If you look around your neighbourhood, chances are the majority of fences you see are made from wood. That is because wood is an excellent resource for building fences. It is quite often affordable, easy to work with, and very reliable.
With most things that are outside, after a while, they will need repairing and even replacing. Fences are no exception. Even if you have a brick or aluminum fence, at some point you’ll need to fix it.
Since wood fences are the more popular option, we’re going to look at four warning signs that say you need to repair your wooden fence.
Rotting
Rotting is a common indicator that your fence is on its last life, or at least that particular board. If you notice rotting spots on your fence, it’s something you want to address right away. Over time, that rot can cause your fence to warp and damage the structural integrity. As the rot deteriorates the fence, it also loses the look you were initially going for.
If you find only a few boards that have rot, you likely can get away with repairing only those boards. However, if the rot spreads, it probably has weakened the fence to the point of replacing the whole thing.
Insect Damage
Can you spot tiny holes in your fence? That could be a sign of insect damage. Many insects will burrow and eat away at wood, and if left untreated, can cause significant damage to your fence. As with rotting, inspect the whole fence to see where all the infested spots are. If it’s spread too far, you’ll likely have to replace the fence instead of repairing it.
For insect damage, you may want to further investigate as to where the infestation is coming from. You wouldn’t want to replace only to have the bugs return.
Splintered Boards
Splintering is another good indicator that it’s time to repair your fence. The problematic thing with splintering boards is that it can be difficult to determine if you need to simply repair certain boards, or if the whole structure is weakened.
If the fence is still standing upright even though there are splintered boards, you likely can get away with repairing only what is needed.
Sagging
If you notice that your fence isn’t standing up straight anymore, maybe it’s starting to warp or has a lean to it, that is a sure sign that your fence requires your attention. Sagging can come from the weather or from age.
The important thing to remember with a sagging fence is to determine what is causing it to sag. If the boards are rotting and making the fence sag, the structural integrity of the fence could be damaged, making the fence quite dangerous.
After building a fence, it’s essential that you spend time taking care of it. Fences provide privacy around the property. However, if you notice one of these signs and don’t act on repairing your fence, it soon becomes dangerous. A falling fence could seriously harm someone.
If you’re unsure whether or not to replace or repair your fence, call a professional contractor to help come up with a plan for you.
