Most of the repair calls we get could have been smaller. A post that was leaning in October is a run on the ground in March. A gate that dragged a little in spring has pulled its post over by fall. Slack wire that nobody noticed is a pasture breakout. A fence does not need much, but it needs to be looked at, and a routine makes that easy.
Twice a year, walk the whole line
After storm season and again in spring. Walk it, do not drive past it. Push on every post you can reach. Look at the ground line, the gates and the corners. Carry a notebook or your phone and mark anything that needs attention.
Wood fence
- Push on posts; any that move need resetting before they take the run with them.
- Look at the bottom: pickets touching dirt, mulch piled against the rot board, grass holding moisture. Clear it.
- Loose, split or cupped pickets and rails. Nail or replace while it is one board.
- Water no longer beading on the wood means it is time to stain. See staining.
- Gates: does it swing clear, latch and hang square? Tighten hinges, adjust the latch, note a sag.
Chain link, ornamental and aluminum
- Posts plumb, especially corners and gate posts.
- Fabric tight; a belly between posts means a tie or a tension band has let go.
- Chips in powder coat, rust at cut ends or brackets. Touch up before it spreads.
- Gate hinges and latches, especially self-closing pool gates.
- Rinse off pollen and mildew with the house.
Farm and ranch wire
- Corners and braces first. A leaning brace post is the cause of every slack run behind it.
- Wire tension by hand; re-stretch slack strands at the brace.
- Broken or rusted strands, missing clips, staples backing out of wood posts.
- Trees and limbs on or leaning toward the line.
- Gates swinging and latching; hinges greased.
- Fence row mowed or sprayed so the line stays clear.
After a storm
Walk it as soon as it is safe. Clear limbs off the wire before they bend posts. Stand up and brace anything leaning if you can, and call for anything you cannot. Fence repair and insurance claim repair cover the rest.
Seasonal extras
Before winter, check gates and water-side fence lines; winterizing ranch fence and protecting your fence this winter go into it. In spring, wash and stain; spring home maintenance puts it in order. Keep debris off the fence all year; debris on your fence could be a fire hazard explains why.
When to call
Any post that moves, any gate that sags, any run that leans, any wire you cannot re-tension by hand, and anything after a storm that you are not set up to handle. We will come look, free, and tell you what it needs. Major causes of fence and deck repairs is a good read before you walk the line.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I check my fence?
Twice a year is plenty for most fences: after storm season in late summer or fall, and again in spring. After any big storm, walk it sooner.
What is the first thing to look at?
Push on the posts. A post that moves is the problem that costs the most if it is ignored and the least if it is caught early.
Can you do the inspection?
Yes. We are glad to walk a fence, tell you what we see and price anything that needs doing, with no obligation.