This depends on the type of fence and your soil type. If you're installing a short open style fence, two and one half feet is enough, if you have solid soil type like clay, or if you're in sand or loose type soil, then go to three feet. So when in doubt, go a little deeper. How far out of the ground should the pipe be? Here are some guide lines: 4’ high fence = 3' - 3. The steel pipe does not go all the way to the top of the vinyl post, it should stop below the point where the top cross rail comes into the vinyl.
This keeps it out of the way when you’re pounding. US Patent #.. 3, on prior to pounding and then tape the lower collar to the pipe to hold both pieces from sliding down too far.
If the top of the pipe “mushrooms” or bends from pounding, you won’t have to cut the bent portion off to get the collars on. Examine your fence panels and measure from the ground up to the first horizontal cross piece and from the ground to the second cross piece, make a note of thesefigure 3 dimensions. If you haven’t already done so, place the collars on the corner post. It is best to set all bottom collars “oval openings” in a parallel direction to the fence line and top collars in a perpendicular direction to the fence line. How do I attach the collars to the steel post? This string is now what you need to line up the other top collars. After all the collars are installed, take a measurement of the collar heights at each corner.
These string lines will let you know where to place the screw when securing the vinyl posts. After all the bottom rails are in place, level the posts and secure the vinyl post to the collars. Use the upper string as a guide to set the height of each vinyl post. First, determine the correct height of the center post.
This can be done with a combination of a tape measure and or a person standing back and telling you to raise or lower so that the vinyl looks level. Next, secure the post with a screw and then run the string line on top. If you’re working on an incline, you want a line that looks right to the “eye”.