Wood fence repair and post replacement
We repair wood fences that are leaning, broken or rotting at the posts. Most damaged fences do not need to be torn out: we find what has actually failed and fix that section properly.
Illustrative photoFix what failed, not the whole fence
A fence usually fails in one place first. A post rots at ground level, a rail splits, or a windstorm pushes a section over. Replacing that part, and setting it so it lasts, is often the better-value repair.
We work on cedar and pressure-treated wood fences on residential properties. If the fence is near the end of its life overall, we will tell you plainly, and quote a new fence instead of a patch.
Signs a fence needs repair
- A section leaning or swaying after wind
- Posts soft or broken at ground level
- Cracked, sagging or detached rails
- Broken, split or missing boards and pickets
- A panel damaged by a fallen branch or an impact
- Loose boards from rusted or popped fasteners
Repairs by the part that failed
Leaning section
Usually a post rotted at the base. If the post is still solid, the section is re-plumbed and braced; if not, the post is replaced.
Rotted post
The boards and rails are detached, the post and its old footing come out, a new ground-contact rated post goes in, and the section is re-hung.
Broken panel
One or more panels rebuilt to match the existing style as closely as available materials allow.
Boards and pickets
Broken or rotted boards swapped out without disturbing the rest of the fence.
Rails
Split rails replaced and sections re-fastened where they have pulled away from their posts.
Storm damage
Sections pushed over by wind or a falling branch made safe, then repaired or rebuilt.
Is the rest of the fence sound?
Before quoting one repair, we check the posts on either side and along the run. Push the fence at each post: a post that moves at the base, or wood that is soft when probed just below the soil, is close to failing.
Posts installed at the same time tend to fail around the same time. If the post that broke is typical of the rest, we tell you, so you can decide between a repair now and a longer-lasting fix.
Can one section be replaced?
Usually, yes. A single post, panel or run of boards can be replaced as long as the posts on either side are solid and the panels can be taken off without breaking.
New boards match in size and style when the material is still available. New cedar starts lighter than weathered boards; the difference fades or can be evened out with stain.
When a new fence makes more sense
- Repair when most posts are solid and the damage is limited to a few posts, boards or panels.
- Replace a run when several posts in one stretch have rotted.
- Replace the fence when posts are failing throughout and the boards are brittle or heavily weathered; see fence installation and replacement.
Photos that help us quote
Good photos often let us give a realistic range before anyone visits:
- One wide shot showing the whole damaged stretch
- Close-ups of the base of the leaning or broken posts
- Both sides of the fence, if you can reach your neighbour's side
- The approximate height, and the number of panels or the length affected
- Anything close to the fence: garden beds, trees, sheds, a slope or a retaining wall
What determines the estimate
We do not publish fixed prices because every job differs. These are the main factors:
- Number of posts and panels involved
- Removing old concrete footings
- Fence height, style and board pattern
- Access: narrow side yards, slopes, landscaping or structures close to the fence
- Current lumber prices
- Matching a custom or discontinued style
- Disposal of old material
When it needs someone else first
- Our focus is wood fences. For chain-link, vinyl or metal fences, ask first.
- A fence built on top of a failing retaining wall needs the wall assessed first. We do not repair retaining walls.
- We do not resolve property-line questions. If the line is uncertain, a survey comes first.
- Raising the height of a fence during a rebuild must stay within your municipality's limits and any strata bylaws.
How a fence repair runs
Submit a quote request
Tell us what is damaged and roughly how much: a length of fence or a number of panels.
Assessment
We tell you whether it needs a repair, a partial rebuild or a replacement, and visit if needed.
Written estimate
What is replaced, the materials and what is excluded. Utilities are located before any digging.
Repair and clean-up
The work is done, the area is tidied, and you see the result before we finish.
Fence repair questions
Can a damaged fence post be replaced without rebuilding the whole fence?
Usually, yes. It is not practical when the neighbouring posts are just as rotten, or when the panels cannot be removed without breaking them; then a run or the whole fence is replaced instead.
Why do fence posts rot at the bottom?
The few inches at and just below ground level stay wet and have the oxygen rot needs. In our rainy climate, posts that sit in soil, or in concrete that traps water around the wood, fail there first. Good drainage at the footing and ground-contact rated wood slow this down.
Can a leaning fence be straightened without new posts?
Only if the posts are still solid and the lean comes from loose soil or a shifted footing. If the post is rotted at the base, straightening it just hides the problem until the next storm.
Will new boards match my existing fence?
They will match in size and style when the material is still available. New cedar is lighter in colour than weathered cedar at first. Staining both, or letting the new wood weather, closes that gap.
Is it my fence or my neighbour's?
That depends on where it sits and any agreement between owners. We do not decide boundary questions, but we can give you a written scope to share with your neighbour before work on a shared fence.
Related services
Where we offer this
Fence repair is available across our Metro Vancouver service area, including Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Surrey, Vancouver, Port Moody, Delta, Richmond, Langley and North Vancouver.
Get a free estimate for fence repair
New build or repair, send a short description and a few photos. We reply with next steps and, where photos are enough, a realistic price range.