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+-- Thread: Post Preservative (/showthread.php?tid=7378260)
Post Preservative - DogwoodTales - 04-03-2025
Do post preservatives (like the one linked here) actually work?
I also saw a Wranglertar video some time ago that repurposed used engine oil for the same benefti.
Do these techniques actually work?
I'm curious because the nice pole barn my property came with has the 6x6 posts in the ground and while I don't see any rot yet, the structure is some 30 years old and I don't want post rot becoming an issue in my lifetime (I'm 39 yo - for the 21st time
).
RE: Post Preservative - Willyou - 04-04-2025
I can't answer your question. However, I wonder if a similar process as what termite post construction treatment uses would work.
Do you know if the posts are pressure treated already? If so, they will likely last a long time. I have treated post in a fence line that were set in concrete. They have been there for perhaps 30 years. I have had to replace a couple that failed at ground level where dirt and debris accumulated over the years. As long as the concrete protrudes above grade, they seem to last longer.
Could you dig down around them a foot or so and pour concrete formed to 4" or so above grade.
RE: Post Preservative - DogwoodTales - 04-04-2025
They are for sure pressure treated and installed a good 30 years ago. The good thing is that they were probably treated with arsenic back then. There’s a monolithic slab inside the barn and a sidewalk down one side and both ends outside so I can only dig to see the posts on the other side. I didn’t notice any rot yet but I didn’t dig deep yet.
There is a skirt board that was used I guess for the monolithic slab form and along the side walk that’s showing some rot outside right along the sidewalk so it has me concerned. The sidewalk does slope away from the barn so there’s not much stand water after heavy rains.
I want to finish off about 1/3 of the space inside for a shop so I need to thoroughly inspect and address potential post rot before I get to making a finished shop.
I guess I could call a proper exterminator to see what they might recommend.
RE: Post Preservative - Roly - 04-05-2025
(04-04-2025, 06:26 PM)DogwoodTales Wrote: They are for sure pressure treated and installed a good 30 years ago. The good thing is that they were probably treated with arsenic back then. There’s a monolithic slab inside the barn and a sidewalk down one side and both ends outside so I can only dig to see the posts on the other side. I didn’t notice any rot yet but I didn’t dig deep yet.
There is a skirt board that was used I guess for the monolithic slab form and along the side walk that’s showing some rot outside right along the sidewalk so it has me concerned. The sidewalk does slope away from the barn so there’s not much stand water after heavy rains.
I want to finish off about 1/3 of the space inside for a shop so I need to thoroughly inspect and address potential post rot before I get to making a finished shop.
I guess I could call a proper exterminator to see what they might recommend.
Sounds like the product is similar to what they use to retreat utility poles. Other than that I have no idea if it is effective. Normally utility poles rot at ground level and many times look perfect blow grade.
Don't know if a exterminator is the correct person as it not an insect causing the issue. Roly
RE: Post Preservative - Tim in Indiana - 04-06-2025
I had a similar building in the past that I was concerned about the condition of the posts before finishing out the inside. I made large right angle pieces out of 1/2" steel that I through bolted to the sides of the post. The bottom of the angles rested and were anchored with Simpson screw in anchors to the concrete. They went up along side the posts 18" and 12" horizontally on the concrete. Three bolts through the post and two brackets, a couple anchors into the concrete.
On this building the existing slab in the building had a rather thick edge, around 8"-10" thick. not sure if it was a proper grade beam but it was better than the standard 4"-5" thickness of the slab.
It was several years ago and I'm pretty confident the posts bottoms have rotted off by now but the building is still straight and the roof line is level so it helped.
This secured the posts to the concrete and will help prevent them from sinking into the ground.
RE: Post Preservative - DogwoodTales - 04-06-2025
Hi Tim
I’m in Dearborn County. Whereabouts are you?
The previous owner did something similar to what you described to some of the posts but not all. idk Why. There’s no sagging anywhere. Maybe that’s ?♂️ The slab here is about 5-6” thick and steel mesh reinforced. (I know this because I cut through a couple sf to run some conduit over)
Again I haven’t found any serious rot yet, but I’m hoping to prevent any future rot I might get here if I don’t do something now to prevent it.
There is an outfit that I know of (I think they’re in IL but will travel) that inserts steel reinforcement columns along the beams down to the footer and then bolts them to the beams.
For my barn that will run about $8-9k ?
But I’d need another barn to put all my stuff to get that done ?
RE: Post Preservative - crokett™ - 04-08-2025
Depending on how much work you want to do if you want to be certain about never having to worry about the problem you could dig down around the each of the posts, cut the post off and pour a concrete footing under each post. you could install a temporary post and do them 1 at a time and never have to empty the barn. Years ago we repaired the 70+ year old posts in a pole barn with this method but several were visibly rotted.
RE: Post Preservative - DogwoodTales - 04-08-2025
(04-08-2025, 02:46 PM)crokett™ Wrote: Depending on how much work you want to do if you want to be certain about never having to worry about the problem you could dig down around the each of the posts, cut the post off and pour a concrete footing under each post. you could install a temporary post and do them 1 at a time and never have to empty the barn. Years ago we repaired the 70+ year old posts in a pole barn with this method but several were visibly rotted.
Yeah that's probably the best solution, but a labor intensive one. I have enough to do around here and I want to get on with life
but maybe it will come down to that someday.I know that there are pre-formed concrete columns that can be used rather than pouring concrete too.
thanks