New fence professionally installed just not right....help

[Missyme]

Hi all,

I have a new fence installed on Monday. It is one with concrete posts, 6" concrete gravel boards and 6' close board panels. 6 bays in total, and paid for. It looks fabulous but......

It's not solid, the posts are not solid in the ground. 1 post in particular is like a wobbly tooth and all over the place. This particular post I discovered is only 6" into the ground, and the fencer claimed he cut an 8' post as the post wouldn't go in because a drain is in the way and he thought the patio's either side would make it fine and hold it in place.
He's been back around Wednesday and agreed to sort this post - due back today but not yet showed up. He told me by the time he returns today, the others would have firmed up.

Well they haven't firmed up and the reality is even though the fence looks great and feels firmish, when the winds take hold of those panels, I think they will work loose very quickly.

What the fencer tells me is he has used 8' posts, so if the above ground bit is 6'6" they are 1'6" into the ground. He used a ballast cement dry mix to set the posts - he told me when he came back Wednesday that this mix takes a few days to fully set, and that by today when he returns, they will be solid.

Now my question is, why aren't they solid? Is the post depth inadequate? Why hasn't the ballast cement mix set? Are the holes not big enough - they were not much wider than the posts.

What needs to be done to rectify that be by him if he returns, or if not I will have to tackle this myself. I've no more money to pay someone to take it all down and rebuild.

I paid £850 for this, supposed to be for 7 bays at £120 a bay but so far I've only got 6 bays, he's meant to be installing final bay plus an additional 2 today which I have still to pay for.

Thanks all

 

[Tigercubrider]

I would have put an 8' post 2' into the ground

 

[Missyme]

I would have put an 8' post 2' into the ground

So if the fence above ground is 6'6", 2' into the ground is impossible with an 8' post - tells me he should have used 9' posts and that is the problem or part of the problem.

 

[Doggit]

I've never used a dry set, but it stands to reason that if it takes a few days to set, then if it wobbles whilst it's setting, will it end up secure. I don't think that 1'6" in the ground is sufficient, but if there's a drain in the way, then the job should have been reassessed, not gone ahead with.

 

[Notch7]

Fencing guys often use post mix as its fast setting.

Dry mix is one way to do it as it allows the concrete to be rammed in hard and will stay plumb until the concrete sets.

I did my fence last year with dry mix, I bought a bulk bag of ballast and mixed in cement. I used a watering can to moisten the top. The following day the posts were rock solid.

The drain means those bays have to be altered, probably making 3 bays instead of so that 2 posts are used that miss the drain. No point putting in a post 6 inches into the ground, its a waste of time.

Generally posts go in 2 foot.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Was this a cash job?

Andy

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Was this a cash job?

Andy

What's that got to do with it?

 

[HERTS P&D]

Bodge it and scarper comes to mind.

The posts should have been 9' and when he came across the drain then he should of spoked to the OP. Also should have used postcrete and not told the OP that the posts will 'firm up', hence me saying cash job.

Andy

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Agree he's a cowboy but the cash job angle is by the by.

 

[Missyme]

Yes I paid cash. The day the fence was completed it looked fab and I had no reason to think there was anything wrong with it.
It was the next day, the post that's only 6" in was moving about in wind and I discovered the problem.
He knew the drain was there before starting the job, believed he could get the post in and unfortunately I didn't know he'd cut a ft off it.

Well he never showed up today so has no plans on returning to rectify. That's just confirmed he's a cowboy, and I will have to find a solution myself.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Post some pictures of the fence.

Andy

 

[Ian H]

You could try and pour water at the base of the posts to give the dry mix a chance.

 

[Doggit]

But centre the post, and pack it down again first

 

[Missyme]

Post some pictures of the fence.

Andy

Will get some this eve Andy - to look at you wouldn't think there was anything wrong. It's when you touch it

 

[Missyme]

But centre the post, and pack it down again first

It's pretty perfect to look at. That's what doesn't make sense, he took the time to make it spot on to look at, but then maybe that's what he banks on to get his money knowing once he's got it, doesn't matter if the thing collapses a week or month later.