Round v. square stobs

[Crex]

All the fencing I've put up has been with 75 x 75 square stobs. I'm actually paying for this next fence I'm putting up myself. Are round stobs any stronger or better lasting? Or should I stick to what I know? (if we assume same type of wood and treatment)

 

[Top Tip.]

I have fenced with round and square,I would not put a round stop into the ground now if you paid me . Absolute rubbish.

 

[DrDunc]

My next door neighbour uses 5" peeled rounds instead of the "usual" class 4 treated 3" squares.

The rounds will be far stronger when the fence is first up. However they're only class 3 treated, meaning they're just dipped wet into the tanalise chemical.

Class 4 squares will be kiln dried then pressure treated, so they will ultimately last longer, but they are more expensive.

All that said, I've chosen to use clipex metal stakes. They're supposed to last at least twice the life of class 4 wood. You can space the uprights out by another metre compared to wood, and provided the creosoted strainers last and it's pulled up tight enough, I can't see why these fences I'm putting up won't outlast me.

Far better value for money using metal stakes for a few pence more per m.

 

[Crex]

Thanks @DrDunc. I had considered metal posts, but the ground I'm fencing is very wet, soft, and boggy. I thought a thicker wooden post would have more purchase in that type of ground. Have you tried clippex in that sort of ground?

 

[Macsky]

The only rounds I would consider would be slow grown Norwegian sourced, creosote treated stuff, and they come at a premium. Look up GP Smart & Son for the likes of that.

The cheap rounds you get from sawmills here are absolutely terrible, they split and the staples fall out, they rot in a couple of years, really not worth the effort of putting them in the ground, far less paying for them!

 

[Paul E]

I've always liked the look of the concrete posts you find next to railways. Anyone got experience of them? Probably more work to install, but they won't rot!
Or the steel ones you see next to the motorway?