[Foobar]

Stupid question time ...

If I wanted to hang some metal field gates using metal gate posts (like the IAE ones) must they be concreted in?

[henchard]

Yes, unless you want them to lean over of course.

[Foobar]

Even if you back fill the hole with large rocks?


It's just that I have limited space for the posts so wanted to use something as slim as possible, and I wanted to avoid the use of the dreaded concrete .

[henchard]

Depends how big the gate is a 2' gate would probably be ok but anything approaching a normal field gate size will have too much twisting effect in my opinion.

Metal posts are only about 2m long from memory compared to 3m wooden posts. Can't you get someone to knock a wooden post in (with a tractor post knocker) as it would only be a few inches bigger in diameter?

[Foobar]

Ahh yeah, twisting, I see what you mean.  Yeah it'll have to be a wooden one then, ho hum .  Thanks [member=8543]henchard[/member]!

[Creagan]

Why the concrete-phobia? A gate post will only take a couple of batches, made up in the bottom of a barrow.

[Foobar]

Err well, it's not very environmentally friendly and its a right PITA to dig out in the future .

[verdifish]

If you used galvanised steel posts you won't need to dig them out. 

[henchard]

Err well, it's not very environmentally friendly and its a right PITA to dig out in the future .

Presumeably, fabricating and galvanising a metal post (as opposed to a wooden one) is not environmentally friendly either 

You can usually get concreted posts out by backing a tractor up, lowering the lift arms either side of the post, string a chain betweeen them and wrap round the post a few times, then lift the arms up with the hydraulics and repeat as necessary!

[bazzais]

If you use non-hydraulic cement it absorb some of the C02 it produced when being made as it hardening.

[farmerg]

sorry for the late reply but it might help someone in the future.

wrap a plastic feed bag round the bottom of the metal post and cable tie it before concreting. This allows the post to be pulled out if necessary in the future. I have done this on most gate posts i replaced and i allows for relatively easy replacement or temporary removal for example if you need those few extra inches to get something wide through a tight gateway.