How to Repair a Backyard Fence

Broken fences can be a safety hazard for small children and pets.

A damaged backyard fence can leave gaps open for children or animals to pass through and perhaps injure themselves. Additionally, if the damage results from wet rot, failure to fix a backyard fence can lead to ongoing structural problems as the moisture spreads. Fixing your fence in a timely manner will prevent additional damage and keep children and animals safe from injury. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• Chalk
• Pry bar
• Claw hammer
• Replacement corner posts
• Quick-set cement
• Replacement picket planks
• Bubble level
• Power drill
• 1/4-inch drill bit
• Deck screws, 3"
• Screwdriver head

Instructions

1. Inspect the fence for all signs of damage, including broken or cracked pickets or posts as well as loose nails.

2. Mark all the damaged areas with a piece of chalk.

3. Remove all loose or damaged boards using a pry bar and claw hammer.

4. Remove boards from damaged corner posts using the pry bar and claw hammer.

5. Twist, push and pull on damaged corner posts, loosening the dirt around them until you can extract them.

6. Insert replacement corner posts into the hole in the ground, filling the hole around the post with quick-set cement. Allow the cement to cure for 10 to 12 hours before covering with soil

7. Position the replacement picket planks on the corner post, using a level.

8. Drill two starter holes two inches from each end of replacement pickets into either the horizontal slats or the corner posts using the power drill and the 1/4-inch drill bit.

9. Screw three-inch deck screws into the starter holes using the power drill fitted with a screwdriver head. The deck screws will hold much better than nails.

References

• "How to Build and Repair Fences and Gates"; Rick Kubik; 2007