The foundation of a long-lasting fence starts underground
When homeowners choose a new fence, they usually focus on what they can see — the timber palings, Colorbond sheets, height and appearance.
However, one of the most important parts of any fence is hidden below the ground: the footing system.
The footing is what supports your posts through years of weather, wind and ground movement. Choosing the right footing material is just as important as choosing the right fence material.
At Crawfords Fencing, we focus on building fences designed to perform for decades. This means carefully considering how different footing materials behave over time and selecting the right system for each application.
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GP Wet Mix Cement Footings — Our Preferred Choice for Timber Posts
For timber paling fences, Crawfords Fencing prefers GP wet mix cement footings.
GP wet mix is mixed with surrounding material and water during installation, creating a strong, rock-hard footing while still allowing some permeability.
This permeability is important because it allows moisture to move away from the post area rather than trapping water around the timber.
Timber is a natural product. Over many years, timber posts will naturally shrink, dry and move slightly.
A rigid, non-permeable footing system can create a situation where the timber changes size but the surrounding material does not. This can potentially leave a void around the post where water can collect.
As Crawfords Fencing director Tyrone explains:
“It’s like putting a piece of timber in a teacup — eventually it’s sitting in water, and that’s when problems start.”
The goal is not only to create a strong footing, but to create a footing system that works with the natural characteristics of timber over the life of the fence.
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Concrete Footings — Strong and the Best Choice for Steel Posts
Concrete is an excellent building material and has many applications where it performs extremely well.
At Crawfords Fencing, we believe concrete footings are the best choice for steel posts and other rigid post systems where maximum support and strength are required.
Steel, PVC/plastic and concrete posts do not behave the same way as timber. They are designed to work with a rigid footing system, making concrete an excellent match for these applications.
Where Concrete Footings Perform Best
Concrete footings are ideal for:
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Steel fence posts
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Colorbond fencing systems
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PVC/plastic posts
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Concrete posts
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Applications requiring maximum rigidity and support
Concrete provides:
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Excellent strength
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Long-term stability
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Strong support around rigid post systems
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Reliable performance in demanding applications
Why We Are Selective With Concrete Around Timber Posts
While concrete is extremely strong, timber is a natural product that changes over time.
Timber posts naturally shrink, dry and move throughout their lifespan, while concrete remains fixed.
In some situations, this can create a gap between the timber post and the concrete where moisture may collect.
For timber posts, Crawfords Fencing prefers footing systems that consider the natural movement and moisture management requirements of timber.
The correct footing material depends on the post type, ground conditions and the expected performance of the fence.
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Rapid Set or Quick Set Concrete — Why We Are Cautious
Rapid set concrete is a topic that is often debated within the construction industry.
Rapid set products are designed to cure quickly, often within approximately 15–20 minutes, due to additives that accelerate the curing process.
There are situations where rapid set works extremely well.
For example, in some building applications where a post is installed under a house or deck, the post is already braced, locked in and supported by the surrounding structure. Because the post itself cannot move in the same way as a fence post, rapid set can perform well as the footing is primarily providing support rather than needing to absorb ongoing movement.
However, fencing is a different application.
A fence is a flexible structure that experiences:
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Wind movement
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Seasonal changes
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Ground movement
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Long-term environmental stress
At Crawfords Fencing, we build fences designed to last for decades. Because of this, we believe the footing system needs to handle movement over the long term.
Our concern with rapid set products in fencing applications is that the material can become more brittle compared with traditional cement-based footing systems. Over time, movement from the fence may contribute to cracking or reduced performance underground.
For this reason, rapid set is not a product we choose as our standard footing method.
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Dry Packing Fence Posts — Why Crawfords Fencing Generally Doesn’t Recommend It
When comparing fencing quotes, homeowners may come across different installation methods depending on the contractor’s background and experience.
One method sometimes used, particularly by contractors with more rural fencing experience, is dry packing.
Dry packing involves placing dry cement powder and soil around the fence post and compacting it tightly into the hole, rather than mixing the footing with water before installation.
Why Dry Packing Is Used
Dry packing has historically been used in some rural fencing applications where:
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Water access may be limited
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Large distances need to be fenced
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Speed and practicality are important
In those situations, it can be a practical method.
However, suburban residential fencing has different requirements.
Why We Generally Don’t Recommend Dry Packing
At Crawfords Fencing, we generally do not recommend dry packing for most suburban fencing projects.
The main concern is that the cement relies on moisture entering the footing to begin the curing process.
If the surrounding ground remains dry for an extended period, the material may not hydrate and set correctly, potentially leaving a weaker footing system.
In residential environments where power and water are available, we believe there are better options that provide a more consistent and reliable result.
A properly mixed footing allows the cement to cure and create a stronger support system around the post.
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Choosing the Right Footing System Matters
The strongest fence is not just about what happens above ground.
Long-term fence performance depends on:
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The right post material
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Correct footing depth
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Correct footing material
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Soil conditions
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Drainage
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Quality installation
Different fence systems also have different requirements.
Timber Fencing
Requires consideration of timber movement, moisture management and long-term durability.
Colorbond Fencing
Requires strong posts and appropriate footing design due to wind loading.
Retaining Walls and Specialised Structures
May require different construction methods depending on the loads involved.
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Crawfords Fencing Recommendation
There is no single footing material that suits every situation.
Our preferred approach is:
Timber posts
GP wet mix cement footings
Steel, PVC or concrete posts
Concrete footings can be an excellent choice
Rapid set
Used selectively, but not our standard fencing method
Dry packing
Has applications in some rural situations, but not our preferred method for suburban homes
At Crawfords Fencing, we believe the best fences are built from the ground up.
The materials you cannot see are often the materials that matter most.