Re: Fence Replacement

[The Natural Philosopher]

Yes, when you're placing the posts into concrete as you are with this project (see above in the thread).

Where do you think this would fail? Wood to concrete, or concrete to ground?

[The Natural Philosopher]

Foam is more flexible than concrete. And doesn't suffer frost damage.

[alan_m]

Around where I'm staying the field gate posts were put in without first digging a hole and with no cement etc.. The posts are just pushed into the ground pointy end first. It does help to have a tractor handy.

[The Natural Philosopher]

My posts were about a foot square with no pointy ends.

[Cursitor Doom]

I just can't see foam working in this application. You may be right for all I know, but it's too much of a gamble AFAIC. Your suggestion of coach bolts for drawing out the old post stumps worked well, though. I got away with 12" ones which I thought might not have enough depth to grip sufficiently, but they were fine - and some of the concrete 'root bowls' on the ends of the stumps were *massive* too!

[Theo]

No, it's not. Frame screws are used to hold windows in, the foam is just to fill in the gaps. The screws are what stops the windows moving, and they're often long so they can bury into the masonry to resist bending forces (ie stop the window being blown out or in). The foam is liable to crack under bending stress.

Theo

[The Natural Philosopher]

By reputable fitters, perhaps. Ive seen straight foam used into concrete lintels

the foam is just to