[DeeEyeWhy]

Anyone ever done this to hang things from the post such as string lights or an awning, etc...?

I currently have nothing opposite my house to hang things from (say 7 or 8 ft high) and this seems like an easier (albeit not sure how sturdy) alternative to driving the post 2 ft in the ground.

Thoughts by anyone who has done this or who has some knowledge of how study this would be?

Thanks

 

[DexterII]

For a one time event, and with a pair of guys to stakes in the ground, yeah, I might consider something like that. But mixing the concrete sounds like you're looking for something more, so no, I would go with something more substantial. For a string of lights, and nothing more, the absolute minimum in my mind would be a long tee post, thinking you can get them up to around 10', and maybe a length of PVC slipped over it for aesthetic purposes, but for anything more than that I would break out the post hole diggers and do it right. Bare minimum would be 2', although I would personally lean more in the30-36" range, so you would want to be sure that you don't have any conduits, telephone lines, etc. in the vicinity. To be absolutely right you would call 811 first.

 

[DeeEyeWhy]

For a one time event, and with a pair of guys to stakes in the ground, yeah, I might consider something like that. But mixing the concrete sounds like you're looking for something more, so no, I would go with something more substantial. For a string of lights, and nothing more, the absolute minimum in my mind would be a long tee post, thinking you can get them up to around 10', and maybe a length of PVC slipped over it for aesthetic purposes, but for anything more than that I would break out the post hole diggers and do it right. Bare minimum would be 2', although I would personally lean more in the30-36" range, so you would want to be sure that you don't have any conduits, telephone lines, etc. in the vicinity. To be absolutely right you would call 811 first.

ok, so I am going to put the posts in the ground. The only underground issue is my conduit line for my pool pump, but thats about 1 ft off from where I need to dig, so I just need to dig parallel to it and I should be fine. I live in NJ, I was hoping to just go down 2 ft, but I guess I should go down lower to go past the freeze line.

Also, I know I am going to get beat up for asking this question, but what does everyone think of this alternative to concrete in post holes:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sika-33-fl-oz-Fence-Post-Mix-7116170/300934597

Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[DexterII]

All you have given anyone so far is "such as string lights or an awning, etc." which is a little vague so it's hard to say. For lights, not a lot of weight, nor much for the wind to catch, so I might go with pea stone. For an awning, you are looking at both weight and wind, so you need something to hold not just the weight of whatever you put on it but to hold the post itself upright and in the ground. A good wind can take an awning, posts and all, and then you have projectiles going through windows, cars, or people.

 

[DeeEyeWhy]

All you have given anyone so far is "such as string lights or an awning, etc." which is a little vague so it's hard to say. For lights, not a lot of weight, nor much for the wind to catch, so I might go with pea stone. For an awning, you are looking at both weight and wind, so you need something to hold not just the weight of whatever you put on it but to hold the post itself upright and in the ground. A good wind can take an awning, posts and all, and then you have projectiles going through windows, cars, or people.

Dexter,

Are you saying that a post 2 ft or more in the ground with a gravel base will still get knocked around by stiff wind?

Also yes all that I would put on this is either or both of string lights and sail awning.

 

[DexterII]

Not saying it will, maybe someone else can but I can't say for sure either way so personally would choose to err on the side of caution, which, in this case, would be closer to three feet in the ground than two and with concrete.

 

[DeeEyeWhy]

Not saying it will, maybe someone else can but I can't say for sure either way so personally would choose to err on the side of caution, which, in this case, would be closer to three feet in the ground than two and with concrete.

I can do 30" if thats a happy median.