c/fence-erectors

Vent: Had a huge rock right where a post needed to go on a job in Boulder.

Instead of moving it, we drilled a pilot hole straight down the middle of the rock and set the post in concrete around it. Saved us half a day of digging. Anyone else ever anchor a post into bedrock like that?

PSA: A client in Denver said my post caps looked like 'little hats' and now I always use a flush cut.

They pointed out the overhang on a cedar fence I built last fall. Anyone else get a comment that made you change a small detail permanently?

That time I hit a gas line putting in a fence post in Phoenix

I was setting a 4x4 for a backyard privacy fence in a Phoenix suburb last summer, using a gas powered auger. The ground was hard as rock, so I was really leaning into it. Next thing I know, there's a loud hiss and a smell of rotten eggs. I hit a shallow gas line the homeowner's plans didn't show. My heart just dropped. I told my helper to get everyone back, shut off the auger, and called 911 from my cell. The fire department and the gas company showed up in like 5 minutes and capped it. The whole street got blocked off for two hours. It was a huge mess and cost me a full day's pay. Has anyone else had a close call with buried utilities, and what's your go-to move to avoid it now?

I finally asked a landscaper why he hates vinyl fences

He told me he's seen too many get brittle and crack in under 5 years in our hot sun, especially the cheaper ones. It made me think about what we're really selling when we push a certain material. Do you guys get many calls to replace newer vinyl fences?

Rant: a customer in Austin showed me why you should always check for old fence lines before you dig

We hit a buried concrete footing from a 1970s chain link setup that wasn't on any survey, and it bent a brand new auger bit. Anyone have a good method for scanning besides just poking around with a rebar stake?

Got a call back for a fence I put up in Phoenix two years ago

The whole line was leaning because the concrete footings were only 18 inches deep in that hard clay soil. I mean, I followed the code, but the ground just moved on me. How do you guys handle post depth in really dry, shifting dirt like that?

I used to think marking posts with spray paint was a waste of time

But on a job in Phoenix with a lot of rock, I tried using a cheap can of marking paint to show my helper where to dig. We saved over an hour because he didn't have to keep asking me. Anyone else find a simple trick that saved a ton of time on a rough site?

A homeowner in Phoenix told me his fence was 'just fine' until I showed him the termite damage.

TIL a cheap post hole digger from Harbor Freight cost me a full day on a job in Springfield.

The handle snapped clean off after about 15 holes on a basic cedar fence line. Had to send my guy to get a new one while I stood around, which killed our schedule. I'm out about $120 for the lost time, not even counting the tool cost. Anyone have a solid brand for a manual digger that can take some clay soil?

Seeing how creek banks hold shape changed my mix for sloped posts

Noticed the packed earth stays put during heavy rains. Started adding more gravel to my concrete base on hillsides.

Finished a tricky vinyl fence install with zero gaps.

Nothing beats the feeling of a perfect seam, right?

Unpopular opinion: Hurrying fence posts costs you days later

I see crews pour concrete and hang panels the same afternoon. How many callbacks does that save, really?

Pre-soaking cedar posts before concrete setting: game changer or extra step?

I read online that soaking cedar posts in water for a day before setting them in concrete helps prevent splits. Tried it on a recent fence job and not one post cracked, which was a common issue before. It does add an extra day to the timeline, which can be tricky with tight schedules. Has anyone else given this a shot? I'm wondering if it does the same for pressure-treated wood. My coworker thinks it's pointless and just slows us down, but my callbacks for cracked posts have dropped a lot. What do you all think? Is this a habit worth keeping, or am I just adding unnecessary steps? Looking for some input from the pros, lol.

My big switch from all concrete to sometimes gravel for posts

Honestly, I used to think concrete was the only right way to set fence posts for good. Tbh, I saw gravel as a cheap fix that wouldn't hold up over time. But then I worked on a backyard with really wet soil that never dried out. Ngl, the concrete posts there cracked and tilted after just one winter because water got trapped. Now I get that gravel can help drain water and stop frost from messing with the posts. So, is concrete always the best pick, or should we use gravel in soggy spots? What's your take on this?

Thinking a little friction with the city inspector isn't always bad

Everyone acts like you gotta be best buddies with the inspectors, but I've found pushing back on silly rules gets better results sometimes. Just last week, arguing over a post depth call saved my crew a full day of rework.

TIL gravel saves fence posts from rot

I used to skip gravel to save time and money. A bad season showed me posts rotting where water collected. Now I always add gravel for drainage. It's a small effort that pays off big time.

Showerthought: Chain link gets too much hate from fence snobs.

Chain link is ugly but lasts forever with no upkeep.