A sturdy fence is a property asset that provides security, privacy, and curb appeal. However, like all structures exposed to the elements, your fence may require repair over time.

Understanding the nature of damage is key to determining whether a repair or replacement is necessary. Inspect your fence thoroughly, knocking on boards and listening for hollow sounds that indicate rot. Contact Fence Repair Nashville for professional help.

A cracked or broken board can be repaired, but it will take some work. If your break is clean and relatively small you can probably get away with this being a DIY project, but if it’s a more serious crack, or if your board has a hole in it, you will need to bring the broken part to a professional to fix it properly.

First, let the break dry out thoroughly — this can take a week or so. This is important because the two halves of your board need to fit together precisely at the break — any water in between can cause the whole thing to separate and fail in the long run. A fan pointed at the open break will help speed up this process.

Once the board is dried you can begin working on repairing the crack or hole. If you used epoxy, allow it to fully cure, or follow the instructions on the bottle for how long it needs to sit. Then use a plastic syringe to push some of the glue into the fissure, being careful not to go too deep into the board — you don’t want to seep inside the core. If you’re using Titebond III, it will be ready for this after about 24 hours.

Then sand the filled area down, being careful not to sand through to the core underneath. Once you’ve sanded the filled area down to where it is smooth with the rest of your board, rub in a liberal amount of surfboard cream or mineral oil and your crack or hole will be good as new.

Leaning Posts

Leaning posts are one of the most common issues that fence owners encounter. This is especially true if you have wood fences, since they’re more likely to tilt due to age and environmental factors. Fortunately, there are many ways to fix these problems and get your fence erect again.

The first thing to do is figure out why your post is leaning. It may be that the ground underneath it has given way and is no longer supporting the post correctly. This problem is easily corrected by digging around the base of the post and ensuring that the soil levels are balanced. This will also help to prevent the issue from occurring again in the future.

Next, you’ll want to dig on the side opposite of where the lean is. This will give you enough space to get to the concrete footing, and will allow you to lever it back into place. This will likely take some effort, but you’ll need to be careful not to damage the post itself. Once the footing is back in place, use a level to straighten out the post until it’s plumb. Finally, you’ll want to add some bracing to the post so it won’t come back out of alignment again.

This can be as simple as a few pieces of 2x4s. Just line up the second of your post braces with either the right or left side of the fence (depending on which needs more support) and hammer it in. Then, remove the two-by-four and finish off by filling in the hole with a little bit of soil.

This will make sure that the post stays in place and won’t be susceptible to further damage from weather or erosion. Depending on your soil type, you may even want to consider adding some concrete to the hole for an extra level of protection.

Rotted Panels

Over time, the constant exposure to sun and rain can cause wood to rot. Even with the best preservatives, this can happen if the weather is severe enough. When your fence starts to rot it will likely be apparent by noticing mold and mildew growth or the panels themselves warping or bubbling up. While one rotting panel or slight leaning in one section of your fence can usually be repaired by replacing the damaged board, more generalized rot means that it is time to replace the whole fence. At that point it would be more cost effective to invest in a new fence that will provide many more years of service.

Depending on the amount of rot, you may be able to save some panels by sanding, media blasting or wire brushing the rotten area and encapsulating it with a rust inhibitor.

Rust

Rust is a common problem that can plague metal fences, particularly those made of iron. The corrosive compound mars the appearance of the fence with a reddish-brown discoloration and eats away at the structure, eventually weakening it and potentially causing structural damage. Fortunately, rust can be addressed and repaired fairly quickly and inexpensively.

A quick inspection of your fence should reveal any areas where rust has developed. These usually appear as reddish-brown flaking patches. Start by scrubbing the affected area with a wire brush, sandpaper or a power sander to remove the surface rust and expose the underlying metal. Start with coarse grit and move to finer grits as necessary until the rust is removed and you see bare metal. Rinse off the area with water after you’re finished to remove any residual dirt or chemicals from the metal.

Once you’ve removed the rust from your fence, apply a coat of rust-inhibiting primer to the bare metal. This will help protect the metal from future rust and provide a smooth surface for painting. Apply the primer according to manufacturer’s instructions. After the rust-inhibiting primer has dried, paint the fence with an exterior enamel paint. This will not only add a layer of protection, but it will also beautify the fencing.

The best way to prevent rust is with regular maintenance and inspections. Moisture is a big contributor to rust on iron and steel structures, so cleaning your fence regularly can help to keep moisture levels low. It’s also worth considering alternative metals for your fence that are less prone to rust, such as aluminum or stainless steel.

If you find a section of your fence that is rusting beyond repair, it might be time to replace it. Depending on the length of your fence, this may not be an expensive project, and it will ensure that your yard is safe and secure. If the damaged section is near a post, it might be a good idea to install a sister post to support the new panel. This could be a simple wooden stake placed in the ground next to the damaged post, or it could be a more substantial piece of wood that matches the size and style of the existing posts.