Is it necessary to use concrete when building a wood fence for the posts?

Question

I'm installing a wood shadowbox fence in my backyard - 8 ft. wide sections with a post every 8 ft. keep in mind this is in south florida so the soil might be a little softer. The posts are 8 ft. tall, so I would insert the post about 2.5 ft. into the ground.

some people say adding concrete to the posts is not necessary and only adds problems down the road if you need to dig them up. Others say concrete is a must.

Can someone please give me their recommendations or tips from experience? thanks!

Answer 1

I used to live in the Tampa area.  If you're going to put up a high, basically solid wood fence, you really should set the posts in concrete.  Tropical storms come with torrential rain and fairly strong wind.  Once the rain has sunk into the sand, the wind can move the whole fence if you haven't set the posts in concrete.  Save yourself some trouble now, and use concrete at least in the bottom foot of the hole.  

Answer 2

Granted I don't live in Florida, I have installed a few fences. The sections that you are installing are pretty long, with the ground being a little softer you run the risk of having your fence posts pull out of the ground if you don't use concrete. I would recommend using the concrete to set the posts, it will keep you mind at ease when the storms come rolling in and will keep your fence from starting to lean over time as the ground changes. You are right however, it is a pain when trying to get rid of the fence posts with the concrete.

Answer 3

From experience..........if you just dig the posts down and try to use dirt to back fill, the weight of the fence will pull and move the posts.  that is why using concrete, at least towards the bottom is cruical.  

We just did a dog kennel and tried getting by without using the concrete, (worst part is we are concrete producers!!) and the wire fence pulled things completely out of wack. We ended up using kicker boards, which are a pain to mow around, to stabliize the fence.

Buy some quick crete and use that for the bottom. Good luck

Answer 4

you will need to use concrete if you use treated posts and put them at least two feet in the ground & pack the soil well around the post !

Answer 5

If you want your fence to last, use the concrete.

Answer 6

I have install many such fences. Initially I did not use concrete because I wanted to save time and money. I simply put the post in, hammered in a few rocks around it, and backfilled with soil. Unfortunatel I found that this kind of structure was not good enough to withstand the forces of the winds, and soon they rocked back and forth and eventually needed more attention. For the past 10 years the fences I have installed, all of the posts have been concreted in and there have been no problems. Posts of the size you intend to use should lasy 20 years, provided they are not flawed, and have be treated with a saturation of creosote or tar from the base to at least 6" above ground level. This is because wood rots at the point where it constantly changes from wet to dry which is at ground level, or concrete level if it is up to ground level. Be clever, concrete the posts in.