For untreated posts, it really depends on the ground conditions. Wet is hard on them. In our pasture, we have had to replace wooden fence posts (untreated) at around 20 years - they will be weathered on top and rotten on the bottom where they've been in the ground. The pressure treated ones are still going strong - regardless of size, they don't show weathering as much and resist rotting in the ground.
Our fence is 8in diameter pressure treated posts with tapered ends so that they could be pounded directly with a post pounder. We put it all in ourselves 13 years ago. There are more posts than I can remember as we have almost 15 acres fenced with post & rail. The rest is posts and electrobraid (a crap product - but that's another tale) We have had to replace about 6 posts. 2 from bobcat "incidents", 2 that split from what I assume are weather conditions getting into an existing split/knot in the wood, 2 posts broke of horizontally at ground level. I have no idea how those 2 broke.
There are two types of pressure treated, regular which can contain arsenic and other poisons and "animal safe" I do not know how they treat the animal safe type. We have just regular.
If you can get them and let them sit for a long as possible to continue drying, that would be good. Our posts didn't seem to shrink noticeably, but some of the rails have shrunk an inch or more each. Posted via Mobile Device
Our fence is 8in diameter pressure treated posts with tapered ends so that they could be pounded directly with a post pounder. We put it all in ourselves 13 years ago. There are more posts than I can remember as we have almost 15 acres fenced with post & rail. The rest is posts and electrobraid (a crap product - but that's another tale) We have had to replace about 6 posts. 2 from bobcat "incidents", 2 that split from what I assume are weather conditions getting into an existing split/knot in the wood, 2 posts broke of horizontally at ground level. I have no idea how those 2 broke.
There are two types of pressure treated, regular which can contain arsenic and other poisons and "animal safe" I do not know how they treat the animal safe type. We have just regular.
If you can get them and let them sit for a long as possible to continue drying, that would be good. Our posts didn't seem to shrink noticeably, but some of the rails have shrunk an inch or more each. Posted via Mobile Device
We purchased their heavy duty cold weather insulators and installed the fence to specifications with a slight exception, we placed the posts 15ft apart which is much closer than their 25-50ft recommendation. This is all on the backside of a summer pasture which is used from April to October-ish. The horses in it are very respectful of the fence and have not tested it. In fact, it was only electrified for the first month and we haven't hooked a charger to it since.
Within 1 season, numerous insulators had broken this has been the largest and most costly annoyance. Especially the roller insulators, the center lin will warp lopping the whole thing out. I have to do something to fix this fence every year. Tensioning it is a complete pain. The snow bends it, a couple fat lazy deer have broken it. For the total cost, we could have done all continuous post and rail that would be much much less maintenance. If I were to turn it on, I would also have to mow underneath the bottom strand a couple times per year (that strand is 18in off the ground) which is not necessary with wood.
Some people love it. They did contact us twice about writing a success note for them and we declined. They have no answer for why the insulators break and have done nothing to repair/replace the product. Posted via Mobile Device
If not treated pine, spruce and poplar will give you maybe 5 years. They rot at the soil line. Tamarack is full of pitch and will last much longer, same with cedar and oak. Ribbon puts terrific strain on the insulators when it's windy. Eventually the ribbon will shred as it moves across the insulator. Perimeter fencing should always be heavy guage wire. With strong well built corners one can save money going with lighter line posts. 90* corners are the strongest. Don't skimp on them and the bracing or they will start leaning inward.
In Texas, the lifespan of a fence is only 15 years. Of course, few get replaced at that life's end. In Canada, I would think the treated life would be a lot longer.
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