Wooden Fence Post Repair
A wooden fence post can be repaired as long as it is not rotted. Frost heave, vigorous snow plow operators and swampy soil can cause a post to tilt. Realigning a fence post is an easy job and will not require you to dismantle rails. If the post is broken, it is usually best to extricate the post and replace it, but if doing so is not feasible, you may be able to repair the post with a patch until a replacement is possible. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Post level
- Rubber bands
- Gravel, about a 5-gallon bucketful
- 2 lengths of two-by-four, 1-foot-long
- Hand saw
- 3-inch screws
- Power drill
Instructions
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Tilting Post
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1
Dig at the base of the post with the shovel. Dig on the side opposite of the tilt, and dig down far enough so the post can be pushed straight with no resistance from the soil below it.
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2
Position the air bubble between the two guidelines. Strap the level to the post using the rubber bands. Gently tilt the post to the left or right and forward and backward until each level vial displays its bubble in the center of the vial (between the two guidelines).
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3
Shovel dirt or gravel into the hole while checking that the post remains level.
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4
Stomp down and around the post to remove any air pockets.
Broken Post
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5
Dig at least 1 foot below the broken section, if the break is below ground.
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6
Create a splint with the two-by-four pieces: Place the splint pieces on opposite sides of the post, centering the splint pieces at the break in the post. Screw the splint pieces onto the post.
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7
Replace the soil you removed.
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1
Tips & Warnings
You may choose long metal bracing instead of two-by-fours for the splint.
Never push on a tilting fence post--it may snap off. Remove the dirt at the base of the post first, then shift the post.
Be careful not to split the wood post when driving the splint screws. Drill slowly to allow the wood to expand.
References
- Photo Credit old tire on a wooden fence post image by Bo Widerberg from Fotolia.com level image by Willee Cole from Fotolia.com
