best budget fence posts

[t3rm3y]

we have somebody erecting a new fence as he old one is pretty much destroyed.
I considered doing myself and look at concrete posts and gravel boards, or cheaper pressure treated posts. i assumed that all fence posts should be pressure treated and is the budget variant.
We opted to have someone else do the work, and he has said the posts come pre treated but need annual treatment to preserve - seems this is a weal option, as the part of the post in concrete / on the ground is going to rot easily..? the panels are not pressure treated, but i knew that wouldnt be the case as was on a budget..

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

The bottom of the post will eventually rot, no matter what treatment you annually apply to the exposed bit and even if the post is pressure treated. So the timber posts may last 5, 10 or 20 years or whatever, more likely the stressed bit just above the concrete at ground level will snap in high winds once some rote has set in. But do you actually have a question? Or is this a general comment?

 

[t3rm3y]

yes, i forgot to post the question - should i be asking the installer why they are not pressure treated? if i start arguing anything with him i want to know what is the standard or usual supply. they are 4x4 posts, so hopefully wont be snapping but to preserve them should i be either askign they be treated properly (at least the remaining posts) or have them fitted in those spike things and then set in concrete to keep the wood away from the ground?

 

[ladylola]

There's a wide variety in quality with pressure treated timber I've found. I built an arbour some 20 years ago and a decade later removed it when we moved house , the timbers 3x3 were as good as new and it's still standing now. On the other hand a friend had a fence put up using 6" round post , again pressure treated , about five years ago and a lot of them have rotted away. Concrete may be the way to go if you are worried about rot.

 

[JohnD]

+100%

If you want posts that won't rot, get concrete posts.

That is all.

 

[Andyc84]

Concrete posts burried well in the ground.

Do it correct the first time, might cost you twice as much now, but you won't be out there replacing the lot every 5-10 years.

 

[t3rm3y]

that was my concern - having someone do the install, paying them, and then having to replace it in couple years.
im not happy with what has been done, as my partner was the one organising it when i was away. there are no gravel boards, just the panels on the soil, and wooden posts.
its fine for him to say treat it every year, but we can only access on side of the fence anyway, as other sides face into neighbours gardens.
another casualty of buy cheap (not that cheap though in my opinion so can see why she didnt want concrete posts..)buy twice i suspect