How to Repair a Wood Fence
Having a fenced-in yard provides added security, protection, and privacy for you and your family. A fenced-in yard can also provide an enclose a space for a family pet so you don't have to keep on eye on him. However, if you have a wooden fence, you may eventually have to do some upkeep, repairs, and maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pencil and paper
- UV-resistant stain
- Paintbrush
- Tamping bar
- Post hole digger
- Extra fence boards
- Power drill with screws
- Level
- Spray lubricant
- Pencil
- Paper
- T-braces
Instructions
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List the specific repairs necessary, using a pencil and paper. If you have multiple repairs, such as holes; wobbly fence posts; mold or rot growth; bent or broken boards; squeaky gates or boards that are warped due to weather, consider drawing out a simple map of your fence on a sheet of paper as a visual reference for where each repair item is located on your fence. This way, you won't forget something that could turn into a much bigger repair job down the road.
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Replace any holes in your fence with new boards. You will also want to replace any boards that are warped from being exposed to the weather as well. Remove old boards completely, backing out the screws with a power drill and inserting new boards in their place. If you have some extra money and several boards in one section need replacement, consider replacing all of the boards in that area. This will help the fence to look uniform.
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Repack the dirt around each fence post with a tamping bar. This will ensure that the fence post is placed securely in the ground and can firmly support the rails. Use a mold removal solution mixed with water to scrub away mold. Saturating rotted areas with a wood preservative will also help prevent any rot from spreading.
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Tighten and re-screw any loose boards or planks with a power drill. Insert new screws since older screws have a tendency to break in half. Back out the older screws as much as possible. Use a level to re-center crooked boards.
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Stain your fence, using a paintbrush. Apply stain by beginning at one end of the piece of wood, the top or the bottom, and then brush the stain all the way to the other end without going back to your bucket for more stain. Stain will not only help the wood withstand weather and precipitation, but also fading from sun's ultraviolet rays. Look for one that has a high resistance to UV rays so that your fence is protected for at least the next two to three years.
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Nail steel T-braces beneath any crossbeams that are wobbly or loose. Even if the crossbeams are no longer securely attached to the fence post, attaching T-braces can help salvage the beam without having to remove any of the pieces.
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Reapply stain every 24 to 36 months, depending on your location's weather conditions and the type of stain you applied. Try to stay with the same stain each year.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit wood fence image by Dumitrescu Ciprian from Fotolia.com
