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Setting an EZ-CLEAN Birdhouse Post
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- Post base
- Post hole digger
- One bag concrete mix (sakrete - quickcrete)
- Shovel (square nose - best)
- Bucket of water - 2 gallons is more than enough
- level
- hammer
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Starting to dig |
Dig a hole slightly larger than the post hole digger (about 7" to 8" in diameter) and two feet deep. |
Digging the hole |
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Checking vertical level |
Check with your level to be sure the hole is straight enough for the post to be perfectly vertical. Check on two adjacent sides. Also be sure to place the high side of the sloped end of the post facing the direction you want the post to tilt. |
checking vertical level |
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pour dry concrete |
Pour the dry concrete mix into the hole around the post. Check the post with your level to see that the post is vertical. You may not need the entire bag of concrete mix. |
pour dry concrete |
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Smooth the dry concrete with the shovel. If there is an excess, shovel it up and dispose of it.
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Smooth dry concrete |
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releveling before wetting |
Check the vertical level of the post. Use a hammer to tap the post, helping the dry concrete mix settle. Again be sure to check two adjacent sides of the post for vertical level. |
releveling before wetting |
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Slowly pour water on to the cocncrete mix going all the way around the post. Wetting the ground around the concrete is OK. Tap the post gently near the concrete to "puddle" the mix (remove air), then recheck the level to see that the post is still vertical.
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dress the area |
If concrete looks wet but not soupy, use your shovel to fill over the concrete and around the post to smooth the area. If concrete looks soupy just wait ten minutes or so and usually the ground will absorb the excess water. As long as the post doesn't move with a gentle push its safe to fill in the earth and smooth the area.
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GOOD JOB - give yourself an "attaboy" for a job well done. Wait at least two or three days for the concrete to set before erecting the rest of the post and birdhouse.
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