Hello - I have heard from the a number of home improvement folks that when pouring the concrete for deck posts, a product called Quickcrete does not need any mixing. You simply dump it in the hole (12 inch diameter, 42 inches deep) and add water and it does the rest for you. I was wondering your thoughts? It is really this easy. I would think that the water would not seep through it all the way, and so the bottom of the hole would be powder. Thoughts?

Also, any thoughts on composite decking vs real wood? I like the idea of low maintenance decking, but have seen and heard of many mold problems, staining, etc and don't want to deal with that either.

Thanks,
Rob

You can add the conrete without mixing with water. However, with 42" I'd fill the hole with water and then dump in the conrete. It will displace all the excess water. These post should not be put under heavy stress for weeks or keep the area wet with a sprinkler for a few days. Real wood can be a maintenance issue if it gets away from you but I like it over composite. Comp can be 4-5 times more money and very hot to walk on barefoot. Most comps will start to fade after 10 years and may will take take stain. I use PT pine 5/4 boards and spray with Thompsons Water Seal Water Proofer plus Wood Protector. Long name, good product.

It is common to install fence posts using the "dry pack" method of mixing the concrete directly in the hole but when it comes to post footings (especially for a deck [vs. just a patio cover] that is expected to be exposed to what's called a "live load"), I wouldn't recommend cutting any corners and if it were me... I would mix the mud before filling the holes and be sure to fill all of the space with wet concrete and avoid any possibility of voids or weak spots for the "foundation" of your project. If you haven't invested the necessary time/material in the base of the structure any problems that you might experience will effect the whole structure and won't be easy to resolve.

Good luck.

Actually around here we no longer put posts into concrete for decks. We fill a sonotube with concrete to about 3 " above grade and add an anchor bolt. Later we add a galvanized support and nail the rafter through the holes in the support.

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Originally Posted by dmrlook

Hello - I have heard from the a number of home improvement folks that when pouring the concrete for deck posts, a product called Quickcrete does not need any mixing. You simply dump it in the hole (12 inch diameter, 42 inches deep) and add water and it does the rest for you. I was wondering your thoughts? It is really this easy. I would think that the water would not seep through it all the way, and so the bottom of the hole would be powder. Thoughts?

Also, any thoughts on composite decking vs real wood? I like the idea of low maintenance decking, but have seen and heard of many mold problems, staining, etc and don't want to deal with that either.

Thanks,
Rob

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Yes, Quickcrete is the way to go. You only need to add water and let it set. I used it last month to set 20 post for a privaacy fence and it works great. It is also quick and easy, no mixing...

Ll

As far as concreting the holes, I just pour it in the hole and then add water, I've also heard and have done the other way, but for us it just works better when you add the water,
As for the composite mold and other issues, you can pressure wash all of that off, and its not low maintanance its none at all, but you'll have to pay a steper price for that,
My advise to all my customers is if you plan to stay in the house for a while do it, but if you plan to be moving in say 5yrs or so just go with treated