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Fence Question: Wooden Fence with Aluminum Post vs Wood Post

Posted on 4/28/24 at 9:45 pm
Posted by DieSmilen
My Rubbermaid Desk
Member since Dec 2007
1734 posts
Posted on 4/28/24 at 9:45 pm
My house backs up to a commercial building that installed a 10 foot wooden fence with aluminum posts. I planned on installing an 8 foot fence to one side of my yard and I am trying to figure out if there are any advantages to using aluminum posts instead if wood. I don’t feel they are as sturdy as traditional wood posts.
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45820 posts
Posted on 4/28/24 at 9:58 pm to
You sure they are aluminum and not galvanized metal?
Posted by DieSmilen
My Rubbermaid Desk
Member since Dec 2007
1734 posts
Posted on 4/28/24 at 10:01 pm to
They could be. I just walked up to it and assumed it was aluminum. I was able to shake their fence 1-2 inch back and forth.
Posted by tigerclaw10
My house
Member since Jun 2010
4280 posts
Posted on 4/28/24 at 11:43 pm to
My neighbor has galvanized posts and I have wooden posts. Do wooden. Also, make sure you put a sufficient amount of concrete and the more posts the closer the more stable your fence will be.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15238 posts
Posted on 4/29/24 at 6:37 am to
quote:

Also, make sure you put a sufficient amount of concrete and the more posts the closer the more stable your fence will be.



Also, when cementing the posts in the ground make sure to have the cement go above ground level and bevel it down from the post to the ground to direct water away from the post base. You don't want water collecting at the base of the post at ground level.
Posted by slinger1317
Northshore
Member since Sep 2005
5886 posts
Posted on 4/29/24 at 7:04 am to
I've always done metal posts.

Wooden posts tend to warp, twist and rot.
Posted by Bayou
CenLA
Member since Feb 2005
36887 posts
Posted on 4/29/24 at 8:04 am to
I used 4x6 treated posts. Solid. Confidence.
Posted by armsdealer
Member since Feb 2016
11523 posts
Posted on 4/29/24 at 8:10 am to
We lived in a house built in the 50's, the fence was built then too. Metal posts, cedar boards. Those original posts were still perfect. I rebuilt sections of the fence and it was super easy, just unbolt a panel, bolt up new cross pieces and attach your pickets. I will do the same if I ever need to install a fence again.
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4541 posts
Posted on 4/29/24 at 8:58 am to
quote:

I used 4x6 treated posts. Solid. Confidence.

They fence company I'm using to fix mine only uses 4x6. 10 foot post, 3 feet in the ground and lops a foot off the top. That's the way to go.
This post was edited on 4/29/24 at 9:04 am
Posted by Bayou
CenLA
Member since Feb 2005
36887 posts
Posted on 4/29/24 at 9:02 am to
quote:

They fence company I'm using to fix mine only uses 4x6. 10 foot post, 3 feet in the group and lops a foot off the top. That's the way to go.

Ours is 4' in the ground and 8' high. We braced up the posts so that they were about 3" from touching the bottom of the hole. Poured cement in there, let sit over night, remove braces, and finish up.
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30114 posts
Posted on 4/29/24 at 11:28 am to
quote:

Fence Question: Wooden Fence with Aluminum Post vs Wood Post


a fence like that requires the strength of steel posts, aluminum is too weak
Posted by GeauxldMember
Member since Nov 2003
4405 posts
Posted on 4/29/24 at 12:45 pm to
What you want are galvanized steel sch 40 posts (2-3/8 OD). They’ll outlast you if they’re set correctly.

Problem with treated wood is that unless you get KDAT, it’s likely going to twist or warp on you. Also, newer materials and processes for pressure treating just doesn’t perform as well as the treated products of the past. I had some concrete poured less than 7 years ago, and most of the 1x4 ground contact treated lumber used for the expansion joints is already rotten.

Spend a little more money and go with steel.
Posted by Neauxla
New Orleans
Member since Feb 2008
33449 posts
Posted on 4/29/24 at 1:56 pm to
steel and make sure you get the thick stuff. not the thin from home depot
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