Can we talk about mixing post materials in a fence?

I mixed metal and wood posts to save money on a job last month. After heavy rain, the wood ones moved but the metal stayed put. Now the fence line is all crooked. Some guys say never mix materials, others say it works if you brace it right. What's your take on this?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_cora8d ago

Saw a guy try to mix concrete posts with chain link on a farm fence last year. He thought it would hold up against livestock, but the concrete cracked after a freeze. Made me wonder if some materials just don't play nice together, you know? Now every time I see a mixed fence, I just shake my head.

the_james8d ago

That "materials don't play nice" line hits home. I used to think concrete posts were tough enough for anything. Seeing one fail from a simple freeze really shows how wrong that is. It's all about using the right stuff for the job.

stellabennett22h ago

Yeah, that's the exact problem with mixing posts. Wood soaks up water and swells, then dries and shrinks, but metal doesn't move. They'll never settle the same way. You can try to brace it with a really solid top rail or extra concrete, but honestly, it's a band-aid. You're always going to be fighting that uneven movement, especially after weather. I'd bite the bullet and replace the wood ones with metal to match, or you'll just be straightening that line every season.