3
Drove past a new subdivision in Springfield and the fence posts were already leaning
It was the Willow Creek development, and I saw it last Tuesday. The vinyl privacy fence looked maybe a month old, but every third post was tilted at least 2 inches out of line. They clearly set the posts in pure backfill without any gravel for drainage... the first big rain probably washed everything out. How do crews still get away with that kind of rush job? What's the fastest but still solid way you guys pack a post hole?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
anderson.gavin2mo ago
Can't believe they used pure backfill, that's wild.
2
burns.richard2mo agoMost Upvoted
Yeah, and @anderson.gavin, I read a whole thing about how pure backfill just doesn't compact right over time. It settles in weird ways and can cause all sorts of foundation issues later. They basically said it's a shortcut that always comes back to bite you. It saves money up front but costs way more to fix down the road. Just seems like a really bad call for any serious project.
9
viola_butler1mo ago
People forget about water damage. Pure backfill acts like a sponge, holding moisture right against the foundation wall. That constant dampness can lead to mold inside a basement or a cracked wall from freeze-thaw cycles. I saw a neighbor's garage floor heave after a wet season because of this. Fixing that kind of seepage is a much bigger headache than just a settling patio.
5