High winds vs. Privacy fence


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Old 07-06-17, 06:51 AM
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High winds vs. Privacy fence

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Size:  51.1 KBI just installed a tall privacy fence/screen that is 12 feet long using 3 4x4 posts set in concrete. How should this hold up against wind?
 

Last edited by MikeWT; 07-06-17 at 07:39 AM.
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Old 07-06-17, 07:49 AM
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You didn't tell us where you are located so we're left guessing about the winds you might have. Also, how tall is the fence? It appears to be about 8'. But you've already done the work. Time will tell but I guess it will withstand wind pretty well.

Eventually the 4x4 will rot at ground level due to the concrete keeping the wood wet. In about 10+ years there's a chance the wind or someone leaning against the fence may push over the post/fence.
 
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Old 07-06-17, 07:54 AM
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It's about 7.5 ft above ground with 2.5ft or more sunk in concrete. The dirt surrounding the concrete is mostly hard clay. I live south of Denver Colorado and we get some good gusts from time to time
 
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Old 07-06-17, 09:52 AM
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My biggest concern is that I couldn't get the hole deeper than about 32 inches for a 10 ft post. It was rock hard clay after only about 12 inches down.
 
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Old 07-06-17, 09:57 AM
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I have a difficult soil around my house. Once you get below the topsoil it's a saprolite clay. When it's wet it's firm pudding but when dry it's well over 1'000 psi which is stronger than many mortars. In the dry summer months it's useless to attempt digging a post hole and often requires a jack hammer.
 
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Old 07-06-17, 02:25 PM
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Time will tell. A good rule of thumb is 1/3 to 1/2 of fence height is what should be buried. For a 90" fence that is 30 - 45".
 
 

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