3"x3" Posts

[KeithV]

Our garden came with an ancient trellis which used 3"x3" posts that were concreted into the ground and a series of trellis panels. It is time to replace the trellis panels and the seven 3"x3" posts. I would prefer to use 4"x4" posts but the concrete and the spacing presents a significant set of problems. The only sensible solution would be to replace the 3"x3" posts which are notoriously deformed or likely to deform over time. So, if I were to opt for the 3"x3" replacement posts what should I look for when selecting 8 foot long posts? Should they be quarter saw, concentric growth rings, tight rings? and where is the best place to buy 'good quality' 3"x3" posts that MIGHT remain reasonably straight? I appreciate that there is great uncertainty of what will happen in the future but I would appreciate some guidance please. Thank you for any comments.

 

[duke]

A 3x3 post is an odd size, on this side of the Atlantic Ocean posts come in 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 etc. Along with an odd 3x5 which is called a garden tie which is milled flat on the 3" dimension and round on the five.
Never mind me as this is off tangent to your question.
To be honest I have never seen a quarter sawn post.

 

[fuse]

Round here you get what youre given so you have to just work with it.
Posts of any quality would be stood in a vat of preservative ( I have a trump- esque go -to) for a day or so before drying.

 

[Malc2098]

I've recently (2 years ago) had the fencing replaced between us an our neighbour as part of our garden redesign. The contractors used galvanised posts which, I'm not sure but, were just hammered into the ground, but could be concreted. They are slotted both sides, so the fence panel just slid down the slots and have a few securing nails to prevent dropping from the selected height.

Even galvanised, because they are just about the same thickness as the fence, they are still quite discrete. They can also come in brown plastic covering to be even more discrete.

And they probably won't rot at ground level as the previous timber posts did, because they're in a location that hardly ever dries out.

I think they're know as Durapost.

 

[AndyT]

If you can visit a supplier and select in person I think the most you can expect is to reject anything obviously wonky or with big knots that are likely to lead to breakage.
If it has to be delivered, good luck.

If you decide to replace like with like, you'll need to find a way of getting the lumps of concrete out of the ground. Not easy, especially in a tight space next to mature plants.

If you manage that, I recommend using Metposts or similar to hold the uprights. Arrange them so the sockets for ends of the wooden posts are above ground level and then your posts will last much longer.

 

[Bod1]

Metaposts, I seem to recall they did a repair post, that hammered into the cut off old post remains, leaving a square clamp for the new post.
Or go the whole hog, use concrete posts, and gravel boards, the trellis will last much much longer.
Bod1