Bolt down Met Post Shoes

[RonnyRaygun]

I need to install a 7.2m length of closeboard fencing between my property and my next door neighbour's. It will be around 1m high.

At either end I intend to concrete posts into the ground as they will be going into soil. However, the middle two posts will be between mine and my neighbour's paths. As I don't want to make a complete mess of either path I am thinking about using bolt down met posts.

My question is, how securely do met post shoes hold posts? I can imagine that there might be some significant movement at the top of the fence, especially when the timber starts to dry out and shrink. I realise that the post shoes can be tightened up but still think there will be a lot more movement than concreting the posts in. Would shims work to increase the tightness in the post shoe?

If they are a waste of time I would rather make some holes in my path and make good afterwards.

 

[StephenW]

I use them (4"x4") to support a 6 foot panel with trellis on top (8 foot posts) and they work just fine. It's on top of a concrete retaining wall so had to use bolt-downs.
I would recommend you use the galvanised (silver) ones rather than the red/brown coloured ones as I did have a problem of them rusting right through and the fence falling over although the timber posts in them were fine!