Hot take: Setting posts in concrete vs gravel backfill

I was putting up a 6 foot privacy fence near Portland last June and had a post start leaning after a heavy rain. I used gravel backfill like some guys swear by, but another crew I talked to says concrete is the only way for wet ground. The leaning post cost me 2 extra hours to pull and reset with concrete. Which method do you use for clay soil that stays soggy?

2 comments

2 Comments

stellablack6d ago

Use fast-setting concrete in clay, gravel won't hold.

walker.alex6d ago

Stick with what works in the situation, that's the thing. I see people try to use the cheapest option for everything and then get surprised when it fails six months later. Same with driveway gravel vs actual road base, everybody wants to save a few bucks but ends up spending way more fixing the mess.