ᐅ Widening concrete fence posts

Hello, how many posts are we talking about?

If there are only a few (cost-wise), you might consider having a locksmith or metalworker build posts that fit over the concrete posts. Since these would be wider, they can be shifted left or right as needed. Then, prime and paint them in the color you want.

Other options, like pouring some kind of "slurry" into a form and hoping it holds, I consider unrealistic with affordable materials. At a minimum, reinforcement would need to be attached to the old posts for the "slurry" to adhere to. But the coverage will regularly be too thin to endure weather conditions without crumbling over time.

The "ivy plan" doesn’t improve this. Ivy takes hold in the smallest cracks and will break off your freshly installed "slurry" from the posts again. It probably won’t look any better even with ivy. Unless you like the "dilapidated look" or "shabby chic."

superzapp schrieb:

Hello, how many pillars are we talking about?

If there are only a few (cost considerations), you could possibly have a metalworker / fabricator build pillars that fit over the concrete pillars, which can then be shifted to the left or right as needed since they would be wider. These could be primed and painted in your desired color.

Other options, like pouring some kind of "slurry" into a form and hoping it holds, I consider (with affordable materials) not feasible. At the very least, reinforcement would have to be nailed to the old pillars for the slurry to adhere to. But the coverage will regularly be too thin to withstand weather over time without crumbling.

The "ivy plan" doesn’t make this any better. Ivy clings tightly to the smallest cracks and will pry off your freshly applied slurry from the posts again. It probably won’t look any better despite the ivy, unless you like a "worn-out look" or "shabby chic."

What about the option with building boards (doitBau building board XPS)? You could glue them together in width and then plaster them together with the pillar, right? Or do you think that won’t work?
The metalworker option is definitely too expensive for us. There are 13 pillars in total.

Even cement-bonded XPS construction boards (XPS is simply extruded plastic foam) are hardly stable enough to support that, and since they are probably intended for wet areas (bathroom / kitchen), I cannot imagine they will last long if exposed to weather conditions permanently.

Camiflo schrieb:

What about the option with the construction panels (doitBau Bauplatte XPS)? You could glue them together along the width and then plaster them together with the pillar, right? Or do you think that won’t work?
The option with the metalworker is definitely too expensive for us. There are 13 pillars in total.

@superzapp hits the nail on the head. This all sounds like half-baked methods that won’t give you any satisfaction because in the end it will be unstable and look lousy.
As long as the concrete pillars are still stable, the metalworker could make brackets for you at the right length.
Also, it probably won’t look good if you have a new railing with uniform shapes and in between 13 little Leaning Tower of Pisa-style posts.
My idea: remove the concrete pillars and install new metal posts.
Dig 13 holes for small foundations, put the posts in, and everything will look neat and color-matched. Everything else will be much more expensive and complicated... and in the end... will at best look mediocre.

Of course, you would need to check if that fits. But how about placing concrete blocks over there and then filling them with concrete? The only issue might be that these blocks are too large.

cschiko schrieb:

Of course, you would need to check if that fits. But how about placing masonry (form) blocks on top and then filling them with concrete? The only issue might be that these blocks could be too large again.

Exactly, then the pillars would be too thick :-(