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Saw a crew in my town set a post in pure sand without a concrete collar
They dug the hole, dropped the post in, and just backfilled with the sand they pulled out. I know that fence is going to wobble like crazy after the first big rain. How do you guys handle sandy soil to keep things solid?
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richard_ramirez6mo ago
My uncle built a deck on Lake Michigan dunes. He mixed a bag of Portland cement into the sand backfill, dry. The next rain activated it and basically made a solid plug around the post. It's not a proper concrete collar, but it's a cheap trick that locks sandy soil in place. That fence crew is asking for a call-back in six months.
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adam_thomas6mo ago
That trick can actually trap moisture against the post. Seen it cause rot way faster in treated lumber. Might hold the sand but ruins the wood.
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rivera.keith4mo ago
Feel for that crew man, that's just asking for trouble... sandy soil is a beast to work with. @richard_ramirez I've heard of that dry cement trick before, it's a smart move for a cheap fix. I've seen way too many posts just wiggle loose after a heavy storm in loose sand. Mixing in some gravel or crushed stone with the backfill can help too, gives the sand something to lock onto. But nothing beats a proper concrete collar if you want it to stay put for more than a season. That fence will be leaning like the Tower of Pisa by next spring for sure.
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