How to set a granite fence post — bottom third buried in compacted crushed stone, not concrete

Granite posts are set differently from wood: bury the bottom third in an 18″ hole and backfill with ¾″ crushed stone tamped in 4″ lifts — no concrete. Gravel drains, lets you re-plumb the post, and a struck post is less likely to snap. Use concrete only in very loose, sandy soil.

Cross-section of a 7 by 7 granite post, 8 feet long, set for a 5-foot fence: 64 inches above grade and 32 inches buried, which is one third of the post. The post sits in an 18-inch-wide hole backfilled with three-quarter-inch crushed stone, tamped in 4-inch lifts shown as dashed lines, with no concrete. A green box explains why gravel instead of concrete: it drains so no water is held at the post, the post can be re-plumbed later, and a struck post is less likely to snap. In very loose, sandy soil, concrete is used instead. The post weighs about 460 pounds. — Source: Polycor / Swenson Granite Works post installation guide; Landcare Stone granite post install sheet

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Cross-section of a 7 by 7 granite post, 8 feet long, set for a 5-foot fence: 64 inches above grade and 32 inches buried, which is one third of the post. The post sits in an 18-inch-wide hole backfilled with three-quarter-inch crushed stone, tamped in 4-inch lifts shown as dashed lines, with no concrete. A green box explains why gravel instead of concrete: it drains so no water is held at the post, the post can be re-plumbed later, and a struck post is less likely to snap. In very loose, sandy soil, concrete is used instead. The post weighs about 460 pounds.

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