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?

4 comments

4 Comments

xena5821mo ago

Saw a neighbor use those foam post mixes out here, said it locked things in place.

holly7091mo ago

Tried it last year, still solid as a rock lol

troychen1mo ago

Foam mix is the duct tape of the yard work world. Looks like a magic trick until you realize it's just fancy glue and air. Bet that post isn't going anywhere, but good luck if you ever need to move it.

hannah_west3912d ago

Actually had a similar thing happen with a deck post in my own yard. That foam mix just doesn't have the sheer weight to fight the soil moving over time, in my experience. It sets fast and feels solid at first, but a deep hole with proper concrete has mass that anchors it down when the ground swells or dries. For that hard clay, going deeper than code is often the real fix, even if it's more work.