I'm probably beating a horse thats been beat many times but...I'm getting in a position to start building enclosures and I hear a lot of talk through searching here about post types. I'm looking to use wood poles, what size poles should I be looking for (diameter). Chatter on the forum says use steel...what schedule and what supplier...how does fence construction differ using steel? attachment would obviously change...would seem to be more industrial looking in a farming community. Any insight would would be helpful...keep in mind I'm in WV and I need 10' highfence.
Post types and issues associated with each
- Thread starter Falls Valley
- Start date
Joined Oct 2009
3,165 Posts | 1+
upstate ny
We use good ole ceder posts.If i understand where you are coming from you want to keep more of a farm look.If so ceder is the way to go.The next would be the treated poles and then steel.Granted the treated and steel look the best as the posts are perfectly straight and the ceder not so much.We used bigger 10 to 12in posts on the corners and 6 to 8 inch on the rest.The ceder will last 10 years or more before you would have to replace them.
I used wood posts on the corners and 2" white fiberglass posts for the line posts. I'm thinking that I'm the only one in the country with fiberglass posts. The white makes them visable and they have a little spring or give if the fence is run into.
Joined Nov 2010
704 Posts | 0+
Annville, PA
Falls Valley said:
I would use Southern Yellow Pine, a very strong hardwood that will last many many years.
Joined Apr 2009
1,562 Posts | 0+
cental Pennsylvania
I never spent a dime on my post, I was very fortunate to have land full of locust trees. if you de bark them they could last 15 years, my pap fenced his cow pasture 15 years ago with locust, he's only replaced a couple in those 15 years. If you know anyone with ground that has locust and will let you take them and you dont mind the work then go for it. However if you have the funds available for steel post go for it! like Curtis said you will never replace them. I also heard the yellow pine is great and will last a long time, it would be tremendously cheaper than steel, lots of good options suggested, you just need to go by your budget. I have no expierence with steel poles, i am also curious what people use to attach wire to them that does the job and looks appealing.
Joined Jul 2009
1,215 Posts | 0+
Deer Park, Alabama
If you use wood try to get southern yellow pine post. If you get the ones out of the flats they are pure heart and will last a long time when treated. I hand pick my trees for post. They are usually atleast 20 years old and grown on poor soil. That is why they are mostly heart - very slow growth.
it all depends where you are the last time i priced it 32' length of 3'' drill stem......$32 if you take it by the semi load they have collars on them so you can thread the cut pieces together to eliminate waste, last time I priced posts here 12' treated $16.50
I use a wire twister to start wire around the corner posts, I make my own twist-its out of aluminum wire to attach to the posts and give a little movement with heating and cooling
we used steel for our first pen didnt know how to attach wire so am now having to redo 2 yrs later the rest of our pens we used teleohone poles and fiberglass and tpost 12ft long going wood then at 20ft tpost then 20ft fiberglass then 20ft tpost then 20ft wood so on and so on looks good and works nice only been at this 2 years but so far so good
Nick
Nick
