Pool fence posts

[zelk]

Any recommendations on what type of timber one would use for pool fence posts. The posts would be 100 mm square and concreted. I am aware of treated pine, but there have been comments that in concrete it eventually rots.
Zelk

[journeyman Mick]

Zelk,
any other timber posts that you set in concrete, especially around a pool will rot off at ground level as fast, if not faster, than treated pine posts.

Mick

[joe greiner]

In my humble and professional opinion, embedding timber in concrete is an inferior solution. Worse yet is placing dry mix in the hole around the post, and hosing with water.

Better to place about 6" (150mm) gravel in the hole first, set the post, and fill the annulus with more gravel, tamping each 150mm layer stoutly. This allows surface water to drain around the post to the ground below.

The top of the post should also be attended to, else water will soak into the end grain and rot the top of the post. A variety of handsome caps are available, generally sized to suit standard post dimensions. If appearance is not an issue, the bottoms of HDPE milk or juice jugs may be employed. In USA, 1/2 gallon square jugs are almost a perfect fit over 4x4 timbers (actually 3.5" x 3.5", or 90mm x 90mm, more or less).

Joe

[Bob38S]

Is there a specific reason for using timber posts?

I have had to put a fence between the house and pool [we were totally legal re doors, windows, external fencing with self closing gates etc but retrospective legislation caused the changes] - we used the powder coated aluminium posts and panels - cost wise and ease of use was better than wood - believe me as the outer fence is treated posts and palings - all 400 of them.
Regards,
Bob

[joe greiner]

Aluminium and concrete are not the best of friends, because of aggressive chemical reactions. Powder coating may provide a suitable barrier though. My concrete pool deck was locally destroyed by bare Al ladder sockets. (Now replaced with pvc sockets and concrete repair.)

Joe

[Barry_White]

Hot Dipped Galvanised posts are the best imbedded in concrete. No reaction from the concrete. That is why all posts made by Lysaghts are galvanised and not Zincalume.