Wooden Fence Repair
Wooden fences ultimately fail - they all do. The margin where posts meet wet earth creates the ideal environment of moisture, oxygen and soil microbes = rot! Add a winter storm, leaning tree, perhaps a covering of ivy, and you have the ideal recipe for a wonky fence
Further exacerbating the problem is that whilst modern wood preservatives using ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) or MCQ (Micronised Copper Quaternary), although significantly more eco-friendly, are simply not as effective as their highly noxious predecessors containing Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). Today's treatments are safer, but they are simply less toxic to the fungi that cause wood rot. The result is that newly treated posts have around half their previous life-expectancy
The good news is that, in many cases, your existing fence isn't a lost cause. Provided it hasn't catastrophically failed, there's a realistic chance it may be saved at significantly less than the cost of a full replacement. Posts may be repaired with reinforced concrete stubs or replaced; new panels and boards may be inserted where required. Of course, where damage is so extensive, the cost of repairs may exceed what is viable compared with a complete replacement. This is most often a timing issue - when you notice a problem, try to get it sorted asap - it could save a lot of money in the long-run! Check out our Maintenance page for information on what you can do to get the most life from your fence
Further exacerbating the problem is that whilst modern wood preservatives using ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) or MCQ (Micronised Copper Quaternary), although significantly more eco-friendly, are simply not as effective as their highly noxious predecessors containing Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). Today's treatments are safer, but they are simply less toxic to the fungi that cause wood rot. The result is that newly treated posts have around half their previous life-expectancy
The good news is that, in many cases, your existing fence isn't a lost cause. Provided it hasn't catastrophically failed, there's a realistic chance it may be saved at significantly less than the cost of a full replacement. Posts may be repaired with reinforced concrete stubs or replaced; new panels and boards may be inserted where required. Of course, where damage is so extensive, the cost of repairs may exceed what is viable compared with a complete replacement. This is most often a timing issue - when you notice a problem, try to get it sorted asap - it could save a lot of money in the long-run! Check out our Maintenance page for information on what you can do to get the most life from your fence
