Cedar Fence Post Installation

Items Needed

• The most important piece of equipment for installing cedar fence posts in an auger. Augers are available at most tool rental dealers and come in a variety of styles. Like a corkscrew, an auger turns into the ground and digs a hole. Other items you will need for the installation of cedar fence posts include cement and water to secure the post, a level to check the angle of the post and a tape measure to verify the depth of the hole. Cedar fence posts are typically 4-by-4-inches in size.

Planning

• Before you begin digging the holes for the fence posts, it's important to plan the layout of the fence. This stage includes deciding the distance between each fence post and the length of the fence posts. Typically, it's useful to keep the distance of the posts under 8 feet. This distance will keep the fence sturdy and prevent you from having to buy cross-beams in excess of 8 feet.

Digging

• Regardless of the style of auger you use, set the machine so that it digs a vertical hole. The hole does not have to be exactly 90 degrees, as you can adjust the levelness of the post, but the more vertical you dig the hole, the better. You must always dig deep enough that the footing of the post sits below the frost line. In winter climates in North America, this is around 4 feet deep. Use a tape measure to determine the depth of the hole between digging periods.

Post

• Once you've dug the hole, place the post in the hole and use a level to square it. Have an assistant hold a level on the post and hold the post steady while you add cement. When adding the cement, you have the choice of pre-mixing cement powder and water or pouring the cement powder and water in to the hole simultaneously. The latter method is easiest for post installation; as you pour, mix the water and cement together with a long stick. Allow the cement to fully harden for the length of time specified on the bag before continuing to build the fence.