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31st March 2011, 11:38 AM #1New Member
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Help straightening one fence post slightly out of alignment
Hi all,
We've set 11 posts (100 x 100 H4) on a boundary fence line 2 weeks ago (in concrete) and also installed the 100 x 50 rails (three sets as the fence is 1.85m tall). We are now ready to start nailing the palings on. My neighbour has since noticed one of the 11 posts is slightly out of alignment. Hardly noticeable but maybe a degree or two lean towards my side. His suggested fix is to make a cut with a skill-saw part way through the post near the base, and then pull on the post to correct it's alignment and finally screw through the cut at (45 degree angle) to strengthen the post again. He suggested doing this before we nail the palings on so that they would also strengthen the realigned post.
Does this sound like a good idea? My concern is that the fence would now have a weak spot.
Any advice much appreciated.
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31st March 2011, 11:52 PM #2
It would work, but would cause a weak point. You could after doing the screwing, also screw in some additional side support timbers spanning over the weak point.
Neil____________________________________________Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new
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1st April 2011, 04:37 PM #3
I wouldn't do that, you will create a spot for water to sit and it will allow rot to set in. My suggestion would be to try winching it straight with a cargo hold-down and/or rope anchored to something eg tree or car etc. Had success with this last year when a rail with a nasty bend forced a post out of plumb in wet soil. So it might also help to soak the area around the post for a couple of days with a hose dribbling water. Use a bar to compress the soil around the concrete again.
Cheers
Michael
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1st April 2011, 10:20 PM #4
A far superior idea. I used a similar technique a few years ago to fell a tree that was leaning in the wrong direction. A chain and two come-alongs enabled pulling it into better alignment. It took about two months. With two come-alongs, leap-frog along the chain as each reaches its limit, and re-purchase with the other. You won't need that much travel, of course.
If you still wish to cut and reinforce, make the cut well above ground level and at an angle to allow drainage from the cut. Apply wood preservative too. And use stainless steel fasteners.
Cheers,
JoeOf course truth is stranger than fiction.
Fiction has to make sense. - Mark Twain
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2nd April 2011, 08:33 PM #5
I wouldn't cut it either. I'd do as Mick suggests and winch it straight. If you don't have anything to anchor to you can make a ground anchor from a few star pickets. Place them in a line, driven well into the ground. Tie the top of the front one to the base of the second one, tie the top of the second one to the base of the third. you can place several tons of pressure onto the front one without any worries. (assuming you don't live in a swamp )
Once you have the post straightened up ram the earth around it to keep it there.Those were the droids I was looking for.
https://autoblastgates.com.au
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3rd April 2011, 01:33 AM #6New Member
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I Wouldn't be cutting it i'd dig abit of earth from the side its leaning away from and baring the side it leans to and then ram the earth on the otherside back in and it shall be straight and strong
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3rd April 2011, 09:37 AM #7Banned
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Has the post lent over from the base of the concrete footing up , or has the timber itself bowed ?
Either way , in the end , as time goes by, it may not be the only one to step out of line , so what ever you do now will have to be repeated , if you want a perfectly straight fence .
Driving it it over and temporarily bracing it is a far better option than the cut and wedge method , and can be done at anytime , if needed , over the years .
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4th April 2011, 08:02 AM #8New Member
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Thanks for the replies. I think we’ll see how the whole fence line settles down through the winter and go with the dig footing/winch and re-tamp soil method as required. It’s not noticeable enough to cause any urgency at this stage.
Much appreciated.
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