of it as deep as I can and break the concrete off into the hole I have dug instead of trying to dig directly on top of the post .

Answered16 February 2017

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