Anchor gate post?

[Baeckz]

I have a wooden gate with 70x70 posts. They are only in the ground with post spikes.

One post keeps getting loose all the time. It's the post that the gate does not hang on. I've had to hammer in wedges several times, but eventually it becomes loose anyway.

Now I've noticed that the tip of the post spike has completely broken off.

If I now need to secure a new post, how do I do it the easiest way? I can't handle building a mold or anything advanced. But should I have a deeper hole? A longer post that goes further into the ground? Mix gravel with the soil? Casting tube?

Thank you.

 

[Kardan79]

I have a wooden gate with 70x70 posts. They are only set in the ground with post shoes.

One of the posts becomes loose all the time. It is the post that the gate does not hang on. I have had to hammer wedges several times, but eventually, it becomes loose again.

Now I've noticed that the tip of the post shoe has completely broken off.

If I am now going to anchor a new post, how do I do it most easily? I can't manage to build a mold or anything advanced. But should I have a deeper hole? A longer post that goes further into the ground? Mix gravel in the soil? Casting tube?

Thanks.

Use a proper ground screw/earth anchor and that should suffice. It's the simplest option, and not too expensive.

Edit - is the tip still down in the ground? If it is, you might have to dig and cast. It ends up right in the way of an anchor.

 

[Baeckz]

Use a proper ground screw/earth anchor and it should suffice. It's the simplest option and not too expensive.

Edit - is the tip still down in the ground? If it is, you might have to dig and cast. It's right in the way for an anchor.

What is meant by a proper earth anchor? Can you link something 😀 I've used those regular ones you drive down. But they easily sway and become skewed. I've seen there are those you can screw down instead. Might they be better?

Yes, the tip is still there right now. But it's probably so skewed and bad now that I can drive a new one down.

But if I'm going to cast, can a pipe be good enough? What concrete do you use? It's pure soil with some small stones in the ground.

 

[Kardan79]

What is meant by a proper ground anchor? Can you link something 😀

Yes, the tip is still there right now. But it's probably so bent and bad now that it would need to be driven down a new one.

But if I'm going to cast, would a pipe be good enough? What kind of concrete do you use? It's pure soil with a few small stones in the ground.

Google "ground screw" and you'll get several examples.
Here's one - https://www.jula.se/catalog/bygg-oc...Q-0mc3C0Gz3yOT6L-bMaAtBqEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I've tried and it has worked well for me (also for a post for a small gate). However, it can surely depend on the ground conditions.

The annoying part of casting is the digging.
The same goes for pre-made plinths.
Pipe is a common solution when casting.
I've used regular coarse concrete. Whether it's optimal, I don't know.

 

[Baeckz]

Google "markskruv" for several examples.
Here's one - [link]
I've tried it and it has worked well for me (even for a post for a small gate). However, it can certainly depend on the ground conditions.

The tough part about concrete is the digging.
The same applies to ready-made plinths.
Tubes are a common solution in casting.
I have used regular coarse concrete. Whether it is optimal I don't know.

Update..

I couldn't get the new anchor down as the tip was in the way...as you mentioned 😅

Today, I spent hours trying to remove the tip of the old anchor. Finally succeeded.

But with the new anchor, the ground becomes too soft since I had to dig out so much...So I probably have to concrete somehow...just don't know how though. I read that with casting tubes you need to go quite deep and also fix with rebar or whatever it said 😩

Isn't there an easier solution?

 

[Bart]

You don't need a form tube. A hole, concrete, post. That's all. Place the post in the hole. Level it so that it is straight. Secure in two directions with wooden pieces stuck into the ground diagonally from the post. Mix concrete with a shovel in a suitable container or on a board of some sort. Fill around the post. Done.

 

[Baeckz]

You don't need a casting pipe. A hole, concrete, post. That's all. Place the post in the hole. Level it so it's straight. Secure it in two directions with pieces of wood stuck into the ground diagonally from the post. Mix concrete with a shovel in a suitable container or on a sheet of some kind. Fill around the post. Done.

Is that so? Which concrete should one use? There's coarse and fine. Sounds simple enough for my skills 😅 but should you water the concrete or is it not necessary?

 

[fribygg]

Is that so? Which concrete should I use? There's coarse and fine. Sounds simple enough for my skills 😅 but should you water the concrete and such, or is it not necessary?

For a gate post you're casting directly into the ground now or in May, I would say it's enough to cover the casting with the concrete bags.

 

[Bart]

Coarse or fine concrete, it doesn't matter. Take what is available at the best price.

Watering is not necessary for such a small casting. But it doesn't hurt. You can cover it with a plastic bag, and that should be sufficient.

 

[Baeckz]

Coarse or fine concrete doesn't matter. Take what is available at the best price.

Watering is not necessary for such a small casting. But it won't hurt. You can cover with a plastic bag and that should be enough.

Will try this. The hole that is now after breaking up the damaged anchor is about 40-50 cm deep. Diameter of 20-25 cm.

I was thinking I can place a stone slab at the bottom for the post to rest on. Or? And then stick stakes to support?

 

[Bart]

It works. You'll probably need two bags of concrete for the hole, depending on the size of the post, of course.

Better to have extra concrete than too little.

 

[jonaserik]

I'm going to test this. The hole that is now after I've dug out the broken anchor is about 40-50 cm deep. Diameter of 20-25 cm.

I thought I could place a stone slab at the bottom for the post to rest on. Or? And then insert sticks to support it

Just use the hole as a mold, and you can advantageously rock down a larger stone (less concrete is needed then)
And take 3 or 4 pieces of rebar 12 mm, drive them down at least 50 cm below the bottom of the hole. And they should go up in the plinth to about 10 cm from the top. The concrete in the ground should then be level with the ground or a few cm above. Place down 2 of this type, available in stores.
Screw them in with a piece of post in between (then the post fits directly) place it in the concrete and align it completely plumb
https://www.bygghemma.se/hus-och-by...rn-simpson-strong-tie-ph-5/p-1831196-1831198?

 

[Baeckz]

I ended up putting gravel at the bottom and placing the post in the hole on a stone slab. Then used foundation concrete. We'll see if it holds 😅 It feels good for now anyway. Did it yesterday afternoon.

Thanks for the help.