Help! Suggestions/advice please for installing posts for yard fence in rocky ground?

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Help! Suggestions/advice please for installing posts for yard fence in rocky ground? Ken Moiarty 05-02-2006
Posted by Ken Moiarty on May 2, 2006, 2:26 am
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I'm looking at having to replace the wooden fence enclosing my backyard.
It was built at the same time the house was built (back in the late
eighties/early nineties). Aside from the fact that this fence was never
built very well to begin with, it has rotted to the point to where I have no
choice but to replace it before next winter. Wouldn't be a big deal except
that I will have to install all new posts, which means the digging of new
post holes in ground I painfully only know too well to be riddled with large
"auger-stopping" rocks.
Having used a power auger on more than one occasion to sink holes in the
yard (once so as to sink concrete pier-columns for a deck; plus on three
other miscellaneous 4x4 post-related occasions) I have learned that for
every two holes attempted, one hole will have at least one huge rock in the
way requiring excavation and removal by hand-shovel; a very labor intensive
and time consuming process for just one (out of shape) person such as
myself.
Therefore I'm currently trying to find out if there might not be a less
labor intensive process I could use in dealing with these auger-stopping
rocks? A couple of ideas for example: For use with a demolition or breaker
hammer (jackhammer), might there exist a chisel attachment of ultra long
length (pardon my grammar) such that it could be used to reach down as much
as say three feet below the ground surface in order to be able to simply
break up such rocks as they are encountered while augering a hole? Or,
might there be such a thing as post-hole digging equipment, which, while
reasonably affordable and portable enough to rent, would be somehow capable
of simply cutting through such rocks? (One can see I'm scrounging for ideas
here. <g>) Any help/advice/info/references-to-such would be appreciated.

TIA,
Ken

* FYI: The fence _posts_ themselves have to be replaced for two reasons: 1)
The builders buried the posts only two feet deep into the (soft, except
during summer) ground, and the result has been that the whole fence has had
a problem remaining upright since before we bought the place. 2) The
builders did not (or so it appears) use rot resistant -e.g.
pressure-treated, etc.- posts and therefore these will only have to be
replaced eventually in any event.
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Posted by tim1198 on May 2, 2006, 6:13 am
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I have the same rock problem. I plan on digging what I can, and when I
hit a rock, using a rockdrill to drill out 1/2" holes to epoxy rebar.
Then you can drop your posts on top of the rock and pour cement aound
it. Another method is to use a bigger rock drill bit (like 5" for 4x4
posts), drill into the rock and then drop your posts in the hole and
fill with cement or epoxy.

Let me know what ends up working best for you, since I have to build a
deck and fence on a rockledge.

tim1198


Posted by Stubby on May 2, 2006, 7:52 am
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tim1198 wrote:
> I have the same rock problem. I plan on digging what I can, and when I
> hit a rock, using a rockdrill to drill out 1/2" holes to epoxy rebar.
> Then you can drop your posts on top of the rock and pour cement aound
> it. Another method is to use a bigger rock drill bit (like 5" for 4x4
> posts), drill into the rock and then drop your posts in the hole and
> fill with cement or epoxy.
>
> Let me know what ends up working best for you, since I have to build a
> deck and fence on a rockledge.

Depth is important because it keeps the post upright. But you can also
use a large disk of concrete on the surface to achieve the same effect.
Or, you could use two long pipes, stronger than rebar, at right
angles drilled through the wooden post.

Posted by hallerb@aol.com on May 2, 2006, 8:30 am
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Get a 5 inch diamond core bit, it can be driven from a heavy regular
electric drill, it cuts just the edge with diamond and can goi thru
granite. they are available good used for about 25 bucks or less per
inch, if you need a source e mail me.

with your location its a good investment for future projects and is
useful for things like going thru concrete too.

a buddy had this trouble thats how i know..........

this bit is used for granite countertops


Posted by Ken Moiarty on May 4, 2006, 7:39 pm
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Rock drill, eh? Thanks. I'll check further into this.

Ken

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>I have the same rock problem. I plan on digging what I can, and when I
> hit a rock, using a rockdrill to drill out 1/2" holes to epoxy rebar.
> Then you can drop your posts on top of the rock and pour cement aound
> it. Another method is to use a bigger rock drill bit (like 5" for 4x4
> posts), drill into the rock and then drop your posts in the hole and
> fill with cement or epoxy.
>
> Let me know what ends up working best for you, since I have to build a
> deck and fence on a rockledge.
>
> tim1198
>



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