Fences are an excellent way of not only giving a property some privacy from neighbors, but marking the boundaries of the property you own. As they are situated outside, they are prone to damage due to harsh weather conditions, such as rain, frost, and particularly, strong winds. Although many people choose to hire a tradesman to fix any damage to their fence, it is possible to do the repairs yourself. This article looks at how to repair loose fence posts and damaged fence panels.
Repairing A Loose Fence Post
Many homeowners find that after high winds, their fence posts have become loose or wobbly. This can quickly lead to bigger – and more costly – problems, so it is always a good idea to deal with the issue as soon as you can. If it is possible, you should aim to remove the old cement holding the post in place, and replace it completely. If you dig around the hole, and simply pour in more cement, this can lead to problems in the short term.
To remove the post, you can either attach a chain to it and remove it with a vehicle, or you can use a vertical post remover. This piece of equipment will pull the post up and out of the hole, allowing you to set a post back in the same place. In addition to this, you will find that a post remover will not create a bigger hole than is necessary; using a vehicle to pull the post out may cause you to have to fill some of the hole back in.
Once the post has been removed, set the new post level and fill the hole with fresh concrete. You can use scrap wood as a brace to hold the post in place as the concrete dries. Remember to score the concrete with a spade after you have poured it into the hole; this will remove any air pockets.
Repairing Damaged Fence Panels
You will need to purchase replacement panels, that match the design and the size of the damaged panel. Use a pry bar to loosen the damaged panel, and be sure to remove any nails that are left. Next, set the new panel in place, making sure it is level and correctly aligned. Carefully hammer in nails to either end of the panel; you may like to get a friend to hold it in place as you secure either end of the panel. Once it is secure, you can paint the new panel to match the color of the rest of the fence.
For more information, check out companies such as Phantom Fencing.
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