How to place a perfectly plumb fence post

I’ve learned a few steps that make sure each fence post is perfectly plumb

When I’m placing fence posts in the ground, I like to use pea gravel, but you can use anything you want. Just pour a few inches (or about half a bag) at the bottom of the hole.

Then lift the fence post, and place it inside the hole. If your face looks like mine when you are lifting something heavy like this, check out my tips to lifting something heavy.

After the fence post is in the ground, secure the it to a scrap piece of lumber at the base with a screw. One screw will keep it from wobbling around, but still movable enough so that it’s able to be finagled into a plumb position.

Even though I’m placing a round post in this example, the technique for getting a rectangular plumb post are the same.

Check for plumb on a few sides. With it secured at the base with a screw, you can rotate it a little to achieve plumb without having to unattach it from the scrap wood at the base.

Now that the post is plumb, secure the post with screws on two sides. Use screws instead of nails to keep the post from moving.

Check the post for plumb, again, to make sure the wood post didn’t move while you were fastening the fence post to the scrap wood.

Next step is mixing the concrete. Follow the directions on the package.

Carefully pour the concrete into the hole around the post. Wait until the concrete is cured before removing the scrap pieces of lumber.

Watch the video on “How to place a fence post with MyFixitUpLife’s Mark.”

Mark

A licensed contractor, tool expert, wood and outdoor enthusiast, and elite Spartan Race competitor, he writes about home improvement and tools for national magazines and websites, and teaches hands-on clinics for other remodeling professionals. Check out his book, The Carpenter's Notebook.

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