When working on your next fence project you may be wondering how to dig the post holes.
You may be asking yourself, "how deep do I dig?" Or, "how wide should the hole be?" Weather you’re replacing a wood fence post or installing a #newfence, you’ll need to consider what depth to dig your post holes, the diameter of the holes, and the angle at which you dig. Remember for any new fence installation, you always want to call 811 in Austin, TX. before you dig to have someone come out and mark for underground utilities. If you're not in #Austin call your local utility companies.
Since a 6’ fence is most common, we will be using that as our example. The post holes should be dug 24” deep. You will want to add a slight outward angle at the bottom of the hole. I’ll explain the reason for this in a bit. The wider angled hole at the bottom will provide the stability needed for the fence. Keep in mind you will also want to dig the diameter of the post hole 3 times the size of the post. For example a 4"x4" post would have a 12” diameter hole.
Since our service area is in the city of Austin and it’s surrounding suburbs, we are going to get specific here. After building fences for 6 years in different states, you begin to realize each region has it’s own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to the soil and weather patterns and how they affect the life of a fence.
More often than not, the soil in East Austin tends to get extremely dry in the summer months with triple digit heat and little rain. Because of the extreme heat, the ground opens up with wide and deep cracks, which causes your cemented posts to separate from the dirt causing your fence to lean and possibly fall over.
To combat these harsh conditions, and improve the stability of your fence you dig your post holes with a wider angle at the bottom of the hole. You will also want to water the ground around the posts to prevent the ground from cracking and separating from the cement itself as the ground expands and contracts throughout the year.
So to review, be sure when replacing your #woodfence posts, or installing a new fence, your post holes are the proper depth for the height of your fence. This will allow the posts to support the weight of the fence. Dig your post holes at an outward angle to prevent them from rising out of the ground, leaning, or falling over during extremely hot and dry conditions. Dig the diameter of your post holes 3 times the size of your posts.
For more questions regarding the repair or installation of your wood fence, visit Taylor & Sons Fence online. Taylor & Sons Fence Co.
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