Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Can a steel re-enforcing rebar touch the ground ?

Hi All ,I want to buils a 6' tall concrete posts like mentioned here on this web site:
click on the page 2 there


http://www.buildeazy.com/house_property_makeover/concrete_gate_post_3_07_page1.html

there is a note that says do not let the rebar touch the ground !! Why is that.. I thought it would be even more secure to go even deeper than the footer hole and stick the rebar in to the ground this way you can also position the rebar there before you even pour the concrete in it ? plus more strength ?? Am I wrong ? Is there some reason I shouldn't do this ? I mean I am planning to do this and have it there pretty much forever..

The reason for the warning is that, over time, the rebar will rust and disintegrate. It's not going to affect what you're doing. It may happen where the rebar is stuck into the ground, but it's not going to keep rusting the length of the bar after it's encased in concrete. The rebar poking into the ground will do nothing to make your posts more stable, but it may be easier for you to pour it that way.

Pecos

follow their directions,,, ' Note: Make sure that all of the rebar is surrounded by concrete and that no reinforcing steel is touching any ground. The reinforcing steel should have at least a 50mm (2") cover of concrete. See plan '

if you need to secure your rebar, use stakes down to grade,,, don't try to reinvent the wheel.

IF you do find a reason to have rebar in contact w/soil ( & its accompanying acids which cause R U S T, use epoxy coated steel )

the short answer, as pecos describes, is ' yes, you ARE wrong ! ' :-)