My neighbor in Austin convinced me to stop using 4x4s for every corner post

He showed me how a 6x6 on a windy corner he put in 5 years ago hasn't budged an inch, while my 4x4s on a similar lot are already leaning. Anyone else switch to bigger posts for high-stress spots?

3 comments

3 Comments

sarahpark2h ago

But a 4x4 is fine if you set it deep enough in concrete.

wendy_henderson213h ago

Read an article a while back about post sizing for fences... it basically said a 4x4 acts like a pivot point in strong wind. The extra wood in a 6x6 fights that twist way better. Makes total sense now seeing it in real life like your neighbor showed you. I'd never go back to using the smaller posts on a corner or a gate. The cost difference isn't even that big when you think about not having to redo the whole thing in a few years.

the_viola2h ago

I used to think 4x4s were fine but that pivot point thing makes a lot of sense actually.