It makes sense to repair the fence when the posts still stand firm and the trouble is limited to one stretch. Once the repair bill reaches roughly half of what a new fence would cost, or the posts are soft all along the line, replacement is the better buy.
What to look for
| What you see | Usual answer |
|---|---|
| One damaged stretch, posts do not move | Repair |
| A few posts in a row are loose, the remainder is straight | Rebuild that stretch only |
| Posts are spongy at the soil along the full length | New fence |
| Repair price is close to 50 percent of new | New fence |
The fence is around 15 years old with some rotted posts and a lean. New posts or whole fence?
Test before you decide. Walk the line and rock each post by hand. A handful of bad posts out of many is a post job, and the fence can carry on for years. If more than half of them wobble, stop spending on repairs. In New England the posts give out before the boards do, because the bottom of the post sits in damp ground through thaw after thaw.
One quote says $1,400 to repair and another says $5,200 for new. Which do I pick?
Do the division first. $1,400 is 27 percent of $5,200, well under the half mark, so the repair is the sensible pick on price alone. The catch is the posts nobody touched. Have the contractor tell you, in writing, how many original posts stay in the ground and what shape they are in. Two repairs like this in two years add up to $2,800, and the fence is still old.
Pickets are rotting all along and the gate sticks. Can I go section by section?
You can, as long as the frame is healthy. Start by finding out why the pickets rot at the base. Mulch heaped against the wood, soil contact and sprinkler spray are the usual reasons, and they will ruin new pickets too. Then take it section by section, worst first. Deal with the sticking gate early, because it points to a hinge post that has moved.
How long does a wood fence last around here?
There is no single number. Three things decide it:
- Species: cedar holds up above ground better than treated pine.
- Depth: posts set under the frost line stay put.
- Care: stain, and a gap between the boards and the dirt, both add years.
Whatever the wood, expect the posts to wear out ahead of everything else.
Want a price for your own yard? The estimate is free, done on site, and the quote comes in writing. Call (508) 690-4738.