Sometimes you think that your fence needs replacing when it only needs a good solid repair. Other times it really needs to be replaced, but you are just avoiding the inevitable. So how do you know when you should repair or replace your fence? Or can get away with repairs for a few more years?
1. Is your fence old and falling down?
If your fence has lost its integrity and it’s more than 20 years old, then all the star pickets in the world won’t do much good. You can try replacing some of the timbers, but it might be better to just bite the bullet and replace it.
2. Is your fence rotting from the bottom up?
Upright posts that weren’t treated properly can easily rot in the ground, eventually causing your fence to fall over. You can replace these posts, but if you need to replace more than 25% of the fence (including the palings and backer posts), it’s more cost-effective to replace the whole fence.
3. Are termites attacking your fence?
Can you see termite tracks ending at your fence posts? Most fencing timber is treated for termites, but there is always the occasional mishap. So if termites are attacking your fence they need to be eradicated to prevent them attacking your home. You might also need to replace the timber fencing, depending on the extent of the damage.
4. Are some of the posts and palings loose?
These can generally be repaired, as long as not too much of the timber needs to be replaced. Uprights that are wobbly will need to be replaced and reset, whilst loose backer rails and palings can be simply replaced.
5. Has a tree hit your fence?
If a storm has caused a large branch or tree to fall on your fence, we can most probably repair it rather than replace it. However, if more than 25% of the fence needs to be repaired it’s usually more affordable to replace the whole fence.