How do I replace a wooden fence post that was set in concrete?

Question

I need to replace a wooden fence post that was set into concrete. The post has snapped through rot at the base and the rot has set in so far that the post snapped about 2 inches beneath the surface.

I had contemplated digging out the concrete to set in a new post (again with concrete) but have found the concrete is part set into submerged wall beneath the surface of the soil. The house is Victorian, I'm not quite sure what the purpose of the wall is.

I think I have a number of options (I have also attached some pictures below)

1. Dig out the concrete and re-do. It looks like it will be a difficult job but maybe the only solution.

2. Use a repair kit (something like Metpost Repair). The problem with this is that I don't think there is enough post in concrete for the repair kit to attach to. Even the post that is left is very rotten and I don't think it would work very well.

3. Place the post in another position. The problem with this being the wall running along the line of the fence beneath the surface is in the way of this.

Answer 1

I would break up the concrete and redo. It'll be a lot easier to take out of the hole in chunks, or re-use as backfill.

Answer 2

It looks like there used to be a brick wall there and then at some point the above-ground portion was replaced with the wood fence. Breaking up the concrete is the best way to go, since you have already dug down to the bottom a breaker bar and sledge hammer would make short work of it. Another option is to put a 4x4 treated post right along the wall to one side of the existing concrete, then to match the previous line you would cut another 4x4 post and use lag bolts to attach it to the one that goes into the ground (the bottom of the 2nd 4x4 would actually be sitting on the top of the brick. This solution allows you to just bury the concrete and put the fence back up.

Answer 3

As another option, it may be possible to dig out the wood that is currently in the concrete and put a new post in the existing socket. I did this with a rotted-out post recently. I took a rough chisel, attached a long handle to it, and then used it to split out the remaining wood. If there was a lot more wood, my plan was to drill it out.

This worked because there was a plug of wood near the top, but the bottom of the hole had totally rotted away.

This will take a while. I did it because the concrete was integral to a wall separating the two yards, but redoing the concrete might have been an easier option.