BarnyardEngineering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rochester, NY
Replacing a rotten off 4x4 post in a privacy fence. When I originally put it in I hit a boulder right where the post needed to go. It's at least 3' in diameter, and the edge of it is right where the post needed to go!
I ended up setting the post in concrete next to the boulder, but even there I could only get down about 12" before hitting what seemed to be more solid rock.
This time I came armed with an SDS rotary hammer. Busted out all the old concrete. Rattled a bunch of rocks loose and pried them out. Got down as far as I can reach with a coffee can. Probably around 30".
Which approach should I take to burying the new post? I do NOT want to repeat this digging job again.
1. Direct bury the post in the dirt like the rest. At least when it rots out I can pull it out of the ground with a handyman jack and slip a new post in.
2. Concrete a 4x4 1/4 wall steel sleeve in against the boulder so when the post rots out I can slip the old post out and drop a new post in.
I ended up setting the post in concrete next to the boulder, but even there I could only get down about 12" before hitting what seemed to be more solid rock.
This time I came armed with an SDS rotary hammer. Busted out all the old concrete. Rattled a bunch of rocks loose and pried them out. Got down as far as I can reach with a coffee can. Probably around 30".
Which approach should I take to burying the new post? I do NOT want to repeat this digging job again.
1. Direct bury the post in the dirt like the rest. At least when it rots out I can pull it out of the ground with a handyman jack and slip a new post in.
2. Concrete a 4x4 1/4 wall steel sleeve in against the boulder so when the post rots out I can slip the old post out and drop a new post in.