Tried concrete vs. foam footings on a backyard fence job last week

Ngl I've always been a concrete-only guy for setting posts. But a buddy talked me into trying those foam footings on a 40-foot stretch of cedar fence in my cousin's yard. The foam was way faster to set but two posts shifted after a rainstorm three days later. Honestly I'm sticking with concrete for anything over 5 feet tall. Has anyone else had foam footings settle weird after wet weather?

3 comments

3 Comments

alex_wilson7928d agoProlific Poster

Wait, two posts shifted after three days? That's wild, I've never heard of that happening that quick. In my experience, foam footings are supposed to be good for regular fence posts in normal conditions, but a heavy rain that soon after setting sounds like a recipe for disaster. I've only used foam on a couple low garden trellises and they held fine, but I'd be pretty nervous about trusting them for anything load-bearing after hearing that. Concrete might take longer to cure, but at least you can count on it not moving when the ground gets soaked. Sounds like your buddy owes you a beer for that experiment.

jamie77028d ago

Honestly had a buddy try foam for a birdhouse pole and the whole thing tipped over in a light breeze.

robert_bell28d ago

lol yeah totally agree, I had a buddy use foam for a mailbox post and it got wobbly after one decent rainstorm. Concrete is boring but it just works, I'd stick with it for anything that needs to stay put.