Post Hole Digging - Everything You Need to Know
Post hole digging is one of the most important aspects of building your deck or fence.
These posts are what hold up your structure, and installing them correctly will mean that you have a deck or fence that is structurally sound and will last a long time. Click on each section to learn more before you begin to build.
If you are looking for a company to do post hole digging for you, contact us.
Post Hole Digging
1. What Is Post Hole Digging?
A post hole need to be dug straight down in order for your fence to stand up straight
When you are installing a fence, one of the first things that you need to do is dig holes for the posts of your fence.
A post hole is a deep shaft in the ground that needs to go straight down from where you start digging them in order for your posts to stand straight.
If your posts are crooked, your fence will also be crooked and will not be very sturdy.
2. Post Hole Digging Challenges
One of the challenges of post hole digging is having the right tools to do the job
Post hole digging presents several challenges that you need to overcome in order to do it properly. These include:
Frost: If you don't install your posts correctly, they may heave due to frost.
Lack of experience: Post hole digging requires precision and expertise. If you have never done this task before, it will be very difficult to do it properly.
Physical Strength: It takes an incredible amount of physical strength if you are using a handheld digger.
Risk of Injury: If you are working with digging machinery that you aren’t experienced with, you could get injured or you could damage your property if you dig your holes in the wrong place.
Time: It can take a lot of time to dig your fence posts, especially if you are doing it by hand. If you make a mistake that you need to fix, then redoing it will take up even more of your time.
Proper Tools: Post hole digging requires the right tools to do the job properly; so if you don’t already own the tools, you may either have to rent, purchase or borrow them.
You will need to take into consideration each of these challenges and try to overcome them.
3. Options: Helical Piles vs Concrete
There are essentially two types of post hole digging options available to you.
Helical Piles:
Helical piles look like a large metal screw
A helical pile is a long steel structure that looks like a very large screw. They are usually made out of high-strength steel and are made up of a long metal shaft that has corkscrew-style plates welded to it.
Installation:
In order to install a helical pile, you need to use a special machine that will drive it into the ground called a drive motor. You can attach the drive motor to a number of different types of machinery including an excavator, skid steer, or other similar types of equipment.
A helical pile fence post can be inserted right into the ground so the installation process is much easier and faster than digging a post hole and setting your post with concrete. Helical pile fences are also load-bearing as soon as you install them, so you don't have to wait to continue building your fence or deck.
Helical piles can be installed in a wide range of soils from soft to very stiff clays and from loose to very dense sands. You can often install helical piles in locations where it isn't possible to install a poured concrete post. For example, you can't do a poured concrete foundation in the ground that has poor drainage or where the water table is high.
Concrete:
You can use a power auger for your post hole digging
The most well-known way of post hole digging is to dig your holes and then use poured concrete to hold your posts. If done correctly, this type of foundation can last for many decades.
Installation:
You need to set the concrete deep enough to make sure that it doesn't heave with the frost. Frost heave occurs when the water in your soil has frozen and then later thaws out. The pressure from this process will cause your soil to move around and over time it can heave your fence posts out of the ground.
A professional will know how deep to install the posts and how to do it in such a way that will protect them from coming out of the ground as a result of frost heave.
You can do the post hole digging by hand using a post hole digger or you can use a power auger to do the digging. An auger will save you hours of time and it can be easily adjusted so that you get the right size and depth of hole that you need. It will also let you dig your holes deep enough to ensure that your posts will be strong and rigid.
Unlike helical piles (that don't displace dirt because they are screwed into the ground), digging your post holes means that you will also need to get rid of or relocate the soil that you dig from your holes.
4. DIY vs Hiring a Professional
Image Source: From Screen Capture drdecks
Professional post hole digging companies can help you solve unexpected problems
There are many advantages to hiring a professional to do your post hole digging for you, including:
Money Savings:
Spending a little extra upfront can save you a lot of money as your fence will last much longer. Digging post holes yourself can save you money initially, however, if you don’t do it correctly, it could cost you in the long run.
If your holes are not deep enough, then your fence will not be strong and rigid enough to last a long time. In addition, your posts will be more susceptible to frost heave. This could mean that you’ll have to replace your fence much sooner than if you have a professional dig your holes for you.
Problem Solving:
Unexpected problems can happen when you are digging post holes that you may not be sure how to handle. For example, if you come across rocky soil, a professional will have the proper equipment to break through it, and if you have sandy soil, a professional will know how to treat it so that your posts will remain strong and secure.
Knowing Where to Dig:
A professional company will know where you can and can’t dig your post holes
Working with an expert when you are digging post holes allows you to get professional advice for your project. A local post digging company will be familiar with your area’s bylaws regarding the installation of fences and decks and will be able to show you where you can and cannot install them.
This can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. If you install your fence in the wrong place, you might have to tear it down and start all over again.
A professional will also be able to advise you about the best times for digging post holes. For example, you probably want to avoid digging in the hard ground during winter or in the soggy soil during early spring. If you choose to use helical piles though, you can have them installed any time of year.
Precision Holes:
If you hire a professional company such as Citywide, you can get the precise size of hole that you need and each hole will be the same size. You can choose to have your holes 9, 12, 15, 21, or 24 inches in diameter and up to 5 1/2 feet deep.
Guarantee:
If you do your post hole digging yourself, you have no guarantees if something goes wrong. If you hire a professional company, like Citywide, they will stand by their work. For example, Citywide will guarantee their post setting from heaving for up to 2 years.
Need Post Hole Digging? Contact Citywide
If you are looking for a professional company to do post hole digging for you in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, contact Citywide.
With Citywide Fences & Decks, you will enjoy personal service like no other. If you are looking for the best post hole digging at an affordable price, we’re your first choice.
Our expertise and unmatched customer service have earned us a reputation for the finest craftsmanship, professionalism and friendliness in the industry. Not only will you appreciate the quality of the installation, but you will also enjoy working with us.
Citywide Fences and Decks is a locally owned and operated business based in the Kitchener, Waterloo region. We have been proudly serving our community with the best quality services for more than 13 years.
The services we offer include:
Contact us today for a free quote.
What our customers are saying…
“Highly recommend! Professional, conscientious and trust worthy company. We are extremely happy with both our new fence and lawn drainage system. Employees were hard working and obviously dedicated. Dave explained the process for each project and went above and beyond to personally ensure we were satisfied with the completed projects. Both our fence and drainage system were completed in the agreed time frame as discussed and meet our high standards.”
— Glen and Jackie Soehner