I always thought pressure treated posts were the only way to go for a long life

I was reading a trade magazine at the supply house yesterday and saw a study from a university. They said a cedar post set in concrete can actually rot faster at ground level than one set in gravel... because the concrete holds moisture against the wood. They had pictures of posts pulled after 8 years and the difference was clear. I've been setting everything in concrete mix for a decade. Has anyone else switched to a gravel base for certain woods after seeing something like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

margaret_nelson1d ago

That study at the university supply house made me second guess my concrete habit too.

the_david22h ago

I saw that MIT paper on cement's carbon footprint last month. The numbers were way higher than I expected, like 8% of global emissions. It really makes you rethink basic building materials.