A treated 4×4 will last 20 to 25 years in the ground if the conditions in the soil and climate are favorable. That number could increase to 40 to 75 years if you install the treated 4×4 in a cement ring rather than the soil.

How long will a post in the ground last?

If properly treated and installed, pine fence posts can last for 20–35 years; untreated pine posts might only last 3–7 years. chemical in the posts. When large numbers of fence posts need to be installed it is probably most practical to pound them into the ground with a hydraulic post driver, small end first.

What is the life expectancy of pressure treated wood?





40 years

How Long Does Pressure-Treated Wood Last? It depends on the climate, the type of wood, its uses, and how well it’s maintained. While pressure treated poles can stay up to 40 years without any signs of rot or decay, decks and flooring might only last around 10 years.

How long does pressure treated wood last in dirt?

How Long Does Pressure-Treated Wood Last in Dirt? Forest Products Laboratory and other research groups have confirmed with certainty that pressure-treated wood in dirt can last up to 40 years without rotting.

How long will a treated 6×6 post last in the ground?

A PT post will last a long time in concrete, maybe 5 to 10 years in soil alone. I suggest you embed the post in concrete, trowel a peak around the post so water runs off, and don’t let the PT post come in contact with the ground.

Can treated wood be buried?





Yes. Pressure-treated wood can be buried in the dirt when used as a fence post or any exterior structure that requires underground support. However, it needs the most protection because continuous exposure to moisture in the dirt might cause the wood to rot and waste away prematurely.

Do pressure treated posts rot?

The answer to does pressure treated wood rot is simply yes. Any pressure treated wood rot is usually due to a fungal issue. The fungi that cause this are very small organisms that move into the wood and feed on it over time. This causes the pressure treated wood to decay and soften which then turns into rot.

Do pressure treated posts rot in concrete?

Simply setting the posts in concrete does create a condition that will accelerate rot in the bottom of the posts. With pressure-treated posts, the rot will be slow.

How do you keep a treated post from rotting?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: In production since 1994 the post saver sleeve is a guaranteed way to protect your post.

How do you keep fence posts from rotting at the ground level?



Place your fence post on top of the gravel drainage layer and fill the rest of the hole in with soil, ensuring it stands firm and steady. As an alternative, Postsaver sleeves are a cost-effective, simple way to keep wood rot at bay.

Is 2 feet deep enough for fence posts?

The minimum depth that you should dig your fence post holes for panel sections is 2 feet. A general formula is to dig the holes one-third to one-half of the post’s aboveground height. The deeper you dig the holes, the more stability your fence has, but you must also purchase longer posts.

Can you put dry concrete in a post hole?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Because there is no mixing you simply pour it into the hole. Dry. Then add water when digging your post hole it is important that the diameter of the hole be three times the width of the post.

How many feet apart do you put fence post?



Most fence posts can be spaced 8 to 12 feet apart. While this is a general criteria, it doesn’t cover all scenarios. For instance, high tensile fence can have larger spacing, requiring line posts every 15 to 20 feet for field fence styles, and as much as 20-30 feet for high tensile barbed and smooth wire.

Can I install a fence post without cement?

Fence posts can be anchored with gravel, resulting in surprisingly strong anchors that also drain away moisture to prevent water damage. Posts can also be secured using fence post spikes – which are specially made metal anchoring spikes that don’t require digging to install.

How deep should a 12 foot post be in the ground?

The general rule of thumb when setting a post is that the depth of the post’s hole needs to be one-third to one-half of the actual above-ground height of the post. So, a six-foot-high finished post ideally needs to be buried three feet into the ground.

How do I strengthen my 4×4 post?

How to Strengthen Fence Posts Without Pouring Concrete

  1. Dig Your Hole. …
  2. Cut a Support for Your Post. …
  3. Attach the Support Piece. …
  4. Add the Gravel. …
  5. Pack the Gravel. …
  6. Install the Post. …
  7. Add More Gravel. …
  8. Ensure the Post is Level.

How deep should a 4 foot fence post be?



Dig post hole so diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the post (i.e., the hole for a 4” wood post should be about 12 inches wide). The depth of the hole should be 1/3-1/2 the post height above ground (i.e., a 6-foot tall fence would require a hole depth of at least 2 feet).

How many bags of quikrete do I need for a fence post?

1 – 4 bags of concrete per fence post are typically what’s needed. This depends on the type of soil, fence design, height, post size and bag weight. In general the depth of the post’s hole needs to be 1/3 to 1/2 of the above ground height of the post.

How many bags of concrete do you need for a fence post?

Most fence post holes will need between 1 – 4 bags of concrete to securely hold the post in place. The best way to determine the size of the hole is: Diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the fence post. Depth of the hole is one-third to half the above ground height of the fence post.

Should wood fence posts be set in concrete?

Concrete provides a strong foundation for wooden fence posts, but can rot them more quickly. Setting them in dirt, with or without gravel or crushed rock depending on your soil type, can help the posts last longer before going rotten. You can also use metal fence post anchors to prolong their life.

How long will a wooden post last in concrete?



The post will only rot at ground level, it does not matter what you put in the bottom of the hole. A pressure treated post will last around 10 years.

Should you put gravel under fence post?

If a fence post fails without any sign of a pest infestation, it’s likely that the failure was caused by moisture that rotted the wood over time. To help slow such deterioration, add pea gravel or crushed stone to the bottom of the posthole.

Can you use pea gravel to set fence posts?

Setting wood or vinyl fence posts is a critical part of fence construction to make sure that the fence is sturdy. The use of pea gravel to help set posts provides good drainage and, when combined with concrete, results in a sturdy fence post installation.

What do you backfill a post hole with?

Because it becomes permanently attached to the bottoms of the posts, concrete is probably the strongest backfill material, says Hoover Fence Co. Crushed gravel can be almost as strong, however, if you bury the post deep enough. The trick is to use medium-size drainage gravel instead of pea gravel.

How do you protect wooden posts in the ground?

Placing a thick layer of loose gravel at the bottom of the post hole will allow groundwater to trickle through the rocks and down away from the base of the post. This will prevent the post from rotting by keeping it constantly dry. You can purchase gravel at a local hardware store or landscaping-supply business.