Replacing a garden fence

[Trinitee]

I could do with some advice on my garden fence that I'm replacing.

What is there now are five 3'x6' panels, supported by 3"x3" posts on 24" spikes, the spikes at either end set in concrete (the tops at least).

I want to replace it with 6' board fencing, and the easiest way would appear to use the existing spikes, but is this advisable?

They go in to a heavy clay soil (virtually solid clay after 18"), so should I leave them untouched, put some concrete around them, or get them out and start from scratch?

Thanks for your help.

 

[dextrous]

If they're not rusted then there's no reason not to reuse them. The only problem I see is that when you try to take out the existing posts, it'll be amazing if the spikes don't work themselves loose or even come out altogether.

 

[joe-90]

The trouble with metposts is that they are notorious for being slack and the post wobbling. Take one out and try it first.

 

[Thermo]

take them out and concrete them in properly. metposts are a waste of metal, time, money and effort