When we install a metal fence post, we want to make sure that you are going to get a strong, long lasting wooden fence. That’s why we choose to install American made, contractor grade, heavy-duty, 20 weight or 13 guage steel posts and install every one with precision leveling them three ways: inline, side-to-side, and across the tops. The best galvanization process is typically from an American mill.

We try only to install American posts for all 6′ tall residential fences and have for the last 15 years. The galvanization treatment is what gives it a long life against the outdoor harsh elements.
Thick, contractor grade, galvanized steel posts will give you a fence line that resists Oklahoma storm gusts and severe weather better than cheaper home improvement center installations with 16 or 17 gauge posts.  Even if you were able to find a store with 15 gauge post, it would not still come close to our 13 gage post.

The life expectancy of a heavy duty, steel metal fence post is easily 4x times greater than short lived landscape timbers.

Landscape timbers don’t last as long, succumbing quickly to rot, mower and weed eater damage, splitting and cracking, sometimes severe twisting and warping, and weathering damage that weakens the holding power of the large nails securing the panels to the posts.

It seems the only posts we repair and replace are landscape timbers or 4×4 treated posts. That’s why we choose and recommend heavy duty, contractor grade, 0.095″ inch thick or greater, galvanized steel posts.

Pictured above on the left, is a cheap metal conduit pipe that is used by a certain home improvement center to build wooden privacy fences for their customers (about 17 gauge). The metal post above to the right is rated schedule 20, and measures 0.095″ inches wall thickness. These posts are a 13 gauge posts.  The home improvement centers typically carry only a 15, 16, or 17 guage post.  (The higher the number = thinner the wall thickness.  The LOWER the number = THICKER wall). We only use the 13 gauge posts.

Being 0.055” inches thick (17 gauge), it is poor quality for Oklahoma, with our severe annual weather and frequent strong winds.
Would you want this being installed on your property? We certainly wouldn’t.
It is hard to see the difference unless you take the post cap off.
Support your local fence companies that give you great value (excellent materials, excellent workmanship, at excellent prices) rather than national chain store, corporate giants who don’t care if you get a poor quality product at an exorbitant price.
Choose a fence builder that ensures your hard earned money will be invested in a fence that will stand up against the strong Oklahoma winds.