Setting Fence Posts Properly

For our first blog post, I want to discuss the most important part of fence building- SETTING THE POSTS.

Most customers are focused on getting a beautiful fence and don’t think too much about what’s happening underground. Unfortunately, this leaves a lot of room for bad practices in post setting. In DFW, poorly set posts lead to the MOST COMMON failure in fencing- leaning posts. When looking for a fence contractor, it’s essential to talk with them about their post setting practices. 

If you’ve lived in DFW for a while, you’ve surely experienced one of our infamous windstorms. When things get crazy, wind speeds can exceed 80 or 90 miles per hour. If your fence posts aren’t set properly, you can be sure it won’t survive these winds. 

The most important metric for post setting is DEPTH. For a 6ft wooden privacy fence, posts should be set at least 2 feet (24 inches) in the ground with concrete. For an 8ft. fence, that depth should be at least 3 feet (36 inches). The precise depth can vary depending on terrain, underground conditions, fence style, etc., but these depths are a good guideline to make sure you are getting a long-lasting fence.

At Cedar Peak Fencing, we stand by the value of doing things right the first time. Correcting or replacing leaning posts is expensive and labor intensive, and sometimes the whole fence has to be replaced. If you do have leaning posts, it’s important to call a trusted contractor ASAP. Once fence posts start to lean, the fence panels begin to warp. If your fence has a significant lean for a long time, the panels will warp permanently, and replacement will become the only option. 

If you are in need of a leaning fence repair, fence replacement, or any other fence/wood care work, reach out to Cedar Peak Fencing for a professional assessment of your options. We are always happy to provide free consultation and estimates. We are obsessed with quality and always fair on pricing! Check out some of our projects on Facebook or Instagram @cedarpeakfencing.