Are concrete fence posts easy to remove?

Concrete fence posts are a popular choice for building durable, long-lasting fences. However, if you need to remove or replace a concrete fence post, it can be a difficult task. Concrete is extremely strong and removing a post set firmly in the ground takes time, effort, and the right tools. In this article, we’ll look at whether concrete fence posts are easy to remove and provide tips for getting the job done efficiently.

The challenge of removing concrete fence posts

Concrete fence posts are designed to be permanent. The concrete anchors the post in the ground and provides stability. This strength makes concrete great for fencing but also makes the posts very difficult to remove. Here are some of the challenges you’ll encounter when trying to remove a concrete fence post:

• The concrete post extends deep into the ground. Posts are typically sunk 2-3 feet deep or below the frost line to prevent shifting. This means you have a lot of concrete to break through.
• Concrete is extremely hard and durable. Hammering or prying will likely have little effect, even with heavy tools.
• Posts are installed under tension. The concrete at ground level helps grip the post in place under the tension load. Breaking this grip takes major force.
• Age makes removal more difficult. The older the post, the stronger the concrete will be. Concrete also bonds to the soil over time, adding to the challenge.

With the strength and depth of concrete posts, simply pulling or lifting the posts out of the ground is not possible. The concrete will need to be broken up and removed gradually before the post can be taken out. This makes removing concrete fence posts considerably more difficult than removing posts made of wood, plastic, or metal.

Tools and methods for removing concrete fence posts

While concrete fence posts are not easy to remove, having the right tools and techniques makes the process faster and more efficient. Here are some recommended tools and methods for concrete fence post removal:

Hand tools

• Sledgehammer – A 10-20 lb sledgehammer can break up concrete, but it’s tiring and time-consuming for large posts.
• Pickaxe – Use a pickaxe to chip away at the concrete around all sides of the post.
• Post hole digger – Loosen the soil and roots around the post to make removal easier.
• Shovel – Remove dirt as you dig down around the post and underlying concrete.
• Pry bar – After breaking up concrete, use a pry bar for leverage to loosen the post.

Power tools

• Jackhammer – A gas-powered jackhammer with a chisel point attachment is extremely effective for breaking concrete.
• Demolition hammer – Electric demolition hammers provide concentrated pounding to split concrete from rebar.
• Rotary hammer – A masonry drill bit on a rotary hammer drill makes quick work of drilling into the concrete.
• Circular saw – Cut notches into wood posts encased in concrete to break the bond.

Heavy machinery

• Backhoe – A backhoe makes fast work of removing dirt and concrete around posts.
• Excavator – Use an excavator equipped with a hydraulic hammer to pound, chip, and pry out posts.
• Skid steer – Attach a skid steer concrete breaker head to crush away concrete.

For most homeowners tackling a few fence posts, hand tools and power tools like a demolition hammer and jackhammer are sufficient. For contractors removing many posts or very large posts, heavy equipment like backhoes and excavators can make the work go much faster.

Steps for removing a concrete fence post

Once you have the right tools, follow these key steps to remove a concrete fence post:

1. Use a shovel, pickaxe, or backhoe to dig a trench around the post to expose the sides. Dig down at least 1-2 feet.
2. Use a sledgehammer or jackhammer to start breaking up the concrete around all sides of the exposed post.
3. Keep digging deeper around the post as more of the concrete is cracked away.
4. Drill into the concrete with a masonry bit to weaken and fracture it. Angle holes downward to help split the concrete.
5. Use a pry bar and shovel to loosen and lift out broken concrete chunks as you work down to the bottom.
6. Once you reach the bottom and remove enough concrete, the post can be pried, lifted, or rocked back and forth to pull it out of the ground.
7. If needed, saw through wood posts or bend back any remaining rebar before removing the post.
8. Backfill and pack down the hole left after post removal.

Be sure to wear protective gear like goggles, gloves, ear protection, and a dust mask when breaking up concrete to guard against flying debris and concrete dust. Go slowly and be careful not to damage underground utilities. Removing concrete posts takes strength, patience, and persistence, but this process allows you to thoroughly remove the post and all the anchoring concrete.

Tips for easier concrete fence post removal

While concrete fence post removal is rarely easy, there are some tips to streamline the process:

• Remove any fence attached to make access to the posts easier.
• Take out any adjoining concrete first if removing multiple posts.
• Loosen soil around the post 1-2 weeks before with water to soften hardened dirt.
• Cut notches into the concrete with an angle grinder before hammering to concentrate force.
• Break apart protruding concrete before digging down to reduce leverage holding it in place.
• Apply penetrating oil or rust remover to metal posts encased in concrete.
• Use a larger jackhammer or demolition hammer to maximize pounding force.
• Hire professionals experienced with concrete removal if do-it-yourself methods are ineffective.

Planning ahead and having the right equipment for the job will help you be successful removing concrete fence posts yourself or know when to call in reinforcement.

DIY vs. hiring a professional

Is removing concrete fence posts a DIY job or best left to professionals? Here are the pros and cons of each option:

DIY pros

• Saves on labor costs
• Provides satisfaction of removing yourself
• Allows going slowly with less risk of property damage
• Gives you full control over pace and concrete disposal

DIY cons

• Extremely labor intensive and time consuming
• Requires owning or renting heavy equipment
• Poses injury risk if inexperienced with tools or concrete removal
• May fail in removing posts placed by professionals

Professional pros

• Gets posts removed quickly with less personal effort
• Professionals are experienced with the most effective techniques
• Ideal for large jobs or unusually deep/sturdy posts
• Right tools and machinery to remove posts efficiently

Professional cons

• Service costs can be several hundred dollars depending on job size
• Scheduling contractors may delay project
• Surrendering control of pace and concrete disposal

In general, hiring fence contractors equipped with heavy machinery is advisable for removing numerous fence posts, posts deeper than 3 feet, or any very stubborn posts not budging with DIY methods. DIY removal is best suited to small jobs under 5 posts that were not professionally installed too long ago.

Cost to remove concrete fence posts

Removing concrete fence posts professionally costs:

• $75 – $200 per post for smaller 4×4 inch wood or metal posts.
• $200 – $500 per post for larger posts and extensive concrete.
• $500 – $1,500 per post for massive 8×8 inch posts secured deep in concrete.

Exact pricing depends on post size, amount of concrete anchoring, number of posts, and your location. Most contractors charge hourly rates of $50 – $150 per worker with minimum fees of $200 – $500. DIY removal only costs tool rental fees, but takes much more sweat equity.

When to replace instead of remove concrete fence posts

In some situations, fully removing concrete fence posts makes more sense to replace instead. Consider replacing over removing when:

• The fence layout needs to change and posts are in the wrong spots.
• Old rotting wood posts are encased in concrete.
• Rust, cracks, or damage weaken concrete or metal posts.
• You want upgraded post strength, size, or material.
• It’s easier to break posts off level to the ground.

Driving a new post next to the old one and removing attached fencing is far easier than taking out a firmly planted concrete post. But leftover concrete must be dealt with and abandoned posts do take up space.

Options for using old concrete fence posts

If not fully removed, here are some ways to work around concrete fence posts:

• Cut off flush with the ground using a concrete saw or chisel.
• Cover with dirt and plant grass, flowers, or shrubs over them.
• Disguise as landscape features like planters or statues.
• Break off exposed parts and grind down any remaining edges.

Unused concrete posts pose moderate tripping hazards, so covering or finishing them is ideal. But you can safely leave them if cut flush with the ground.

Conclusion

Removing concrete fence posts is certainly not an easy DIY project. The concrete anchoring the posts can extend feet down and requires heavy-duty tools to gradually break apart and lift out. Hiring professionals equipped with jackhammers, demolition hammers, and even excavators can remove posts much quicker than by hand. But DIY removal is feasible for smaller posts set less than 3 feet deep using rented power tools. Patience and persistence are mandatory. Where possible, consider driving new replacement posts instead of spending days wrestling out old concrete posts. But with the right approach, you can dismantle even the sturdiest concrete fence posts.