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How to Repair a Wooden Fence?

Wooden fences get a lot of wear and tear. This includes rain, snow, rot, and even below-ground frost. The damage is often minimal, but over time, it can be a major expense to repair and replace. Fortunately, a little bit of knowledge can go a long way toward making repairs and rebuilding your fence. 

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How to Repair a Wooden Fence?

In most cases, repairing and rebuilding a wood fence require at least two people and a variety of tools and skills. In addition, you will need to purchase a wide variety of lumber and fencing materials that can be expensive. Consequently, it is best to hire a fencing professional for the job. 

The first step in repairing your fence is to inspect it. This will help you determine whether there is any damage that needs mending or whether it is time to replace it altogether. Check for rotting or warping posts, which are usually the first things to need attention in most wood fences. If you notice signs of rotting, call a professional right away. 

Remove a Post

There are two ways to remove a post from a wooden fence: by digging it out or by using a farm jack and chain to lever it out. In either case, you will need to prepare the ground around the post by digging it out to a depth of at least 1 foot. Then, you will need to place a support block for the jack so that it can rest on it when it is pulled up. 

If the fence post is embedded in concrete, it may be difficult to loosen it without help. This is because the base of the post is heavy and firmly embedded in concrete. To remove the post, you will need to use a shovel and a narrow blade to dig around the base of the concrete. 

Once the concrete has been loosened, you can rock the post back and forth to loosen it from the ground. If this does not work, you may need to remove the fence post completely. 

Rebuild a Fence Rail

If the rails on your fence need to be rebuilt, you will need to make a new cleat to support them. The cleat is typically a piece of 2×4 that fits snugly underneath the rail and nails to the post. Alternatively, you can cut new rails that fit between the posts and nail or screw them into place. 

Rebuild Fence Boards

Once you have made the cleats and installed the new rails, you will need to reattach your fence boards. This is a simple but labor-intensive process that will save you money in the long run by eliminating the need to buy new fence boards. 

To build the new boards, you will need to measure and cut them to match the fence rails. The boards should be long enough to reach from the bottom of the rails to the top of the posts. You will also need to cut them to be uniform in length.