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SimonD

Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 26
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 3:08 pm Post subject: Rotten gate posts

The past few years have been particularly wet here on Exmoor, and i have found recently that many of my gate posts have rotted and broken at the point where they meet the ground. They are only three years old. I am in the process of digging them out, and plan on replacing them with cut-down telegraph poles, with a fresh coat of creosote, but i was thinking of slipping the ends into thick plastic feed sacks before sinking them into the ground for a little extra protection. Has anyone else had this problem and come up with a solution, or have any thoughts on the feed sack idea?

oliveoyl

Joined: 18 Sep 2008
Posts: 425

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 3:14 pm Post subject:
https://gardeners-world.net/prod_show.asp?prodid=3845 That sort of thing would be an option.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 3:21 pm Post subject:
Use concrete posts, or galvanised steel ones set in concrete. Old concrete railway sleepers buried in the ground on their ends are ideal.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 3:32 pm Post subject:
Paint the part to be burried in a tar based waterproofing agent as used in old buildings.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 3:33 pm Post subject:
I'm assuming the ones that have rotted weren't treated timber or I would be chasing your supplier for a refund.

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 3:37 pm Post subject:
If you put it in a sack even if it does not get holed when refilling the hole it will catch the water that runs down the post & then the post will sit in a puddle for ever. Sounds like a good way to encourage rot.

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 3:40 pm Post subject:
The penny-pinching Cardi way is to buy your posts a month or so before you need them and soak the ends in old sump oil.

SimonD

Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 26
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 3:42 pm Post subject:

Tavascarow wrote:

I'm assuming the ones that have rotted weren't treated timber or I would be chasing your supplier for a refund.

They were all treated, but after three years i'm not sure i have any comeback.

SimonD

Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 26
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 3:44 pm Post subject:

RichardW wrote:

If you put it in a sack even if it does not get holed when refilling the hole it will catch the water that runs down the post & then the post will sit in a puddle for ever. Sounds like a good way to encourage rot.

Mm, very true.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18410

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 3:53 pm Post subject:

SimonD wrote:

Tavascarow wrote:

I'm assuming the ones that have rotted weren't treated timber or I would be chasing your supplier for a refund.

They were all treated, but after three years i'm not sure i have any comeback.

I think I'd have a word with a supplier about how long a treated post should last. I would expect more than three years out of a treated gatepost/strainer.

And BTW, the usual way of protecting the tops of gateposts here is old hubcaps or saucepans.

12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 4:00 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

Use concrete posts, or galvanised steel ones set in concrete. Old concrete railway sleepers buried in the ground on their ends are ideal.

I once had to remove a railway sleeper using a Bobcat as a crane, when the Bobcat fell forwards we set it back on it's tracks the dug some more - have you any idea how long the sleepers used on points are

magnet

Joined: 05 Apr 2010
Posts: 41
Location: Northumberland

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 4:04 pm Post subject: post rot
Hello when i set a post i drill a 8mm hole at ground level and at a downward angle so i can treat the posts from an oilcan with cuprinol every year. . When your done tap a little peg into the hole and leave till next year the peg prevents the hole being blocked with muck.You may find this some use . atb Magnet

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 4:09 pm Post subject:

12Bore wrote:

Brownbear wrote:

Use concrete posts, or galvanised steel ones set in concrete. Old concrete railway sleepers buried in the ground on their ends are ideal.

Yes.

12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 4:10 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

12Bore wrote:

Brownbear wrote:

Use concrete posts, or galvanised steel ones set in concrete. Old concrete railway sleepers buried in the ground on their ends are ideal.

Yes.

If only.........

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 10 4:12 pm Post subject:
Actually, having seen the land in question, I think even concrete would rot there. Only time I've ever seen pigs wearing snorkels.

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