How to Brace Fence Corners

Corner fence posts hold up the weight of two sides of a fence.

If you see a corner fence post that's bent or broken in the center, chances are that the corner fence post was improperly braced. A corner fence post can support more than 1,000 lbs. of weight. Most of this weight puts stress along the weakest part of the fence, the fence's upper part. Bracing a fence corner properly helps to take the stress off the top of the fence post and redistribute it to the lower part of the fence post.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Spray paint
• Post hole diggers
• Fence post, 8-foot diameter
• Mixing bucket
• Concrete
• Garden hose
• Stirring rod
• 2-by-4 board, 8 foot long
• Hammer
• Nails
• Smooth wire
• Landscaping staples
• Metal rod

Instructions

1. Measure along the fence line a distance of 8 feet. Mark this spot with a can of spray paint. Dig a post hole in this location to a depth of 3 feet.

2. Place a fence post in the hole. Fill a mixing bucket a third full of concrete. Add in water and mix until the concrete is the consistency of a mud pie. Pour the cement into the post hole and allow it to harden for 48 hours before proceeding.

3. Nail a cross brace made of an 8 foot long 2-by-4 between the corner fence post and the brace post along the top line of the fence.

4. Loop a strand of smooth wire twice between the bottom of the fence post and the top of the brace post. Nail a fencing staple over the loops on each post to hold them in place.

5. Slip a metal rod in between the loops and twist the rod to tighten the loops. Tuck an end of the rod behind the cross brace to secure the rod in place.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Fence Brace Assemblies
• University of Missouri Extension: Selecting Wire Fencing Materials
• University of Missouri Extension: Constructing Wire Fences

Resources

• University of Tennessee Extension: Planning and Building Fences on the Farm