Placing fence posts can be a time consuming challenge. You need to get the hole prepared and make sure that everything is put in well so the concrete sets well and the posts for your fence will stay in place for a long time. You wait for the perfect day to get it done, but then it starts to rain. Can you pour concrete in the rain for your fence posts?
Pouring concrete for a fence post in the rain is often not a good idea. The rain can add some additional challenges to putting in a fence post. There are some methods that help you get this done, but it is better to wait until a sunny and nice day to make the job of pouring concrete a little bit easier.
Let’s take a look at some of the challenges that come with pouring concrete during the rain and what steps you need to take to help the posts stay in place, even if you do place them during the rain.
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Can I Pour Concrete for My Fence Posts in the Rain?
While it is possible to set your fence posts in extreme weather, it is best to avoid doing so in the rain. If it is just drizzling, you can give it a go and add some extra precautions to make sure that the posts will not fall over when they stay wet. If it is downpouring, it becomes a lot harder to pour the concrete and keep the hole free from water. It is generally best to avoid pouring concrete for your fence posts when it rains.
Putting the posts in when it rains can lead to a number of problems. You could end up with concrete that does not set because it continues to be wet from the rain. The excess rain could influence the integrity of the hole and may make the post fall over if the rain is too severe. It is also just miserable and difficult to handle putting the post into place when it is raining all around you.
While there are methods you can use to pour concrete to pace your fence posts in the rain, it is generally best to wait. The methods take longer and are more labor intensive too. And there is a chance that they will not work at all. Waiting until the weather is a little nicer is generally the best option.
Can I Pour Concrete in Bad Weather?
It is generally best to wait until the rain subsides before you start to pour concrete for your fence posts. However, it is possible to install the posts in bad weather. You do not need to wait for the perfect day to get started. For example, if it is below 32 degrees, you can use calcium chloride to the mixture of concrete and it will still work. Calcium chloride is basically an accelerating agent. When this is added, it will increase the rate of early strength or shorten the time the concrete takes to set. This is the best option to use for concrete.
The best bet is to find the nicest day of the week around when you want to place the posts. If you can wait until spring or summer when it is nice that is better. But you can do it in winter, just pick a day that is sunny and a little warmer than the others. This will make the process of pouring concrete and setting the post a little easier.
How to Set a Post in Concrete When It Rains?
If you want to build up a fence, it is important to get the posts set properly. Setting them on their own is not too hard, but when it starts to rain, this can add another level of difficulty to the whole thing. The rain, depending on how severe it is, can be irritating and annoying. If the water from the rain starts to pool in the posthole, you may need to use some PVC pipe to make it easier to set your post.
Some of the steps you can use to set a post in concrete, even if it rains, includes:
- Start with a posthole digger and make a hole that is about thirty inches deep and up to four times the width of the post you plan to use.
- Add another six inches of gravel to the hole to make sure that the post will not sag into the ground and to make it easier to drain the water away.
- You will need a bag of concrete that will dry quickly. Follow the directions on the package to mix it, using a shovel to mix well.
- Add the post right in the middle of the hole. If there is water there from the rain, you need to use a piece of pipe to help funnel the concrete. Have someone hold onto the pipe.
- Insert some PVC pipe into the hole next to your pipe. Have the other person hold that pipe right above the hole bottom.
- Add concrete to the PVC pipe. The concrete should travel through the pipe and spread out right on the bottom. Since the concrete is denser than the water, it will push the water out of the hole. Lift the pipe up as the concrete rises so it is always two inches higher. Stop adding the concrete once it gets to three inches to the top of the hole.
- Bail all of the water from the top of the hole with your shovel. Align the post and then add the soil to the top. Tamp down the soil with a shovel.
Keep in mind that this is going to help if there is just a little bit of water in the area. If there is a good deal of water in that area or it is pouring rain that day, it is best to avoid working on the post. Wait until the next day when the ground has some time to dry and not be soaking wet before you try putting the post in again.
