Tried a new way to set a post in wet ground and it actually worked

Had a job last week in a low spot that was just mush after the rain. The hole kept filling with water. Normally I'd wait a day or come back, but the homeowner needed it done. I saw an old timer on a different site pack pea gravel around the base of the post before the concrete. Figured I'd give it a shot. Used about half a bag of gravel, tamped it down hard, then poured the mix. Came back yesterday to check it. Post is solid as a rock, no lean at all. I guess the gravel lets the water drain down instead of pooling under the concrete. Anyone else use this trick for soggy spots?

3 comments

3 Comments

wood.jana28d ago

Gravel's good, but you still need a proper concrete mix on top.

the_spencer28d ago

Oh man, pat_harris's funhouse mirror shed is the perfect example. I read a whole article on this last month, and @wood.jana has it exactly right. The gravel base is just for drainage and a level start, but it moves way too much on its own. You need that solid concrete slab on top to lock everything in place for good.

pat_harris28d ago

My uncle tried the gravel-only method for his shed base last year. Honestly, @wood.jana is right, because that thing shifted so much by spring it looked like a funhouse mirror. You can't just skip the concrete mix and hope the gravel fairy does the rest. It's like building a house on a bag of marbles. Tbh, seeing people try to cut that corner gives me second-hand stress. Save yourself a huge headache and just do the full job right the first time.