Postcrete vs concrete

ash1212002 · 23 May 2021

I have 16 5 foot concrete posts to install, 2ft will be going in the ground

On a budget, looking for advice as to whether to go for postcrete or go for a ballast/cement mix?

What volumes would be required for a ballast/cement mix?

What mix ratio for ballast/cement mix?

For postcrete would it be 2 bags per post?

What would be the difference in cost?

bsr · 23 May 2021

One part cement, three sand, three stone.

Two bags per post if you use a normal spade. One bag per post if you use a trenching spade.

Postcrete uses rapid setting cement so consider that as an option.

ash1212002 · 23 May 2021

bsr said:
One part cement, three sand, three ballast.

Two bags per post if you use a normal spade. One bag per post if you use a trenching spade.

Postcrete uses rapid setting cement so consider that as an option.

The ballast consists of sharp sand doesn't it? So i wouldn't need to add 3 parts sand would I?

Would a jumbo bag of ballast be sufficient for 16 posts?

How many bags of cement would I require?

bsr · 23 May 2021

Yeah sorry I meant stone. Post corrected. So 1 cement to 6 ballast.

5 bags cement to a bulk bag of ballast.

Say 30 bags Postcrete at £4 is £120. A bulk bag and 5 cement £90.

Personally I couldn't be arsed mixing all that by hand to save £30. Maybe different if you have a mixer and value cash over time.

HERTS P&D · 23 May 2021

Postcrete every time for fence posts.

Andy

ash1212002 · 23 May 2021

bsr said:
Yeah sorry I meant stone. Post corrected. So 1 cement to 6 ballast.

5 bags cement to a bulk bag of ballast.

Say 30 bags Postcrete at £4 is £120. A bulk bag and 5 cement £90.

Personally I couldn't be arsed mixing all that by hand to save £30. Maybe different if you have a mixer and value cash over time.

Thanks, given the time and effort and the difference in cost I'll go with postcrete

Is it worth adding ballast to the postcrete for added strength?

Captain Nemesis · 23 May 2021

https://www.postsaver.com/products/pro-set-post-foam/

JohnD · 23 May 2021

Captain Nemesis said:
https://www.postsaver.com/products/pro-set-post-foam/

He says he's using concrete posts.

Captain Nemesis · 23 May 2021

Notch7 · 23 May 2021

bsr said:
Yeah sorry I meant stone. Post corrected. So 1 cement to 6 ballast.

5 bags cement to a bulk bag of ballast.

Say 30 bags Postcrete at £4 is £120. A bulk bag and 5 cement £90.

Personally I couldn't be arsed mixing all that by hand to save £30. Maybe different if you have a mixer and value cash over time.

I would've said a bulk bag of ballast is about £45 and 5 bags of dust £25 = £70

Postcrete £4.85 x 30 £145

All wickes prices.

If the soil is good and easy to dig neat holes I'd go postcrete, if it's stoney ground or needs existing posts digging out I would use a bulk bag as you get more material

jeds · 23 May 2021

I've just done 8 x 2.9m concrete posts down the side of my house with 300 and 150 gravel boards. (those 300 concrete gravel boards are heavy - and I mean HEAVY) It took a lot of digging out and removal of a wall which formed a 2ft high border. A lot of work which filled an 8yd skip. We used post mix (Cemex) and from that I would not even bother with anything else. Ballast might be a tad cheaper but the post mix is so easy and goes off so quickly it makes the job a doddle.

The other factor is I used a hole borer which meant the space around the posts is very narrow. The post mix flows really easily and fills the hole fully. I don't think ballast mix would have been would have been so easy? I got 3 posts out of 2 bags - about 600 deep. The bags were £4.24, so about three quid a post.

Smufter · 24 May 2021

Notch7 said:
Postcrete £4.85 x 30 £145
Wickes price.

I've recently done some posts and shopped around for prices.....

Postcrete £22.99 x 30 £689.70
Amazon price.
Clucking bell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Circle-Rea...ld=1&keywords=postcrete&qid=1621827343&sr=8-5

cdbe · 24 May 2021

My brother in law buys everything from Amazon, he's fallen into some kind of collective hypnosis that everything is cheaper on there. If he wanted postcrete it wouldn't surprise me......

jeds · 24 May 2021

Smufter said:
Postcrete £22.99 x 30 £689.70

I paid £21 for the 2.9m posts. I've also got another 12 to go but they are 2.4m and cost £18.
The first 5 panels I got were overlap panels at £27.00 - complete rubbish. Sent them back and changed them for close board panels at £47.00.

Diver Fred · 24 May 2021

bsr said:
One part cement, three sand, three stone.

Two bags per post if you use a normal spade. One bag per post if you use a trenching spade.

Postcrete uses rapid setting cement so consider that as an option.

Bit weak. OK for wood posts and you expect to be recovering / replacing them in the future.

Better mix is 1 cement, 2 sharp sand, 3 stone (20mm). After 40 odd years of mixing a couple of times a year I always use a measure nowadays to ensure consistency in the mix.
Make the mix dryer than wetter - listen for a 'Flumph' sound in the mixer or when dropping off you shovel; that is as wet as the mix needs to be. (When I worked in a concrete 'factory' the water quantity was also measured - but I was never told that bit.)

If you 'Postcrete' do not add any extra sand or stone to the mix it will weaken it.

If you are using 25Kg sacks of ballast and similar of cement it is roughly 8 bags ballast to 1 bag cement by volume gives a 5:1 mix.

diynot

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Postcrete vs concrete

Captain Nemesis

Captain Nemesis

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