Setting posts on stirrups

Hi all,

I'm setting 2 100x100 treated pine posts on stirrups into concrete, but wondering if anyone can throw some advice to the first timer.

The structure is going to be a fernery: a mini pergola attached to the side of the house (2 posts, 1 bearer and joists going to the house with a shade cloth on top).

I used 450mm stirrups, concreted to about half way (height wise). It's been a few days now so I've placed the posts in the stirrups and bolted them when i noticed they have a bit of wobble in them if i wiggle the post with my hand.
How much wobble is expected normally?

Whilst posts aren't braced to the bearer yet and there is no attachment to the house should there be any wobble ? Surely some but i dont want to proceed if i goofed something up majorly. :doh:

Right now im not sure if i should wait longer and then try put the bearer up and attach it to the house..

I used premixed concrete mix but not rapid-set, however i mixed it in the hole by mistake so I'm sure the mix isn't uniform in terms of water vs the rest of the bag content (no idea what the implications are, take longer to set?).

Next mistake was not getting enough concrete (hence concreted to half height) so basically it was done in multiple stages (i guess the possibility of a poorer bond between lower part of the concrete footing and higher part would arise).

For concreting the top part i used formwork so i didnt need as much as i dug the holes a bit wide (shovel). Also i mixed in outside the hole this time.

Are all these important factors that are against me and that i cant correct any more now or am i worrying needlessly ?


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