Hi all - Looking for some advice from some frugal DIY-ers on how to set our backyard fence posts properly. Someone who might have advice other than "hire contractors to do it and throw money at the problem" :)
The fence was installed by whoever flipped the house ages ago and is...let's just say... every kind of wrong.
Long story short, I have looked at a number of post materials to support our 6' high wood picket fence, which stands on a 5-6" thick exposed aggregate concrete pad, and the 12' (yes I do mean 12 *feet*) wide gate.
Wood posts have too much bend to support the gate - learned from experience. Concrete posts are too fragile under tension of a gate that heavy, and crack - learned from experience too. That's how the right and the left gate posts are installed now.
So I'm going with galvanized steel, I think. But not chain-link, ew, something like this:
http://westernerinns.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/galvanized-steel-fence-posts.jpgAll the information I'm finding online either assumes your yard is dirt or is on how to take galvanized steel (chain link) fences *out* of existing pads. But I need to set the posts where there *is* existing exposed aggregate concrete. What is the best way to do this?
1. How do I demo the existing concrete to get the posts in? Can I just create a hole slightly larger than the posts? What tools do this? Or do I have to demo a larger area and re-fill with the post set in it?
2. What kind of concrete should I use to ensure that a) I don't end up with cracks where it meets the existing concrete due to freezing and b) is strong enough to hold the posts especially for the extra-wide gate.
3. How far into the concrete should I get these posts, assuming that the fence is 6 feet tall at it's highest?
4. Or am I totally off with the galvanized steel idea? Is there something better?