Drove past a ranch in Montana and saw fence posts set in concrete instead of tamped dirt

I was up near Billings last month checking out a buddy's property and noticed about 200 posts all set in concrete with no gravel drainage at the bottom. The rancher swore it's the only way to go for wind load out there but I've always heard concrete traps moisture and rots the wood faster. Which way do you guys think holds up better over 10+ years in heavy wind country?

2 comments

2 Comments

margaret_nelson17d agoMost Upvoted

Buddy of mine tried the concrete trick on his place near Bozeman and had to replace half the posts within six years. They looked solid but the wood was mush inside where it met the concrete.

wrenwilson18d ago

Is it just me or does every rancher have their own "secret trick" that they swear by but nobody else agrees on? lol Reminds me of how everyone has a different opinion on whether to pressure wash a deck or just scrub it by hand, but nobody actually checks the results five years later. I bet that concrete holds up fine in the wind but the wood rots out way faster than a properly tamped post would.

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