What Is The Best Way To Extract Concrete From A Fence Post Hole

1. What Is The Best Way To Extract Concrete From A Fence Post Hole? Installing and removing fences is a regular job for both homeowners and contractors. Yet, the real difficulty emerges when you need to remove or change a fence, and you have to take out the concrete from the post holes. And that’s the real hard work right there, getting anything anchored in concrete out. The main aim is to loosen the connection between the concrete and the nearby soil, making it simpler to pull out the post. Various factors make this task challenging, such as the concrete mix type, hole depth, and environmental conditions like moisture content. How You Can Remove Concrete Fence Post Digging the Post Out The most common approach that you can integrate to remove concrete fence posts involves manually digging the soil around the concrete base. This can be accomplished using a standard shovel or spade and requires a considerable amount of time and effort. This is especially true if you have rocky and clay-rich soil. To ease this labour-intensive process, there are a few techniques that you can use. A practical method is to remove the soil only from one "face" of the fence post. By digging slightly deeper than the concrete base, it becomes possible to tip the post into the hole and lift it out, facilitating the removal process. Tools Needed: ●5-foot+ heavy-duty digging bar ●Shovel ●Gloves and safety glasses

2. Step 1: Remove the Old Wooden Post Begin by eliminating or breaking up the remnants of the fence post within the concrete. If the wood is old and deteriorated, this process should be relatively easy as it will be out in one piece. Raise the digger bar to chisel high and let its weight strike the old fence post, causing it to splinter and break apart. Then, reach down to extract as much of the old wood post as possible. Step 2: Dig around the Perimeter of the Posthole Utilize the shovel to create a small gap between the concrete footing and the ground. This gap doesn't need to be extensive; just dig enough to insert the digger bar. Keep in mind that excessive digging now can complicate the task of replacing the old post with a new one later. Step 3: Break up the Concrete Footing This step requires some effort! To remove the concrete footing from the posthole, it needs to be broken up. Fortunately, with the right tools, breaking concrete into smaller chips won’t be that difficult. Various tools, such as a sledgehammer or digger bar chisel, can be effective. Apply force to break up the footing, and don't hesitate to use some muscle. If a digger bar is being used, insert it into the posthole and leverage it forcefully until the concrete footing cracks. If you have access to a powered demolition hammer or heavy machinery like an excavator or loader, breaking up the post becomes much easier. Step 4: Remove the Remaining Concrete Reach into the posthole and extract the chipped pieces of the concrete footing. Attempt to remove it when broken into two or three pieces, but further breaking may be necessary for a clean extraction from the posthole.

3. Using a Jack for Post Removal An alternative, albeit more intricate, approach to removing fence posts is employing a jack to "pull" the post directly out of the ground. While this method demands an investment in additional tools and materials, it can significantly reduce the time and effort required for a substantial job. The crucial aspect of this technique is utilizing a tall bumper or farm jack equipped with a long lever to provide ample leverage. It's important to avoid using a floor jack, as its smaller wheels and flayed base can make lifting a post out of the ground quite challenging. Once equipped with the appropriate jack, the next step is to connect it to the fence post in a manner that facilitates lifting it out of the ground. Try any one of the following ways: ●Attach a 2×4 or 4×4 to the post using heavy-duty bolts, placing the jack underneath the bolted-on section, and lifting it. ●Wrap a chain or tow strap around the post, connecting it to the jack, and using it to pull the post out of the ground. ●Attach the jack to the post using ratchet straps or another removable connector. With the jack securely connected or positioned beneath the post, operate it similarly to lifting a car or heavy object. The jack should loosen the concrete base of the post enough to either pull it out directly or allow you to put it in a pry bar to complete the job. If encountering difficulties, consider softening the ground by soaking it with water an hour or two before you remove the concrete post. Additionally, placing the jack's base on top of another 2×4 can help distribute the load evenly over the ground. Bring In Some Heavy Machinery The most straightforward way to remove concrete fence posts involves employing machinery, such as a digger or loader, to pull them out. The primary advantage is the speed and simplicity it

4. offers. A digger can effortlessly lift most posts directly out of the ground, eliminating the need for labor-intensive dirt removal. Nevertheless, there are drawbacks to this method. Renting machinery can be expensive, and if not used with care, it may leave undesirable tracks in your yard or damage the grass. Additionally, there are instances where using a digger or loader is not feasible, such as in close- quartered residential areas or when obstacles like trees or bushes are in the way. Should you opt to rent machinery for the task, and exercise gentleness when pulling the posts? While concrete is robust under compression, it becomes relatively fragile when subjected to pulling forces. Exerting excessive force during removal could result in broken or fractured post footings. And you won't appreciate that when you’re installing a new post. Removing Broken Fence Posts Dealing with fence posts that have broken off near ground level is as difficult as it gets. While the previously mentioned methods can be effective for intact posts, adapting them for broken posts can be more complex. If you intend to use a jack or machinery to lift the concrete base of the post out of the ground, a secure attachment to the concrete is crucial: Drilling Holes and Installing Lag Bolts: ●Drill holes in the concrete using a carbide-tipped drill bit and a hammer drill. ●Install concrete lag bolts into the drilled holes. Wire Wrapping Method: ●Wrap metal wire around the base of the concrete. ●Attach the wire to the jack or digger. ●This approach requires digging around the top of the concrete footer on all sides of the post. Tipping Method:

5. ●Dig out one side of the footing (similar to the first method mentioned earlier). ●Tip the concrete into the hole. ●Wrap a strap or chain around it and lift it out. In certain instances, it might be possible to lift the concrete footing out of the ground by attaching bolts to the broken post. However, it's important to note that many wood fence posts break due to rot at the base. If rot is the issue with your fence, the concrete must be lifted directly or the post footings need to be excavated. Ending Notes For your new post, get your concrete from a trusted Concrete supplier like Pro Mix Concrete. Just let us know your requirements and we’ll have your order on the way.