Footings in wet soil. (Minnesota) Save. I have a quick question. I live in Minnesota and my backyard borders some swampy backwaters and is thus pretty moist once you start digging. I would like to build a low (1 foot high) floating deck. I am unsure of how, or if, I can pour footings. Any advice would be great.

When setting a large number of posts, consider renting a mechanised post hole auger and a concrete mixer to make the job a lot easier and quicker. If setting timber posts use timber that is pre-treated to resist wet rot & termite attack. Always clean your equipment right away especially when using Rapid Set …

Has anyone experience with how to set a 4X4 PT 8-foot tall wood fence post into wetlands soil? I need to fence off a wetlands from marauding ATV's that ran down by wetlands. I want to use a post and 3 rail horse fence as a visbile and physical barrier. In the post holes, groundwater is encountered about 1-foot below groundsurface.

The gravel helps promote drainage to keep water away from the bottom of the post. If the soil is sandy or loose, a wider hole is necessary. With the post in place and braced plumb, you fill the hole around the post with dry fast-setting concrete mix, then add water to moisten the mix and begin the curing process.

Sika PostFix is a two component, pre-proportioned polyurethane resin. It is mixed in the bag to produce expanding for supporting and backfilling fence, mail box, gate and signage posts. Suitable for all types of posts including wood, steel and PVC. Lightweight pouch replaces two …

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Setting fence posts in wet ground: The problem with setting a post in concrete is that below ground it will stay wet all the time and rot very quickly (and be alot of work to remove). My preference is always to fill the postholes with gravel, something that will drain well.

Soil can be classified into three primary types based on its texture – sand, silt and clay. However, the percentage of these can vary, resulting in more compound types of soil such as loamy sand, sandy clay, silty clay, etc. 2. State the characteristics of sandy soil. Sandy soil essentially consists of small particles formed by weathering rocks.

Setting fence posts in wet clay. Hoping someone out there has some advice on how to set posts in damp, red clay in the Wisconsin area. The fence will be a 6 foot high cedar picket fence. From what I have read on various forums, people suggest a 4 foot depth for the post with a bell shape towards the bottom, and 6 inches of gravel for drainage.

Paint a thick layer of the preservative on your post. Keep the post in the bucket where it's been soaking. Use a 3 in (7.6 cm) brush to apply a thick layer of wood preservative across the bottom 2 feet (0.61 m) of the post. Work in long vertical strokes. Let the post dry overnight before setting it …

Setting a post is the foundational step for many projects, including building a fence or a deck. Learn how to dig post holes and set 4x4 posts with gravel, c...

In 1996 in almost identical clay soil conditions my father and I set about 20 treated 4x4s to build a pergola over a walkway. This was our process: 1. Dug a 3 foot hole. 2. Set and leveled the posts 3. Dumped a bag of dry quickcrete in the hole 4. Filled …

4. Go Deep. Use information from the soil report, engineer a deep foundation solution. Underneath the sand is harder more cohesive soil. By harnessing the properties of this other soil type you can successfully anchor your home. 5. Reduce or Eliminate Vibration. When building on sand, pay close attention to vibration.

Dig a hole about three times the diameter of the post. Hole should go deep enough to encase one third of the length of the post (no more than 3 feet for most posts). If soil is loose or sandy, dig a larger, dish-shaped hole. Tamp the sides and bottom so that the hole walls are firm. You may want to use a QUIK-TUBE™ Building Form.

Use the Right Tool. On any auger boring job, the choice of the auger bit depends on the soil conditions you face. The inherent moisture content, moisture added to the ground by infiltration, ice or snow, groundwater level or gravel and rock all have a say in the matter. Use the wrong tool and you might end up with damaged equipment or wasted time, both of which eat into profits.

This soil is no longer compact soil but fill now that it has been disturbed. When the soil is later placed as fill to make a grade change it is still in a "loose" state and unless additional steps are taken during the filling operation, it will take a very long time for the soil to compact itself naturally.

Which is better for fence post in wet soil, cement the post in or creosote? In a previous thread we talked about using an auger to drill holes for corner post. Well, in the past week or so we have gotten about 5 inches of rain. Within minutes of drilling the holes water started soaking in …

5. Fill the hole with dry quick-set concrete to within 4 inches of ground level. Wet the concrete thoroughly with water. Use about 1 gallon of water per 50-pound sack. Check the level of the post ...

So you get post breaking at the soil/grade level. So my answer is to seal the bottom 4 foot of your posts, with driveway sealant. Put a little gravel at the base of your hole. ... Method for setting 6' wood fence posts in clay soil. 0. What is the correct tool/method for digging out existing concrete holes for …

1. Dig the post hole, making it three times the width of the post and at a depth equal to 1/3 to 1⁄2 of the above-ground length of the post, plus 6" (right). For loose or sandy soil, using a tube form is recommended (left). 2. Pour 6" of gravel or crushed stone into the bottom of the hole. Compact and level the gravel using a post or 2 x 4.

But if the soil is loose and porous, and water and soil keep coming back into the trench as you pump the water out, use large aggregate to build up the trench. For this, large stone or cobbles 2-inch- or 3-inch-diameter rock are best. When you form the footings, place enough large stone into the wet, mucky zone to get up above the water table.

Soil Conditions For Deck Footings. Before you can calculate the size of your footings, you will need to know what kind of soil is present in your yard. Most soils can be classified into three categories: gravel, sand and clay. Gravel: This type is primarily composed of small stone pebbles that you can see easily with the naked eye.

Pack the bottom of the hole to compress any loose soil. Use the tamper end of the digging bar to compact the soil before setting posts or pouring concrete. That prevents any settling. Step 8: Mark the post edge locations. Center the post. Measure the post spacing again and mark the stringline.

Setting a new post is easier with two people. One can ratchet the jack while the other lifts on the post. One can shovel dirt in around the post and tamp while the other person keeps the post level. A string can be run from one post to another, with the new post in the middle and set up against the string to keep the posts in line.

As far as setting the post goes, dig your hole about 26" deep. I like to balloon the bottom of the hole depending on what type of soil I am setting in. Backfill and set the post in the hole and add concrete (40-60 lbs is usually good). If you want the best quality from a pressure treated post, allow the post to dry out somewhere like a garage.

For Loose Soil Dig a 3 foot hole for your post(s) using a shovel – approx 18" in diameter. ... Work your post through the wet cement until your mark reaches ground level. Next, set the steel post over the galvanized pipe ensuring that it is plumb (check that it is straight up and down by using a level). Verify that the hinge barrels are facing

Dig a hole using a post-hole digger to 1/3 the length of the post and insert the post. APPLICATION. Have someone hold the post and ensure it is level. Pour the hole approximately 1/3 of the way full with water. FINISHING. Pour Fast Setting Concrete Mix in the hole, ensuring the product is …

used for dry or dewatered holes. A wet hole is defined as a drilled hole where water accumulates at a rate of more than 12 inches per hour or where a temporary casing is used to reduce the rate of water accumulation to less than 12 inches per hour. For a wet hole, inspection pipes are required and the wet method of construction is almost always

Lift the loose sod from the soil with a shovel or by hand, and set it aside to lay around the post once the post has been set permanently in place. 2 Thrust the blade end of a digging bar into the ...

That little footing will give the post something to stand on instead of damp soil. 4. Set the post in the hole and brace it plumb (or put a helper on the job) and in line and level with the posts ...

Treated wood posts can be packed with crushed rock or soil cement made from 5 to 10 parts clean gravel and sand type soils (no organic material) to 1 part cement. Mix well and add only enough water to make workable. For longest service, the post holes should drain and not hold water against the posts.

It sounds like the posts were not put deep enough into the ground. I always put them at least 3' deep. Thus if you want a 5' fence get 8' posts. For a 7' fence get 10' posts. Setting them in concrete (cement is the stuff that holds concrete together) …

If soil in contact with the concrete is dry, it will dry out the concrete. If the soil is wet, it will add water to the concrete. In fact for houses, foundation walls and often footings are covered with a moisture barrier to help keep the concrete dry -- actually to help stop the migration of water from the soil through the concrete and into ...

A hydraulic post pounder would leave the sand "intact" and would even form a compressive layer around the post so you wouldn't need to concrete it in. If that isn't feasible for you, then a big hole, stabilization of the post with sticker wood (board or what not to hold the post upright and level) while your concrete dries, and then backfilling.

Finally, you can do a test. Take some water and deep water a few of the posts and use a piece of rebar to poke the soil around the post to get the water to really penetrate. Add more soil if it compacts and is drawn down into the hole. Allow it to set for a few days. Come back …

Then, carefully position the swing set over each filled anchoring hole and press the bottom of each anchor plate into the wet concrete. After about 24 hours, the concrete will be fully hardened and dry, so you can start to cover the area with a soft layer of the previously removed soil, a little wood mulch, or even fine sand.