TIL my old way of setting posts was costing me half a day on every job

For years, I mixed concrete in a wheelbarrow and poured it dry around the posts, thinking it was the 'right' way. Last month, I helped a guy on a big job in Springfield who used pre-mixed bags and a post hole mixer attachment on his drill. We set twenty 4x4 posts in under two hours, and they were rock solid. I was sure the dry pour method was stronger, but the speed and clean finish with the wet mix changed my mind completely. Has anyone else switched methods and been surprised by the results?

2 comments

2 Comments

hart.charlie4d ago

That "clean finish" you mentioned is a huge deal people overlook. A messy, crumbly dry pour base can trap water against the wood over time. The solid wet mix might actually make the post last longer by sealing it better.

mason.mary4d ago

You're absolutely right about that. I saw it happen to my own fence years ago. The posts set in dry mix just sort of eroded at ground level, leaving a gap that held every rain. The ones we did with wet concrete formed a smooth collar that shed water away from the wood. It made a visible difference in how long they lasted. That little slope you can shape with wet mix is what does the trick. It seems like more work at the time, but it saves a lot of trouble later.