What to Do with Old Fence Posts
Whether you’re taking down your own fence or have hired someone to do it for you, there’s a good chance you’re going to be left with some old fence material that you need to get rid of.
We’ve got a great guide to disposing of fence panels, but if you’re still wondering what to do with old fence posts, you’re in the right place! Here’s what you need to know.
What to Do with Old Metal Fence Posts
If you are taking down a metal fence – or another type of fence that has metal posts, you might be wondering what to do with old metal fence posts. There are several things you can do with old metal fence posts, including:
- Calculate a local metal recycler and sell your old metal fence posts to them – most metal recyclers or scrap yards will pay you per kilogram or pound, and some might even collect your posts if you have enough of them
- Use them for other DIY projects – if your metal fence posts are in good condition, you could repurpose them for many different types of DIY project
- Sell or give them away online – many people are looking for old metal fence posts and might be more than willing to collect yours from you!
- Take them to your local dump, provided your dump or landfill accepts old metal items
In most cases, before you can sell or give away your old metal fence posts (or use them for something else), you will need to remove the concrete on the bottom of your posts.
What to Do with Old Wood Fence Posts
In some cases, when you remove wooden fence posts, it’s because they are very badly rotted or damaged. In that case, the best place for them is your local landfill.
However, sometimes, the old wood fence posts you get when taking down your fence are still in reasonably good condition, and you might be able to do other things with them.
- Use old wood fence posts to edge flower beds or build retaining walls in your backyard
- Old, weathered cedar fence boards and posts make a great substitute for “barn boards” in your DIY projects
- Untreated and unpainted wood posts might be usable as firewood
- Layer old wood fence posts in raised planter beds before filling them with soil so you need less soil
When it comes to what to do with old wood fence posts, a lot will depend on the type of wood you have. Treated fence posts and painted fence posts might be harder to use because of the chemicals in them. This means the answer to the question of what to do with old cedar fence posts is probably going to be different from what to do with old treated wood fence posts.
Always consider what kind of wood you have before you choose the best option.
What to Do with Other Old Fence Posts
Many different kinds of materials can be used for fence posts, ranging from steel I beams to vinyl fence posts and even pre-cast concrete.
We’re big fans of recycling rather than disposing of used fence materials if it is safe and makes sense to do so.
Sometimes, we take down fences that are still in great condition. In that case, selling or giving your old fence posts away is a great option.
Or you might be able to reuse your old fence posts in other DIY or even craft projects. So think outside the box a little, but if you need to dispose of old fence posts that are dangerous or too far gone to be repurposed, hiring a waste bin or skip and having them take them away is always a safe choice.
