For lightweight fences, or in locations not subject to high winds, expanded foam is quicker and easier to use. ![]() For example, concrete remains the better choice for large driveway gates, but at least one manufacturer has a structural version of expanding foam at the testing stage.Īs is often the case with these kinds of debates, there is no single answer to the expanding foam vs. Hammering a spike into it would do more harm than good, and makers warn against using expanded foam in load-bearing situations. It is plenty strong enough to hold the post up under normal circumstances, but has little structural strength. Concrete provides a strong support for these products.Įxpanded foam has nowhere near the density or rigidity. Common fence post repair products are not compatible with expanding foam.Ī variety of brackets and fence post repair spikes can be used to secure wooden fence posts that have been damaged, or where there is some decay. Concrete gives you a little time to fix minor errors, or straighten a post that is leaning slightly. The only downside with the speed of expanding foam is that you need to be fully prepared in advance, with everything in place. If ice forms in the concrete mix’s water, it will destroy the structure. It’s also much less dependent on temperature, which is different than concrete that should never be made if there’s a risk of freezing. It can be fully cured in a quarter of an hour. It can take several hours until it feels properly hard on the surface, and anywhere from 7 to 30 days until it is fully cured.Įxpanding foam post mix sets hard enough to leave the post unsupported in just a few minutes. When using concrete as a post hole filler, it’s usually necessary to provide some kind of temporary support, because the concrete won’t normally set sufficiently for the post to stay upright on its own for at least 30 minutes. Related: Solved! How Much Concrete Do I Need Per Fence Post? Concrete takes longer to fully cure, and foam sets in much colder conditions. Typically the cost is around three times the cost of equivalent concrete mix. However, the fact that polyurethane foam is much lighter and considerably less bulky is not reflected in the price. Just add water and pour.īy contrast, the equivalent pack of a popular product like Sika fence post mix (available at The Home Depot) weighs just 2.5 pounds! Using this as an example, it’s easy to picture just how much these products expand. ![]() ![]() Buying concrete like this is a good idea because it takes the guesswork out of preparation. When setting fence posts in concrete, experts recommend using at least two 50-pound bags of store-bought mix for a 4×4-inch post in a hole 2 feet deep (available at The Home Depot). Concrete is much heavier but costs less than expanding foam. Many people would prefer an alternative, if it was available. That means much more concrete is necessary than seems evident from the surface. To set a fence post so it remains sturdy, a hole 1/3 of the post height is recommended. ![]() However, concrete is widely criticized for its environmental impact, both in terms of production of the components, and contamination of the soil when used. When made properly, it can last 50 years or more. It might often seem as if it’s thrown together with little care, but the wrong mix can be weak and prone to crumbling or cracking. Concrete is the traditional material used to set fence posts.Ĭoncrete is made by mixing cement with water, and adding an aggregate that’s usually sand, gravel, or a combination of both. We’ve taken a closer look at the properties of both so we can help explain and settle the expanding foam vs. Expanding foam has been around since the 1950s, but expanding foam post hole filler is a relatively new product.
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