POst for plugs at the pond Help!

[waynefrcan]

My trench is dug and I'm running the pvc conduit. Was wondering about coming up to the post at the pond. Have a 4x4 post, pvc line is 18" deep. Was going to put the post in cement. Should the pvc go in the cement as well. Or stay outside and then bend flex it to the post above ground. The cement will be 2 " thick all around post.

Thks for any help

 

[fishin4cars]

I wouldn't run any conduit or PVC in cement if it could be avoided. trying to make a repair later would be far more difficult and it has little added advantage to do it.

 

[Waterbug]

PVC can be embedded in concrete. They make a thin wall PVC conduit for use in concrete, but any PVC conduit can be used. The thin wall stuff is just to save money, there's nothing special about it.

Conduit makes repairs easy so I don't see the downside to having the conduit in concrete.

IMO putting posts in concrete isn't a great idea, the wood rots a lot faster. The post will last longer with just soil, or even longer if you mix in some sharp gravel (we call it "road base"). Google "wood post in concrete" for more opinions. And removing the post later...way easier without concrete.

Also in cold climates the water freezing in the wood can cause the concrete to bust, but that isn't normally a big deal for short posts.

 

[waynefrcan]

PVC can be embedded in concrete. They make a thin wall PVC conduit for use in concrete, but any PVC conduit can be used. The thin wall stuff is just to save money, there's nothing special about it.

Conduit makes repairs easy so I don't see the downside to having the conduit in concrete.

IMO putting posts in concrete isn't a great idea, the wood rots a lot faster. The post will last longer with just soil, or even longer if you mix in some sharp gravel (we call it "road base"). Google "wood post in concrete" for more opinions. And removing the post later...way easier without concrete.

Also in cold climates the water freezing in the wood can cause the concrete to bust, but that isn't normally a big deal for short posts.

I was thinking this as well. This is only a 3,5 ft post in total. It's not holding any weight like a fence. I think I will do no concrete. Maybe some crushed gravel.

You sure posts in cement rot faster? That's all we ever have done here. Nobody puts up a fence without treated fence posts in cement, I mean in residential areas not rural. It adds to the strenth.

 

[jhenkel]

Shalom - don't know the use of the post; but, 3 or 4" pvc can make a good post - fill with sackrite for added stability. maybe even run the conduit up through the pvc, ABS pipe is black.. Just a thought

 

[waynefrcan]

Need something to mount the double gang plug box and transformer for lights etc.

 

[Waterbug]

I was thinking this as well. This is only a 3,5 ft post in total. It's not holding any weight like a fence. I think I will do no concrete. Maybe some crushed gravel.

Not river gravel (round) please. Sharp only, it locks together.

You sure posts in cement rot faster? That's all we ever have done here. Nobody puts up a fence without treated fence posts in cement, I mean in residential areas not rural.

Not sure, but am willing to bet cash. I am sure concreted posts are a bitch to replace. I am sure wet wood rots faster than dry wood. I am sure wood encased in concrete will always be wetter than wood in fast draining road base. I am sure putting up a fence goes super fast when the concrete is skipped, so it's worth the time to research the pros and cons.

When I built pole barns (holes with poles inserted and barn nailed to the poles) 30 years ago we filled the hole with soil, no concrete.

Google "wood post in concrete" for more opinions.

I was raised with concrete is always better for everything. About 20 years ago I first heard about not using concrete from a fence builder. He was a thinker and explained why concrete was dumb idea. Made sense to me. Back then there were few people who could be convinced. Now it seems like there's a lot of professionals who have ditched the concrete.

There are lots of variations. Some people do a layer of road base, then a layer of soil, etc. Some set the post on a bed of road base and fill the hole with road base and concrete the final 12" or so. I think local soil conditions may lead to different methods. But all the thinkers are trying to improve drainage.

It adds to the strenth.

You sure it adds strength? I know most people think it's true. But I also know most people know less than they think.

This is all more about fence posts and such where rot is an expensive issue. A post for an electric box is certainly no big deal to replace.

 

[waynefrcan]

You my kind of guy, we should be pals lol. We not satisfied with basics, or the common ideas. We need to investigate deeply before doing any projects etc.

Took back the bag of cement and got a bag of road crush, not rounded. Same as your road base, gravel mixed with sand.

I'm glad you posted, thanks.

Wayne

 

[Waterbug]

Learning is the fun part imo. We have the most amazing device on our shoulders, seems a shame not to see what it can do.

 

[brandonsdad02]

I know its late to post but for my fence post I put gravel in the bottom of the hole, then did the wood post in cement. If you are worried bout it rotting, wood doesn't last forever when its outside. Its going to rot eventually so most likely, by the time the post starts to rot, so is the fence.