Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

[Nandy]

It has been about 6 weeks since I started the process to get a fence built in the back yard of my house that is in an HOA. These useless boards members have been taking their time for everything and will not even return my calls. Monday is the last day they have to answer (2 have already gave me the ok in about 2 days after I submitted my request, just need one more to have majority) my request so I am buying the materials and starting the fence Sunday regardless. This is the same fence everyone else has under the same conditions and fitting the bylaws. No reason to have me waiting over 30 days instead of just looking at their stupid email and say YEI or NEI.
I was planing to have this done while the temps were mild and above freezing but the hoa delays have pushed me this far. Anyway, right now the temperatures at night are well in the freezing rage (higher teens) and day temps tends to be just around the 40's. Looking at a chart it seems that if the temps are around 40 deg the concrete should cure in about 14 hours, if 50's then about 11. But that is paper...
So those of you that do this type of work, from experience, are those numbers right? Any tips? Here in Charlotte we tend to have wild winters in the sense that sometimes we are in the teens and sometimes we can be in the 50's for days or weeks at a time. Waiting until spring is not an option, although waiting for temps in the 40's (as this weekend) are not our of the question. If I have to skip the concrete and redo that in warmer then I will. Reading around seems that while setting the corner/gates post in concrete is a must, it is not necessarily a must to do the same for the other posts.
I dont mean to be rude but if you dont have experience in construction I rather you skip providing your wild guess. I rather have an educated guess from a person that has construction background...
Thanks!

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

These are just post holes? How deep were your thinking? Is this a structural wall or just vinyl fence? Much more info is needed for anything structural. You'lll be fine for basic fence posts as long as the ground isn't frozen and you have proper compaction of the soils around the holes. Concrete will set in a few hours, but by no means cures fully in low temps for several days. You'll need to protect the concrete from freezing during the first 72 hours this time of year with concrete blankets or a heavy layer of straw with plastic over it. And yes I'm a GC.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

And another thing. Have you had your property line verified for your fence and called for utility marking? Don't even think of beginning a fence without doing this!

 

[cribber]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

If you're installing chainlink or wood panel fencing just dig your posts 24 inches deep, set your posts, and fill 1/2 to 2/3s full with quickcrete with aggregate. Fill the rest with soil and tamp it down. There is no need to set fence posts with wet poured concrete and wait for it to cure. After a day start hanging your fence panels or hanging your chain link and support poles. I'm not a contractor but have done my share of fencing over the years. If your doing something other than wood or chain link then I'd call a local contractor for some advice and assistance. A couple of hours pay for expert advice goes a long way.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

One of the many things that I have done over a lifetime was install fence for sears as a sub contractor. You have nothing to worry about. I used to fill the hole up with concrete until it was 5 or 6 inches from the surface then fill it the rest of the way with dirt. Like someone else said,this is not structural I used to pour DRY ready mix into the hole then pour a bucket of water on top of it and then agitate with a piece of re-bar.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

It is a wood privacy fence, I was to told by the local hardware store to make 2 feet deep holes for the 4x4 post. Property line and locates have been taking care off. I have read many about pouring the concrete vs pouring the concrete and then get water in it. What do you guys think? I know I should and must brace the corner posts but do you have to do the same for the ones in between? it will take quite many 2x4 to brace all of them (34 4x4 in total...).

 

[cribber]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

Just the corner posts need to be braced and any post that has a gate hanging from it. After that just make sure everything else is level and take into account any low or high spots for eye appeal.

 

[642mx]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

I put my own fence up... The holes need to be 16-18 inches deep and I dry pour the mix. No need to add water as the mix will suck enough moisture out of the dirt. In 24 hours you'll be ready to put the rest of the wood on.

* Be sure to have the ground marked before you start digging holes!

 

[cityboy]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

find a flooring supply store in your area and pick up 10 bag's of jiff set (25lb bags about 50 bucks) when you fill your hole do the botton 6 inch with jiff it sets hard in 10 minutes only mix 1/4 bag at a time or it will be set b-4 you can dump it

 

[bigdee]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

Nandy,in your neck of the woods you most likely have red clay. If that is the case you don't need concrete except at the gate post. Once you tamp that red clay it ain't going nowhere. Only the people that have lived in the piedmont know what I'm talking about!!

 

[kmarine]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

As a former fence installer in chicago we install fences in below freezing conditios all the time. In your case It seems like you only have freezing overnight, not a problemb. The ground is not frozen. your concrete will take longer to cure (about 3-5 days)but will work allright. Make sure to dig below frost line 36to 40 inches in most areas. In extrime cold we add a cup of calcium chloride to the concrete, but I dont think you need it where you live.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

The intermittent posts are no big deal, but the gate posts are. Maybe your soils will hold the intermittent posts with decent tamping, I'd recommend using an auger to bore a clean firm hole if you elect to do this. Desperate Depot rents them for about $50 bucks for a half day, well worth it. (I'd recommend using an auger for the whole job anyway...) But before I hung a gate of any size, I'd bore an 8-10" hole at least 32" deep with a GOOD mix of 3500 psi crete that sits at least 3-4 days before I'd put weight to it. Concrete hits 80% of working capacity in a good mix at about 3 days, colder temps a couple of days longer. A day or two of patience means more boating time later.

 

[rbh]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

Remember to do the string trick.
Thats where you put the end poles in and check for height above ground, fill and tamp good.
Then take a nail and hammer it in the center of each post , tie off and streach the string between the two posts (really tight)
This will give you total height for the run, "IF THE GROUND IS FLAT" as well as the center for each fence post.

 

[shrew]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

If you're installing chainlink or wood panel fencing just dig your posts 24 inches deep, set your posts, and fill 1/2 to 2/3s full with quickcrete with aggregate.

I'd be careful about recommending depths. That is dicated by the geographic region and is usually specified in local building code. 24" may be more than adequate for Florida, however that would not be below the frost line in other parts of the country. In New Hampshire, for example, it is recommended to be 48" for footing depths.

To the OP, make sure you look at your local building codes. As stated, verify property boundries and underground utilities. Make sure your building based on local code in relation to the property boundry as well. Some places you need to be a certain distance from the property line as well.

Just my .02

 

[bigdee]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

Nandy, I live in your area so I know that there is no concern about frost depth (for fence posts), If you rent a hand-held auger get one with a 5 inch auger bit and be CAREFUL in that clay and rock....you may be better off with a tractor mounted auger, If you have patience and don't mind a few blisters a post hole digger MIGHT work. As a rule 24" should be deep enough if your soil is like mine. Good luck!

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

I put a chain link around my back yard a few years ago.. Never did it before.

I started with a post hole digger. Got one hole done and went out to rent the auger. Might not work in your situation with 4x4s but my posts, I dug down then tapped them into the dirt making sure they were level and straight, Then mixed quickcrete in a wheel barrow and poured in. 2 days later set the chain.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

34 holes to dig in this NC rocky clay they call soil....ugh!

I put up 950 ft of fence a couple years ago and no way i could have dug it by hand.
I went to Sunbelt and rented the 2 man post hole machine.
My neighbor and i had the holes done in about 3 hours.

As far as the concrete i dry poured the corner posts and where the gates are.
Tamped them in good and done.

I have two,12 ft. gates and they have not sagged so the dry pour works fine.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

Another thing.. Gary's post reminded me..

Plan your fence carefully.
I put in 2 walk way gate in my fence. One on each side of the house.
Off the garage side.. I wished I would have put in a bigger gate.... Big enough to drive my truck through.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

One of the many things that I have done over a lifetime was install fence for sears as a sub contractor. You have nothing to worry about. I used to fill the hole up with concrete until it was 5 or 6 inches from the surface then fill it the rest of the way with dirt. Like someone else said,this is not structural I used to pour DRY ready mix into the hole then pour a bucket of water on top of it and then agitate with a piece of re-bar.

big, I finally learned the trick about putting in the dry mix and then adding water to the hole..Saves time and mess..I also learned its better to not set the poles until you have the fence attached and level. Have it braced into the exact position and then cement in the poles.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Concrete pouring for fence on cold conditions

I finally got to start the fence after many setbacks. Got the holes dug up and will be setting post today. I will do the dry concrete but I don't know if I should compact the concrete or just leave it as it fills then just pack the clay in top of it. Obviously if I'm doing the dry concrete I don't have to wait for the concrete to cured and just continue with the building process.
Thanks for y'alls help.