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Post Depth for Gate post

OldSaw | Posted in Construction Techniques on September 18, 2008 06:55am

I am installing a new fence, and need to answer a question about the depth of the post from which the gate will be hung.  I’m using a 6″x6″ post.

Trying to anticipate the questions-

  • I live in Northern California- I would describe the soil as “medium compact”- it was farm land decades ago, but nothing special now.  Hence, no special “holding factor” on the footing.
  • The gate is large and heavy (6′ tall, perimeter from 3″ x 5″ redwood, and the interior from 1 3/8″ redwood.  I would estimate the weight of the gate at ~250 lbs.) 
  • The gate is  being installed perpendicular to the fence line, not “in line” with it.  (The gate is at the end of the fence, where the fence turns toward the house)

I hired a guy to come out and dig the holes and set the posts.  I asked that this post be 42″ below grade, given that I’d have 6′ of post above grade.  However, he only went down 32″.  (The hole is 18″ wide at the top- not sure how wide further down).

So the magic question is, “is the post set enough”?  Or will I have problems with the post sagging after I hang the gate?

Thanks all.

“Honey, will you please make some sawdust and track it across the carpet?”

“Yes, dear…”

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Replies

  1. Piffin | Sep 18, 2008 03:03pm | #1

    I'd be going 48" and still figure possibility of needing to guy it someday

     

     

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  2. User avater
    BossHog | Sep 18, 2008 03:38pm | #2

    I'm with Piffin - Get the thing 4' down and make sure the backfill is compacted tightly.

    If the next post back is big enough, you can do a brace back to it to help hold it plumb.

    If Mamma ain't happy...Ain't Nobody happy

    1. Piffin | Sep 18, 2008 03:51pm | #3

      " do a brace back to it to help hold it plumb."except this is at a corner - maybe you define terms differently than I do for fencing though. We could be saying the same thing 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. User avater
        BossHog | Sep 18, 2008 03:56pm | #4

        I missed that the gate is perpendicular to the fence. How the heck does that work?If that's the case, I'd want to use two really tall gate posts and brace across the top of them.
        Anyone who says he can see through women is missing a lot.

        1. Piffin | Sep 18, 2008 04:35pm | #5

          Good solution 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  3. draftingguy | Sep 18, 2008 11:12pm | #6

    How wide is the gate?

    BTW, I like BossHog's idea.

    1. OldSaw | Sep 18, 2008 11:21pm | #8

      Gate is 44" wide.

      I like BossHog's idea too, except that the gate sits on a corner of the fence, so the arbor would look funny.  Basically, the fence runs along the left side of the property, then turns toward the house.  The gate is going right at the corner where it turns. 

      I spoke with the guy who buried it today, having found some engineering tables for depth of the posts.  He agreed to come out and remove the post and redo it.  Without a doubt it's hard work, but 30" of post in the ground just isn't enough."Honey, will you please make some sawdust and track it across the carpet?"

      "Yes, dear..."

      1. draftingguy | Sep 18, 2008 11:39pm | #9

        It's good he's agreed to redo it.  A quick calc using low soil values and assuming a wind load from half of an 8' long section of fence shows that 18" dia. and 48" deep is about the minimum you'd want.

        One disclaimer, though, is that if you actually run a wind load calculation on your typical 6' tall fence, the numbers rarely work out.

      2. Piffin | Sep 19, 2008 12:27am | #10

        "30" of post in the ground just isn't enough."especially when he was told to sink it 42" 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      3. woodway | Sep 19, 2008 01:43am | #11

        If your unable to do the arbor thing then install the gate hinges on the side of the gate nearest the fence line which is aligned in the same direction as the gate. Using two large eye bolts, one near the top of the hinge side post and the other at, or near, the ground level of the next post over. Install SS cable from the top eye bolt at an angle down toward the second eye bolt and install a hefty turn buckle between the two bolts. Tighten cable clamps while pulling most of the slack out of the cable then tighten the turn buckle slowly till the weight of the gate is mostly supported with cable tension. With time the gate will need minor readjustments but this can easily be done by either loosening or tightening the cable.

        1. User avater
          Haystax | Sep 21, 2008 02:32am | #12

          Finally a topic that falls within my area of expertise - or at least my area of considerable experience...But 'woodway' beat me to it - that is really your only option for a decent gate, and why can't you integrate a brace above? If the guy is coming to pull your corner post then buy two more tall posts and integrate and arch or something. The cable is still the preferable method though - do you notice the "H" braces in pasture fences? Us cowboys might be dumb but were smart enough to build gates we can open without getting off our horses ;)But at least you were smart enough to hire someone else to dig the hole and set the post...

          Edited 9/20/2008 7:34 pm by Haystax

          1. woodway | Sep 21, 2008 04:50am | #13

            I only learnt it because I can't count the number of fences, and gates, that I've built. I have to laugh when I see people build horse corrals out of wood...you immediately know they're newbies.ps...is learnt a word? An arch over the gate or cable system is the only way I know of that solves the problem.

  4. dovetail97128 | Sep 18, 2008 11:15pm | #7

    Place a wheel or caster at the free end of the gate.

    Have it spring loaded to allow for uneven ground as it travels..
    Post will be fine then.

    They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.

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