Time, weather, and general wear and tear can impact your fence. Keeping up with regular maintenance can prevent minor issues from escalating into major repairs, saving you both time and money.
Rusty metal hardware looks bad and can be a safety hazard for pets and kids. A professional can remove and replace rusty metal hardware for about $75.
A common cause of broken fence posts is severe weather. Heavy winds can erode soil around the base of the post and leave it unstable. Water from rain and ground frost can also weaken it. Insects, microbes, and fungi can damage it further. Fortunately, most of these factors are preventable by using a combination of steps. Use treated lumber such as Pine or Redwood that is specifically treated for outdoor and underground exposure, dig well-drained holes, and install a wood preservative. In addition, avoid overwatering your yard and make sure that your soil is always loose enough to permit proper drainage.
If a fence post is rotting but still intact above ground, you may be able to fix it with wood putty. However, if the rot is so severe that the bottom part of the post is mushy, it will need to be replaced.
Replacing a fence post requires some serious elbow grease. If you’re unsure about your abilities, consider enlisting the help of a friend or calling in a professional. To remove the old post, you’ll need a sledgehammer, an angle grinder with a masonry blade attachment and safety gloves and goggles. Tap around the concrete base of the post to loosen it, and then use the grinder to cut away sections until you can pull out the old post.
Once you’ve removed the old post, dig a hole in the ground to the same depth as the replacement and install it. If the new post isn’t pressure-treated, apply a wood preservative before installation to protect it from moisture and other elements that can damage it.
Another quick way to repair a leaning fence post is with an expandable foam. This product costs $20 per bag, and you’ll need one for each damaged post. Follow the instructions on the packaging carefully. It’s important to double and triple check that the post is level before applying the foam as it only takes a few minutes to set up.
For a longer-term solution, use a metal fence repair bracket called an EZ mender. This can be purchased at any hardware store and costs approximately $30. Insert the tip of the EZ mender into the concrete and hammer it in place with a sledgehammer. You’ll then need to nail or screw the fence rails to the EZ mender.
It’s important to inspect your fence regularly and act on any damage as soon as you notice it. The longer you wait, the worse the problems become – especially water and pest damage. Regular inspections can also prevent more expensive repairs down the road. It’s a good idea to walk around your entire fence, looking for cracks and signs of rot and damage. You should also look for dents, breaks, and sagging parts. You should also consider cleaning your fence with a pressure washer, but it’s best to leave this to the professionals as too much pressure or improper settings can damage wood.
Generally speaking, minor repairs are the most affordable, with the exception of a complete replacement. These costs will vary depending on the fence material, size, and height. Taller and more complex fences will require more materials per foot to repair, which adds to overall cost.
One of the most common repairs is to replace a damaged panel, which can range from $150 to $300 depending on the material. Replacing a section of fence that’s been bent by a falling branch or other heavy object requires the use of linesman’s pliers, a reciprocating saw, and a coupling sleeve to remove and replace the bent rail. Then, the sleeve can be slipped into one of the cut ends to secure the new railing to the rest of the fencing.
Another common issue is a fence that’s loose or wobbly, which can be expensive to fix. Loose posts may need to be muscled out of the ground, and they’ll likely need to be rebuilt with concrete. This type of fence repair can be very costly, so it’s worth hiring a professional to take care of it.
A more complex problem to repair is a gate that’s jammed or has a dysfunctional motion sensor. This can be a major hassle to fix and can run up the price of repairs by several thousand dollars. However, this can be the most crucial part of a fence’s functionality, so it’s well worth the investment to fix it when needed.
There are many ways that fence rails can become damaged. People climbing the fence, falling debris, and impacts can bend them or otherwise disfigure them. They can also break off or get disconnected from boards or posts. If they are not repaired quickly, they can affect the overall structural integrity of a fence.
The first step in repairing a fence rail is to assess what kind of damage it has sustained. If it is bent or disfigured, you may need to replace it completely. If it has broken, you might need to weld it back together.
You can use wood preservative to help protect the fence rail from rot, or you can try using a piece of 2×4 to support it. This is known as a cleat. Make sure the rail is level, then fit the 2×4 snugly underneath it and nail it to the post on either side. You can also use a piece of T-brace to repair the rail. Again, you will need to level the rail and drill pilot holes into both the post and the rail. You should also caulk the area to keep moisture out of the joint.
If the damage was caused by impact, it will be necessary to reinforce the damage. Use a chain link fence connector to attach the damaged part of the rail back onto the post.
Another common type of fence damage occurs when the rails pull loose from boards or posts. This can be the result of wind, or it could be that the boards were not nailed or screwed securely to the posts. Fortunately, this is easy to fix.
The boards should be nailed to the rails with 8d galvanized nails, and they should be spaced evenly along the rail. You can nail them up all at once or one side at a time. Start with the first board on the side of the fence, and then nail alternate boards on the other sides of the fence, being careful not to nail them over the tops of the rails.
If you have a wire mesh fence, the chain links can get damaged in the same way as the wood or slats. This can be caused by people climbing on the fence, or by something falling on it, and it can also occur because the fabric has stretched or snapped. This is fairly straightforward to repair, but it requires a lot of patience. You will need to use lineman’s pliers to untwist the wires and save the removed sections.
Occasionally, a fence panel will become damaged. This can happen through wear and tear, weather conditions or other factors. If the damage is severe, it may be necessary to replace the panel entirely. However, if the damage is minor, it can be repaired with some simple steps.
Before you start working on the panels, make sure all the posts are secure and level. This is especially important for older fences that have been in place for a long time or for fences built on sloped ground.
Next, check each post for signs of rot or decay. A quick test can be done by poking the wood with the tip of a screwdriver. If the wood feels soggy and soft, or pushes inward when touched, it is likely rotting and needs to be replaced. Once you’ve checked your posts, you can begin repairing the panels.
If a panel is damaged, it’s a good idea to replace it with a similar-sized replacement. This will help ensure that the new panel is secured tightly to the posts and won’t wobble or come loose in the future. If you can’t find a matching replacement panel, try using a different style of fence or adding extra supports to the original panel.
Once the new panel is in place, it’s a good idea to stain or paint it to match the rest of the fence. This will also protect the wood and keep it looking beautiful for a long time.
Lastly, it’s a good idea to regularly inspect the entire fence for signs of damage or instability. Loose screws or nails can be tightened to maintain stability, and regular cleaning can help keep dirt and debris away from the panels.
While wood is a highly durable material, it can be prone to rot and decay. To prevent this, wood is treated with preservatives. The most common method of treatment is pressure treating, which involves injecting the wood with a liquid preservative. Another option is dip treating, which involves dipping the wood in a copper-based solution. Both methods of treatment are effective at protecting the wood from rot and decay, but they may not be as durable as pressure-treated wood.