Repair a fence run — HomeGraft

A weekend-plus project to replace damaged panels and posts, rehang the gate, then treat the whole fence for a uniform finish.

Guides in this project

01Replace a fence panel 02Repair a broken fence post with a repair spur 03Fit concrete fence posts and gravel boards 04Fix a sagging garden gate 05Treat or paint a fence

RF-01Survey the whole run and get readyWalk the full fence line and press each post near the base to find ones that are spongy or loose, and note which panels are split, warped or blown over. Check who owns the fence before you start: it's usually shown in your title deeds, sometimes by 'T' marks on the plan. If it isn't clear, talk to your neighbour and agree upfront who's doing what. If a hedge or tree needs cutting back to reach the fence, check for nesting birds and for a Tree Preservation Order or conservation area before you touch it. Buy materials for the worst sections first and hold off on the rest until the posts are exposed.

RULES

1 set · String line and pegs

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1 each · Notepad and pencil

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1 pair · Work gloves

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KNOW THE RULES

Nesting birds (roughly March to August) and Tree Preservation Orders or conservation areas can both restrict cutting a hedge or tree. Fence ownership is usually shown in the title deeds; if it isn't clear, agree it with your neighbour before any work.

RF-02Take down and replace the worst panelsFollow the Replace a fence panel guide for every panel that's too split, bowed or fallen to save. Doing this early clears the run so you can see which posts are actually sound underneath, rather than guessing while a panel is in the way. Budget around half a day per panel, including clearing the old one away.

3 panel · Fence panel

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1 pack · Panel clips

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1 box · Exterior wood screws

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RF-03Repair posts that are only part-rottenFollow the Repair a broken fence post with a repair spur guide for any post that's solid above ground but rotten at the base, where the panel fixings are still good. This is quicker and cheaper than digging the whole post out. Before you dig the spur hole, check for buried cables and pipes with a detector, and still dig carefully by hand near anything you find.

RULES

2 each · Concrete fence post spur

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2 bag · Post-mix concrete

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1 pack · Coach bolts

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KNOW THE RULES

Always check for buried cables and pipes before digging near a boundary, even in a garden. Expect something to be there and dig with care, not just by eye.

RF-04Replace posts that are too far goneFollow the Fit concrete fence posts and gravel boards guide for any post that's rotten right through, leaning badly, or snapped below ground. This is the slowest phase. Fast-setting post mix firms up in minutes but needs a few hours (check the bag) before you hang panels; standard concrete needs 24 to 48 hours, so plan the panel work for the following day or weekend. Re-hang the panels taken down earlier once the concrete has gone off.

RULES

2 each · Concrete fence post

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4 each · Gravel board

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4 bag · Post-mix concrete

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KNOW THE RULES

Check for buried cables and pipes with a detector before digging new post holes, and treat them as live or pressurised until you know otherwise.

RF-05Fix the gate once its posts are solidFollow the Fix a sagging garden gate guide once the posts either side are sound, whether that's a repaired post or a new concrete one. A gate hung on a weak post will sag again no matter how good the hinges are, so this phase only works after the post work has fully cured. Usually a half-day job.

1 pair · Gate hinges

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1 each · Gate latch

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1 box · Exterior screws

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RF-06Treat or paint the finished runFollow the Treat or paint a fence guide once every repair is done and any new timber has had a few dry days to settle. Treating the whole run together, old and new wood alike, gives one even finish instead of patchy colour. Pick a dry, mild weekend, since most treatments need around 24 hours between coats and shouldn't go on below about 5°C.

1 5L tin · Fence treatment or paint

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1 each · Brush or sprayer

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1 each · Dust sheet

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