The process we followed was:
1. Dig hole
2. Add a bit of pea gravel to the bottom for drainage.
3. Fill hole part way with dry concrete and add water.
4. Fill the rest of the hole up with dry concert and “sprinkle” water so it doesn’t wash away the loose concrete.
Let sit to harden and expand like I have done on several other projects before with success. 😭
It’s been more dry than normal in my area so, do I just need to add more water to the top or am I screwed? Do I just need more concrete and water on top?
by Sifu_Breeze
19 Comments
#3 is why.
Why wouldn’t you mix the concrete so it sets correctly? It says so on the bag.
Dig that out, get a wheel barrel, mix your concrete per instructions with a shove or other object. There shouldn’t be dry concrete visible. Pour the wet concrete around your post.
You’ll need to mix the concrete before pouring.
The fix here would be digging this stuff up and redoing it.
I’ve done the dry concrete process before. I used a metal rod to really pack it in around the post.
Not gonna lie, ive set a number of posts using this method… maybe not enough water and compacting? obviously this is a corner cutting strategy but these results need addressing
Did you use a concrete for dry setting posts? It’s never ideal to do it this way though it can work. Your ground has to have enough moisture in it for the concrete to wick up. I’m going with your ground is too dry just looking at the dirt. Because it took too long to get enough water you will have to dig it out and reset it.
There are bunch of ding dongs on YouTube with videos of pouring slabs with dry concrete, not realizing they’re not structurally sound. I don’t understand. Just put some water with it. Trying to find a shortcut.
All these comments say mix concrete first. As long as you buy the red bag you shouldn’t have to mix it. Possibly if the hole isn’t deep enough and the post isn’t braced properly for the concrete to dry completely you will end up with the same problem.
Get a rock bar and mix it when you’re setting.
For everyone being rude and implying I don’t want to work because I didn’t mix the concrete before…the Quikcrete bag doesn’t say to mix before. Here are the instructions I used, essentially: https://www.quikrete.com/athome/video-setting-posts.asp
I was following a process I’ve followed before with success. I’ve done it both ways. No need to be rude but I get you like to feel superior to others on the internet. Lol.
Watch some videos of people who do side by sides of mixed concrete and dry set methods. Even if it appears to set, the result is a fraction of the strength and durability. No shortcuts.
If this is post cement, you didn’t add enough water and your hole was likely too dry as well.
With the red bags I’ve always just used a stick and mix it in the hole for a second. Then attach my supports to hold it plumb and on the string line.
>do I just need to add more water to the top
you got that right
Pour a bit of dry, add a bit of water, use a stick to mix it up and compact it in the hole. Level post as you go. Repeat until at top of hole. You don’t need to pre mix it, whoever is saying that hasn’t used this shit properly. I’ve dug and planted hundreds of fence posts using this method and it has never not worked.
I’ve set lots of posts. I’ve had this happen if it’s windy, or the post gets moved when the concrete is partially set. The concrete is hard enough to still be moulded, which opens it up around the post. It then sets too loose around the post. Can happen even if your concrete is properly mixed.
You don’t have to mix quickrete if you don’t want to. You can dump the powder into the hole, but you have to soak the hole and then you soak the powder unless a heavy rain is planned. It’ll work and if you think it won’t I have 40 fence posts and a flagpole that have something to prove.
I used to cement posts but now much prefer [this technique](https://youtu.be/InUZyIsoN1g?si=VTUj92xEj1mO9N8t), they last a lot longer and its cheaper.