How To Straighten A Leaning Pole

Download Article

One of the most common problems with wooden fences is that their posts can commencement to lean over fourth dimension. When most of the argue is still structurally audio, but there are one or 2 leaning posts, information technology's much more affordable to straighten the posts than to rebuild the contend. Luckily, there are some great products out there that you tin can employ to straighten your contend posts with a minimal amount of work and investment. Choose the right kind of bracket or brace depending on whether your leaning posts are set directly into the ground or into concrete footings. Soon enough, your fence won't be looking so shabby anymore!

i
Buy ane-two Eastward-Z Mender brackets, depending on how crooked your post is. An Due east-Z Mender subclass is a metal bracket specifically designed for fixing leaning fence posts. Purchase 1 bracket per post if the postal service just has a modest lean and 2 if information technology is leaning drastically or has a fissure or other structural damage. These brackets are available at a dwelling house improvement centre, garden center, hardware shop, or online.^[1]
- Notation that this method will only work for 4 in (10 cm) by 4 in (10 cm) wooden fence posts that are driven direct into the soil. It won't work for fence posts encased in physical or posts that are bigger, since the brackets are designed to fit around the forest.
- An alternative to the East-Z Mender bracket is a Post Buddy stake, which works best if the post is rotted and broken at basis level because the tip is designed to sink into the wood itself. The steps for installation are essentially the same, though a Postal service Buddy tin can also work on rotten fence posts that are fix in concrete.
2
Push the tip of an E-Z Mender bracket into the basis at the base of operations of the postal service. Place the pointy stop of the bracket correct upwardly against the base of the leaning post. Ensure that the bracket is straight.^[2]
- It's very important to go the tip as shut as possible to the base of operations of the postal service in gild to stabilize and support it below ground as well as above ground.
Tip: If you accept 3 or more leaning contend posts and whole sections of fence that are crooked, information technology'due south better to supersede the posts or maybe rebuild the whole fence or department of fence. Straightening the posts might but be a temporary fix if your fence is onetime and worn out.

Advert
3
Hit the crash-land on the side of the bracket with a mallet to drive information technology into the ground. Eastward-Z Mender brackets take a bump called a nailing lug jutting out from the side, which has a flat surface approximately the size of a mallet. Utilize a mallet to striking this nailing lug, driving information technology into the earth, until it is fifty-fifty with the footing or won't go any deeper.^[3]
- Yous could use a mini sledgehammer to bulldoze the subclass into the ground if you lot don't take a mallet.
4
Screw the bracket to the post using 1 in (2.5 cm) coated structural screws. Have someone push the leaning post up straight and support it so it sits flush in the bracket while you secure it in place. Utilize a power drill to drive i in (two.5 cm) coated structural screws through the spiral holes in the sides of the bracket.^[4]
- If yous don't have structural screws, you could employ hot-dipped galvanized nails instead.
5
Install another bracket on the other side of the post if you want more stability. Drive an additional E-Z Mender bracket into the basis on the other side of the postal service and spiral it to the postal service if your post was leaning drastically or damaged. Skip this if the mail is straight and stable later on installing merely one bracket.^[five]
- If you used a Post Buddy stake every bit an alternative, y'all must install a second stake opposite the first one for optimal stability. They come up in sets of 2 for this reason.

Advert

1
Purchase 1 Set-a-Argue post brace per leaning mail. A Set up-a-Argue caryatid is a metal brace that is meant to be gear up in concrete and and then screwed to a leaning debate post to straighten and stabilize it. Buy 1 per postal service yous desire to fix at a dwelling house improvement center, garden heart, hardware store, or online.^[half-dozen]
- This method works for wooden fence posts of any size that are ready into concrete footings. You lot could too use information technology to straighten wooden posts set direct into the basis if you lot want the added stability of a brace set into concrete.
two
Dig a hole eight in (20 cm) away from the mail with a clam-shell mail service digger. Middle the pigsty behind the mail service in the contrary direction from that which information technology is leaning in. Dig it 8 in (twenty cm) away from the post and 18 in (46 cm) deep.^[7]
- The part of the Fix-a-Debate brace that goes in the ground is eighteen in (46 cm) long, so that'due south why you have to dig the hole 18 in (46 cm) deep.
- If yous don't have a clam-shell post digger, you tin use a regular spade. Try to make the sides of the hole as vertical as possible and make the pigsty at least three times wider than the pole part of the Ready-a-Fence brace.
3
Assemble the Set up-a-Fence brace past screwing the pole into the brace. Gear up-a-Debate braces come in 2 pieces. Spiral the pole-shaped section into the hole underneath the brusk arm of the rectangular brace section.^[8]
- The round pole department is what goes in the ground and the rectangular brace section is what supports the fence post.
four
Mix a sixty lb (27 kg) bag of fast-setting concrete in a wheelbarrow. Cascade the powdered concrete into a wheelbarrow. Mix it with h2o according to the manufacturer's instructions, using a shovel to stir it together thoroughly.^[9]
- Some fast-setting concrete allows yous to pour the pulverization into the hole first, so pour h2o on pinnacle. Ever defer to the manufacturer'southward instructions for specific mixing directions.
Alert: Habiliment a grit mask and protective eyewear when y'all mix concrete to avert inhaling concrete dust.
five

Set the pipe direct in the hole and position the brace against the postal service. Have someone concord the fence post straight while you lot position the pole section of the caryatid in the pigsty and the rectangular part flush against the mail. Keep property the caryatid in place or have someone else hold information technology at that place in one case you notice the correct position needed to straighten the fence post.^[10]
vi
Fill up the hole around the brace with the mixed physical. Carefully shovel or pour concrete from the wheelbarrow into the pigsty around the brace, being sure to fill it in evenly on all sides. Stop when it is even with the level of the surrounding ground.^[11]
- Check the position of the caryatid against the mail again and make any minor adjustments before the physical starts to set.
- You can use a pole or stick to printing the concrete around the base of the brace if there are any air pockets or uneven spots.
7
Look 1 full day for the concrete to cure. Fast-setting concrete volition ready in about 4 hours, but takes a full 24 hours to cure completely. Leave the caryatid lone for the total duration of time to allow it to cure solidly in place before attaching it to the contend mail.^[12]
- After the concrete is cured, you lot can cover it up with top soil to requite it a more natural, landscaped wait if you want.
8
Attach the brace to the postal service using the provided screws. Have someone hold the leaning mail service up flush against the caryatid. Place the 3 provided screws through the 3 spiral holes in the brace and screw them into the woods mail service using a wrench.^[thirteen]
- The provided screws have a commodities caput, rather than a standard screw caput, which is why you demand a wrench to screw them into the post.

Advertizement

Add New Question

Question

How can I supervene upon a fence post that has a concrete foundation?

Melissa and Michael Gabso are the Owners of MC Construction & Decks based in Los Angeles, California. With over ten years of feel, they specialize in exterior and interior remodeling and redesign, including kitchen, bathroom, and deck structure. MC Construction & Decks likewise provides plans and permitting services and is known for backyard beautification projects. MG Construction & Decks has been rated as one of the top contractors in the Los Angeles expanse year after yr.

Remodel & Redesign Experts

Skillful Respond