Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Opa]

I would like to offer a suggestion about setting posts, whether for a deck or a fence. Tautmped earth is effective but besides the effort it isn't a secure as setting a post in concrete. A concrete set post has much more holdinck fill with peg power but the problem with concrete is it takes time to set. Over time the wood shrinks leaving a small void between the post and the cement. This will fill with water rotting the end of the post.
A much better method is to hold the post plumb and back fill with pea gravel. It will flow around the post locking in in to position. As the post shrinks the pea gravel will continue compact. There never is a pocket to collect water

 

[tdhenson86]

I would like to offer a suggestion about setting posts, whether for a deck or a fence. Tautmped earth is effective but besides the effort it isn't a secure as setting a post in concrete. A concrete set post has much more holdinck fill with peg power but the problem with concrete is it takes time to set. Over time the wood shrinks leaving a small void between the post and the cement. This will fill with water rotting the end of the post.
A much better method is to hold the post plumb and back fill with pea gravel. It will flow around the post locking in in to position. As the post shrinks the pea gravel will continue compact. There never is a pocket to collect water

Thanks for the advice! That is really good to know especially since my parents are putting in a deck off their house this year.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Thank uchytil & Opa! You've given me excellent advice, No doubt on the Osage Orange!! ROTFL Actually I was thinking about a million ln ft of dead ash trees from out back, you know, the ones the wind refused to take down for me. The only real trees I've got to work with are spruce, for and pines, not sure how well that would work for me.... Although I just had a lightbulb! Thanks Guys, I'll be back to bug yas for info after I think on this a bit.

 

[Stacykins]

Well, I am glad chicken eggs don't need to be refrigerated. Because something went terribly wrong with the fridge. I was reading, when I heard an electrical sound (bbbzzzzt!) and then a crackle and rank smelling smoke started wafting into the kitchen. Yep, small electrical fire. I have no idea what caused it, but the unit is toasted, literally. I am just glad I was HOME, because that would have likely been a house fire...

Thankfully, there was a little fridge from my dorm days gathering dust in the garage. It saved the stuff that needed to be kept chilled (I just bought new medications for the poultry and goats). The freezer got emptied into the deep freeze (thankfully there was enough room!). No damage in and around the outlet (flipped the breaker on that one until I knew for sure). Seems the problem was limited to just the electrical parts on the refrigerator.

 

[ldelahanty]

Oh, my Stacykins! I feel for you, it does not sound good, thinking good thoughts and sending good vibes.

 

[uchytil]

Thanks for the advice! That is really good to know especially since my parents are putting in a deck off their house this year.

Decks are different in that posts are set plumb on footings above grade. BTW, I've had contractor friends told to remove decks they built because they did not have a permit. Better check with the local building inspector before starting any venture like a deck.

 

[uchytil]

The duck fence comes down in winter when the snow creates it's own fence. Even so, I let them free range when I'm home. Goats free range when I'm with them, otherwise they would eat everything except the brush!

 

[uchytil]

I love plants that propogate themselves. Start with a few and boom - everywhere. Trust me there's a ton more!

 

[Lisa and girls]

I love plants that propogate themselves. Start with a few and boom - everywhere. Trust me there's a ton more!

That is a beautiful picture. Thanks for sharing!

 

[SillyChicken]

Love lupines... too bad they're not a perennial... bi annual I believe, but I never had any volunteer after that. I have a few plants that volunteer lots of new ones every year via seeds. (some a little too eager!).


Most treated lumber now a days is not really rated for underground - hence the use of sono tubes/cement for decks... We're lucky (sorta) that we have gravel or sand all over
so we don't use anything else to put around our set posts. A previous fence we put in our old house (next door to us) was over 15 yrs ago, it's still nice and straight!.