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Tips for Repairing a Wood Fence

by

Ben Anton

A well-kept fence is essential for homeowners who value privacy and protection, as well as for keeping up your home’s appearance. Any wood fence requires regular maintenance to keep it looking good and functioning properly, and sometimes repairs are even necessary.

Here are tips for performing some of the most frequently needed wood fence repairs:1. Replacing broken fence boards and picketsIt’s important to promptly replace broken wood fence boards, as well as those that have holes or have sustained water damage. The repair process will leave you with gaps in your fence for a while, but you can minimize this by buying your fencing materials before removing the broken boards. In cases where more than one board has been damaged, it’s sometimes best to replace an entire section of fencing in order to keep the fence looking uniform. Get rid of the broken boards or pickets by either using a power drill to back out the screws or using a hammer to pound out the boards. Double check that the new wood fence boards have been cut to the same length as the old ones before nailing them to the rails with two galvanized nails per rail. Attach the boards to the top rail first and make any needed adjustments before attaching it to the bottom rail.2. Replacing a wood fence postBefore removing a problematic fence post, examine it careful to find out whether it has rot damaged and needs to be replaced or has simply come loose and merely needs to be reinforced. You can check for rot by removing dirt from around the bottom of the post and poking the wood with a screwdriver. Soft wood indicates rot.Once you’ve acquired your replacement fencing materials, dismantle the fence sections adjacent to the post. The nails can either be removed with a crowbar or cut with a reciprocating saw. To remove the post from the ground, uncover the concrete into which it has been set and wriggle the post back and forth to help it detach from the earth. If it doesn’t come free, dig around the concrete on one side and slide the post out of the ground. Set the new post in place, make sure it’s plumb and pour the concrete. Wait until the concrete has set before reattaching the wood fence panels.3. Reinforcing a sagging gate frameIf you have a gate that’s sagging, check the hinges first to see if they are loose or bent. If needed, install heavy-duty hinges and stronger screws or bolts. You can also provide your gate with extra reinforcement by picking up an anti-sag kit from a fencing materials retailer. Next, make sure the post on which the gate swings is straight and intact. If the post is damaged, it will need to be replaced. If it’s leaning, you can use a turnbuckle and steel wire to reinforce it. Run the wire diagonally from the top of the post to the bottom of a post two or three down the line. Tighten the wire until the leaning fence post is flush, and your gate should be good as new.~Ben Anton, 2010

Learn more about building a long-lasting

wood fence for your Northwest home

by visiting a Rick’s Fencing store location to view some of our custom

wood fence designs and decking

options.

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Tips for Repairing a Wood Fence}