What can I replace this wooden stake railing with that wont rot so often?

[Gary111]

I have a small walkway on the edge of my steep garden which is stake posts and handrails, with soil and chippings in a kind of trough.

I have to replace them from time to time and I have also treated them regularly.

I also don't really like the look of them but don't want to spend a fortune.

Any suggestions as to what I can replace them with please?

I wondered about adding some sand and cement to stabilise the trough part so that the stakes wouldn't bear all the load?

 

[Odds]

If you don't want to spend a fortune then pop along to B&Q to sort it. Otherwise i'd say a wrought iron railing would be a fine way to do the job.

 

[Gary111]

Thanks would the support be wrought iron set on concrete for that?

 

[RandomGrinch]

Composite posts are available, but they start to get pricey...

Composite Fencing Posts with Cap

Plastic Fence Panels transform gardens with stylish, low-maintenance composite fencing. These incredibly light fencing panels are incredibly strong, making general handling and fitting easy. The fence panels can be fitted between existing concrete posts, using the plastic posts available or with...

www.virtualplastics.co.uk

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Shouldn't be too hard to work out, how many times you'd need to replace the timber post before a composite one would pay for itself.
What about concrete posts for the ground-contact bit?

 

[Gary111]

Has anyone got any experience of using the shrink wrap collars on stakes to prolong the life of the stakes?

 

[DiyNutJob]

From your photo, scaffolding posts appear to work.

 

[big-all]

Has anyone got any experience of using the shrink wrap collars on stakes to prolong the life of the stakes?

not sure how shrink wrap are supposed to help to me they can only cause extra problems you need maximum drying and even saturation as long as the average is not around 19%
as soon as you wrap in plastic the moisture level will stabilize and iff its at around 19% then it will rot
if you think off it fence posts rot at ground level with solid above and solid in the ground
any way remove soil and detritus around the post at ground level on top off the securing concrete and it should help longevity off the post

 

[StephenOak]

not sure how shrink wrap are supposed to help to me they can only cause extra problems you need maximum drying

What I think is being referred to is this

Postsaver Global

www.postsaver.com

or something similar.

The idea is that no drying is needed as the vulnerable area (just above ground & 6" under) is wrapped to prevent it getting wet. This is done with an outer layer of plastic and an inner layer of bitumen type material.

I have never used these so I have no idea how effective they are but it is, IMO plausible. There is some material on their website that shows this
https://www.postsaver.com/products/pro-sleeve-fence-post-protection/ (video)

Buy With Confidence | BRE Independent Test Data | Postsaver

With 20 years of independent BRE test data, you can buy Postsaver products with complete confidence. Find out why our product is the best in the business.

www.postsaver.com

 

[big-all]

What I think is being referred to is this

Postsaver Global

www.postsaver.com

or something similar.

The idea is that no drying is needed as the vulnerable area (just above ground & 6" under) is wrapped to prevent it getting wet. This is done with an outer layer of plastic and an inner layer of bitumen type material.

I have never used these so I have no idea how effective they are but it is, IMO plausible. There is some material on their website that shows this
https://www.postsaver.com/products/pro-sleeve-fence-post-protection/ (video)

Buy With Confidence | BRE Independent Test Data | Postsaver

With 20 years of independent BRE test data, you can buy Postsaver products with complete confidence. Find out why our product is the best in the business.

www.postsaver.com

if its a genuine 20 year gtee and the business has been in existence doing gtees for at least 30 years then that would give me confidence in their product providing there's no wormy get out clauses

 

[StephenOak]

if its a genuine 20 year gtee and the business has been in existence doing gtees for at least 30 years then that would give me confidence

As I said I have never used them, but it does inspire some confidence. And that is the purpose of a guarantee, you don't want to claim on it.

providing there's no wormy get out clauses

Well, there are bound to be some sensible limits; e.g. you must have fitted it tight to the surface.

More limiting is that, somewhere on the site, I saw that it said they would pay for the post and the product. No mention of the cost of the work which will probably be much more.

 

[lostinthelight]

As I see it ,a weak point on fencing post, especially newer fast grown conifer is they can split down the grain which can lead to water soaking down below the waterproofing so would remain trapped.

 

[Alec_t]

Aluminium scaffold pole is about £3 per ft. Galvanised steel about half that.

 

[JohnD]

Concrete spurs.