DIY postcrete?

Mark M

Mark M

Mark M

Soldato
Joined
6 Jan 2006
Posts
3,435
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
It seems everywhere local is out of postcrete, I assume there is an alternate option as it would have been done before postcrete was invented. Or am I likely to run into similar shortages with the DIY materials?

I’ve got some 100x100 posts to put in but would rather wait I guess if postcrete is the best/easiest option.
 
The advantage of Postcrete is that it is quick, not that it is some magic post compound and nothing else will do. ;)

(As I have said before, almost too quick. It is the superglue version of Concrete. "Sets in 10 Minutes" HAHAHAHA! You have about 30 seconds to make sure that you post is correctly aligned and after that you are stuck with it :p)

Ordinary concrete is just fine (Stronger even, speed comes at a cost) you just need to be OK waiting a day or two till it sets and make sure to support the post rigidly while it does so.
 
You can buy rapid set cement instead of normal cement but its not really worth it and its hard to find. But if you need loads of posts doing its still cheaper than postcrete.
 
i recently used an expanding foam post mix it was only one small post so it didnt make sense for me to buy bags of cement for one 3x3 post, have to say i was impressed, mixed it for 30 seconds poured it into the hole kept the post level it did its job expanding quite rapidly and within five minutes the post was secure and after two it was fully set. very simple and no clean up required. it will cost a bit more also but the foam also helps stop rot.
 
So I eventually managed to find some postcrete in stock and have got 3 out of the 4 posts in as expected. The other however when I was digging the hole I hit some dolomite about 3/4 of the way down, which I initially didn’t think it was an issue (other than being slow to get through), but when I tried to fill the hole up with water before adding the postcrete it was just running away. Tried for ages to no avail.

What options do I have? Do I need to mix up the concrete and pour it into the hole so it doesn’t run off or something else?

Thanks
 
Mark M said:
So I eventually managed to find some postcrete in stock and have got 3 out of the 4 posts in as expected. The other however when I was digging the hole I hit some dolomite about 3/4 of the way down, which I initially didn’t think it was an issue (other than being slow to get through), but when I tried to fill the hole up with water before adding the postcrete it was just running away. Tried for ages to no avail.

What options do I have? Do I need to mix up the concrete and pour it into the hole so it doesn’t run off or something else?

Thanks
Click to expand...

stick the postcrete in dry and just spray it with water. Will suck moisture out of the ground anyway.

this is how your supposed to use it anyway :)
 
NoobCannon said:
stick the postcrete in dry and just spray it with water. Will suck moisture out of the ground anyway.

this is how your supposed to use it anyway :)
Click to expand...

The instructions said to fill the hole 1/3 with water, put the post in then the postcrete.

Edit - it’s not The brand postcrete which I may have confused matters sorry.
 
Mark M said:
The instructions said to fill the hole 1/3 with water, put the post in then the postcrete.

Edit - it’s not The brand postcrete which I may have confused matters sorry.
Click to expand...

Its all the same stuff. As i said empty
The bag in tamp it down and just wet it. Will go off solid.

have also seen the guys at work split the bag and throw that in aswell, saves on rubbish lol
 
NoobCannon said:
Its all the same stuff. As i said empty
The bag in tamp it down and just wet it. Will go off solid.

have also seen the guys at work split the bag and throw that in aswell, saves on rubbish lol
Click to expand...

Interesting thanks. So do I need to add water to it after I put it in dry? The ground is bone dry at the moment.
 
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