Opinions on types of wood treatment for wood fence posts?

[Herze]

Hi all,

We are buying fence posts imminently. I’m a little confused by the wood post options. CCA treated posts from Tractor Supply can’t be used for residential but OK for ag use? Is that the old type of treatment with the arsenic concerns? Our pole building guy said that’s really only an issue if they are burned?

Otherwise Menards has AC2 treatment which is qualified for ground contact. But is this the type that corrodes unless you use coated screws?

Is there some other treatment option?

Advice welcome, mind is spinning. Thanks!

[Valentina_32926]

About 25 years ago we purchased cypress fence posts. They are naturally bug and rot resistent, thus last longer than treated posts or posts embedded in concrete (ours go directly into the hole and get dirt tamped around the base).

See if there are any in your area. We went for aound 4-5" round posts with corners and grounding posts larger in diameter.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I have AC2, CCA & creosote coated. I will get back to you in 15 years to let you know how they do in comparison.

The biggest problem from what I’ve read, with the CCA is that people burned them (don’t burn them). Also exposure to arsenic from children’s play systems/decks is why they aren’t used in home applications anymore. EPA has a gazillion links on it.

I used deck-type screws on the AC2, so hopefully that wasn’t a mistake!

I can’t get any other kind, so I have to do the soft wood-treated.

[Horseychick87]

The AC2 do well, but you’d want coated screws just to be safe.

I won’t touch the CCA stuff as I break out in a rash if I handle it.

Not a fan of creosote either.

Wood will absorb moisture from cement/ concrete/ dirt so be aware of that and if at all possible use the AC2 and see if you can line it with sheet metal on the areas that will go in the ground. For corners you’d want something 5-6 inches in diameter, for ‘regular’ post’s 4-5 inches will work alright.

[Foxtrot_s]

We are just replacing our fences - they were old when we moved here 37 years go - and are just now beginning to rot in our wet ground. They were split cedar posts.

[hosspuller]

All the original posts 18 years ago have rotted within the first foot of ground level. The unrotted stump is a pain to get out since that’s right where the new post has to go. I’ve tried wrapping that area with plastic bags. Use a staple to start the bag and wrap the post. We’ll see in 10 years if that helps any.

[gumtree]

The standard around here and there is miles and miles and miles of horse fencing in this neck of the woods are 4X6 pressure treated. I just pulled a couple the other day off a fence line that was put up over 10 years ago. Look as new as the day they were put in.
They can be had at Home Depot but should be cheaper at a Fencing supply.

On my slip board fence lines I also use Locust which IMO and experience are even better. Much stronger.

“Also exposure to arsenic from children’s play systems/decks is why they aren’t used in home applications anymore”.

This was of concern under the old pressure treating process. That formula has been out of use for years. Use of creosote is not allowed in a lot states. Ground water contamination.

[Herze]

Unfortunately cedar is way out of our budget. That would be my first choice. Cypress would be interesting but I haven’t seen it in our area. A guy putting in our posts said he no longer cements them in because they rot because it doesn’t drain, so he uses gravel instead. The Red Brand videos say leave the top 5-6 inches of the hole uncemented for drainage if you use cement.

Anyone know about the “Penta-in-oil” treatment? Farm and Fleet has these Hartbrand posts with this treatment.

I looked at Home Depot but could not find 4 x 6 posts, only 4x4. Hmm.
Thanks for the input!

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

[QUOTE=Herze;7776319]
Unfortunately cedar is way out of our budget. That would be my first choice. Cypress would be interesting but I haven’t seen it in our area. A guy putting in our posts said he no longer cements them in because they rot because it doesn’t drain, so he uses gravel instead. The Red Brand videos say leave the top 5-6 inches of the hole uncemented for drainage if you use cement.

Anyone know about the “Penta-in-oil” treatment? Farm and Fleet has these Hartbrand posts with this treatment.

I looked at Home Depot but could not find 4 x 6 posts, only 4x4. Hmm.
Thanks for the input![/QUOTE]

When I cemented in my corner posts I brought the cement well above ground level an then trowled it into a teepee shape to promote drainage. I need to go back with silicone to seal where the wood and cement meet. This idea was given to me by a deck builder. It is more expensive (I used a lot of cement) than leaving the cement under the ground, but it made sense to me.

My Home Depot does have 4x6"–I’m sure they could order them for you as well.

Gumtree–I’m pretty sure the CCA posts at the farm store still have arsenic in them… That’s why they don’t sell them at Home Depot. The portion you quoted was me explaining why they don’t make it anymore for home application.

Cresote is NASTY stuff. Agreed.

[Herze]

Aha, I think I found the 4 x 6 at Home Depot. Must have been in the wrong area!