Washing line pole in concrete

Irish Gunner

Washing line in the back garden has come up. The pole is in concrete already and come up from the grass.It's a steel pole

Now I have to try to fix it. So was going to dig square hole around it and as deep as concrete around the pole. So dig it deep add water and then rapid set concrete. Put the pole in, keeping current concrete and let it set.

This is the easiest option as I'm not a DIY'r. Other option is to remove set concrete around pole. Then put in pole holding it until set

So any recommendations what's best way

Pictures below

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zPGeVXo4K2LDeEDX6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9SGhY7MjKkLRw6mV9

babi-hrse

Wider pipe than your washing line pole dig 18" deep put wider pole or pipe in hole fill with quick set post cement check that it's positioned correctly when hard drop pole in concreted in pipe. The poles may rust and snap the hole will be unobtrusive and allow you to change and remove poles as required.

the_pen_turner

dig a big hole and fill it with concrete around the concrete thats there. if the old concrete is crap then break it off, if its good then leave it attached. use proper concrete not that rapid set rubbish

Harry Palmr

Never just set a pole you may need to move in concrete - if you are going to use concrete as a base, put in a collar for the pole to slip in and out of

Something like this

Irish Gunner

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Never just set a pole you may need to move in concrete - if you are going to use concrete as a base, put in a collar for the pole to slip in and out of

Something like this

This is what I was looking at. So remove concrete currently connected to pole if possible. Then put collar into the ground and surround that with the cement (not the quick drying type)

Where can I get such a collar and how long should it be

Removing existing concrete be the difficult bit as set right in. How's best to remove this?

Daqu1234

Remove the existing concrete, place a 4 inch piece of wavin pipein the centre of the hole, screw a few small screws into the wavin pipe below where the concrete will be and leave the screws protruding , pour in your concrete, the screws will stop the pipe from turning and coming free, just pop your washing line pole into the wavin pipe when you using the washing line otherwise remove if you wish.

Irish Gunner

Daqu1234 wrote: »

Remove the existing concrete, place a 4 inch piece of wavin pipein the centre of the hole, screw a few small screws into the wavin pipe below where the concrete will be and leave the screws protruding , pour in your concrete, the screws will stop the pipe from turning and coming free, just pop your washing line pole into the wavin pipe when you using the washing line otherwise remove if you wish.

Cheers its not a rotary washing line. I've pole at one end of garden and washing line attached to the wall of the house.

So pick up some wavin pipe and some screws. Put the screws into the wavin pipe leaving them sticking out. How many and what size screws? Yeah I need a dummies guide :-(

Also is the rapid set cement worth it for small job like this as don't want to leave it for ages to dry.

Also what is the best /easiest way to get the existing concrete off the pole?

Cheers

Lumen

You have a giant lever being yanked by wind and weight.

Dig deeper or else the new setup will fail the same as the old.

The solution depends on the tools you have. If you have a grinder then get some rebar into the new concrete.

Or else get a longer pole.

If there's not steel all the way down then the concrete may fail.

This is all about the length you have underground.

Alternatively add a stay to the opposite side and you won't need so much concrete and steel.

listermint

Just as an aside

I've never once seen a washing pole moved . Ever. Not once. The importance of a pole inside a pole is being heavily overstated here.

Irish Gunner

We moved in to house and line was there but recently it's uprooted. Line is hanging but still workable.

So now getting around to sorting it out. So don't have tools to remove the existing concrete attached to the pole. So plan was dig square hole big enough to put pole and existing concrete into cement. This seemed to be the easiest option but would it last. Not hanging concrete on the line just something to keep the washing line up.

Waven pipe be a good option but no tools to remove concrete Also bits about rebar in concrete is that overkill

the_pen_turner

listermint wrote: »

Just as an aside

I've never once seen a washing pole moved . Ever. Not once. The importance of a pole inside a pole is being heavily overstated here.

Definitely not the usual way but its handy in some cases . If done it twice but that was so you could get machinery in around a house if needed

listermint

Irish Gunner wrote: »

We moved in to house and line was there but recently it's uprooted. Line is hanging but still workable.

So now getting around to sorting it out. So don't have tools to remove the existing concrete attached to the pole. So plan was dig square hole big enough to put pole and existing concrete into cement. This seemed to be the easiest option but would it last. Not hanging concrete on the line just something to keep the washing line up.

Waven pipe be a good option but no tools to remove concrete Also bits about rebar in concrete is that overkill

Dig a deeper hole hit some rebar into the soil below up to surface level. Throw your pole back in the middle and put new concrete in around.

Lumen

The reason I suggested rebar is that concrete is crap in tension, so it's asking for trouble creating a cylinder of it without any reinforcement, particularly if you're reusing the existing blob stuck to the pole.

Since rebar is so cheap it's practically free, I can't see any reason to avoid it, unless you don't have any way of cutting it, but everyone should own a grinder.

looksee

Maybe I am misunderstanding this, but with both rebar and wavin pipe you have a lot of waggle room? The washing line would not stand upright?

I have to do this myself at some stage soon. I have done the metal sleeve thing previously but if its snug enough to hold the washing line post it jams in place as soon as a bit of dirt/water gets in and you are back to a solid metal yoke in a lump of concrete. It really isn't that big a deal to do the 'plant it in a lump of concrete' thing, though disposing of the old lump of concrete when it eventually has to be replaced because the line is banjaxed is another issue.

Up Donegal

Make sure the hole is dug the same length and breadth from ground level to the bottom. That way, the pole will withstand more wind and other forces than it would if the hole was shaped like an inverted cone, as post holes are sometimes dug.

Stigura

Lumen wrote: »

everyone should own a grinder.

Au contraire! Grinders are So 'last week'. Everyone (else) should own a Reciprocating saw!

Seriously; Used mine on mild steel I'd previously used a grinder on? Saw, every time, now!

Irish Gunner

Here is my dilemma

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z67qLDGan7oqz8Hk7

Just have to get around to dig hole around it

mr_cochise

A fella once said to me when we were digging a hole for a post and concrete that the concrete was only as good as the ground around it.
Dig the hole deep and square with an even and sound base.
When you put the post in it make sure it is plumb ( perfectly straight) and support it if necessary until the concrete has set.

Any soft ground or uneven base will only allow the solid concrete to move around and eventually work itself loose again.

Irish Gunner

To Dig or not to Dig that is the question

Ok so the bigger the hole the better it would be but depending on the soil around it

Plan is to dig deep enough and in square. Then put the concrete in. Then put the pole in, with existing concrete already attached to it. Wait for it to set

So just need something to support the pole while cement dries? Quick dry cement not the best option?

So dont want to be like sandwich sing board guys holding it so just put bricks around it to support it and not done while its raining, although its Ireland so thats limiting the days

Irish Gunner

Ok update

Never got around to this but now the pole is well and truely uprooted and the concrete is stuck to the end of it and now a low low washing line you would need to limbo dance under it

So as no Grinder or other tool to remove the existing cement around pole is best bet to dig deeper hole square it up and then put the pole(with existing cement) into this. Then pour in the cement and wait for it to set?

Any quick dry cement or what can I use to keep the pole upright while cement sets?

All tips welcomed