Postcrete and concrete are both cement-based products and on the surface appear to be very similar. However, they vary greatly when it comes to setting time, strength, versatility, and price.
Postcrete is specifically designed for securing fence posts and is much more convenient to use compared to general-purpose concrete. It saves users a great deal of time and hassle. For these reasons, we prefer Postcrete.
Read on to find out why we think Postcrete is better than concrete when it comes to building a fence.
Setting Time
Postcrete is strong enough to support a fence post in as little as 5 minutes, while concrete using ordinary portland cement can take as long as 2 hours to set. This means people that use concrete spend much more time holding the post in place, waiting for it to set, before they can move on to the next.
Most professional landscapers use Postcrete for its rapid setting time, which enables them to complete jobs quickly. Using Postcrete you should be able to fix all of your fence posts in one day, leave them to cure overnight, and complete the construction of the fence the next day. This would not be possible using general-purpose cement.
Strength
Concrete mixes have the potential to be much stronger than Postcrete. The blend of cement, sharp sand, and aggregates interlock to create a tight bond. However, Postcrete is more than strong enough for the intended purpose (securing fence posts).
There is no need to create extremely strong concrete if it is only being used for landscaping purposes. For this reason, strength should not sway your decision when choosing between the two products.
Price
Postcrete is more expensive than concrete. It costs around £6.75 per 20kg bag, which is enough for one post. Concrete on the other hand is made up of cement, sand, and ballast, which when combined costs approximately £3.70 per 20kg.
This means it will cost up to £3.05 more per post when using Postcrete. For larger fencing jobs, this can add up to quite a lot of money.
However, you must take into consideration the amount of time Postcrete will save for accurate price comparison. If it takes 5 minutes to secure a post using Postcrete and up to 2 hours when using concrete, you could argue using concrete is actually less cost-effective. Ultimately it depends on how much you value your time.
Practicality
Mixing concrete can be hard work. You need to measure the cement, sand, and ballast to achieve the correct ratio, manually mix the materials, use the concrete before it is too hard, and also clean the mixer when finished.
There is also the added inconvenience of having to order bulk bags from merchants and waiting for the delivery to arrive. After the job, if there is anything left over, you then need to arrange for the heavy materials to be removed from site.
Postcrete on the other hand is poured into the hole and water is then added. It is almost impossible to get it wrong with Postcrete. You can also return any unused bags without hassle, ensuring there is no waste.
Packaging
Postcrete bags are waterproof and can be left outside if the job takes longer than expected. Cement on the other hand comes in paper bags that are easily penetrated by water, which can cause the powder to harden.
The last thing you want to do after a hard day’s work is to carry heavy bags of cement across the garden, which will then need retrieving the next day.
Which Should You Use?
When building a fence, there is nothing better than Postcrete. The fact that professional landscapers choose to use Postcrete over concrete should be all the proof that is needed.
While it does cost a little more and is not as strong, this is outweighed by the fact that it only takes 5 minutes to secure a post. If you have a fencing project, do yourself a favour and choose Postcrete.
