Fence Repair in Salisbury

Most fences do not fail all at once. One post starts to lean after a wet winter. A gate begins to drag. A storm drops a limb across two sections. Left alone, each of those problems spreads to the parts of the fence around it.

The good news is that a lot of fences can be repaired for far less than replacement. Fences in Salisbury and across Rowan County can be repaired no matter who built them.

Common fence problems and repairs

• Leaning or loose posts. The most common repair. Usually caused by rot at the base, shallow setting, or wet clay shifting the post.
• Rotted posts. Wood posts often rot right at ground level, where moisture sits longest.
• Broken or loose rails. Rails crack, pull off posts or sag in the middle.
• Missing or broken pickets. From weather, kids, dogs or mowers.
• Sagging or dragging gates. Hinges wear out, posts lean or the gate frame twists.
• Storm and tree damage. Fallen limbs and wind can take out whole sections.
• Chain link problems. Sagging fabric, bent top rail, loose ties or leaning terminal posts.
• Vinyl damage. Cracked panels or rails from impact or a falling limb.
• Farm fence damage. Loose boards, sagging wire and broken braces.

Signs your fence needs repair

• A section leans or moves when you push it.
• The gate won't latch, or you have to lift it to close it.
• Wood at the base of posts is soft or crumbly.
• Gaps have opened at the bottom where pets can get out.
• Panels or pickets are missing after a storm.

How fence repair works

1. Call or send photos. Call (980) 332-2892 or use the free quote form. Photos of the damage help.
2. On-site look. The contractor checks the damaged area and the posts on either side, since problems often spread further than they look.
3. Written quote. You get a clear price for the repair. If a repair is not worth the money compared to replacing a section, a good contractor will tell you.
4. Repair. Many repairs take a few hours to a day. If a post is reset, NC811 is called first.
5. Check and clean-up. The crew tests gates and latches and hauls off the old material.

Fence repair cost in Salisbury

Most repairs cost far less than a new fence. The price depends on how many posts need resetting or replacing, the material, and access. A single gate adjustment is a small job. Several new posts and a run of rails is a bigger one. The real price comes from a free on-site visit and a written quote. See the fence prices page for more.

Repair or replace?

Repair usually makes sense when:

• The damage is limited to a few posts or one or two sections.
• The rest of the fence is in decent shape.
• The fence is not very old.

Replacement usually makes sense when:

• Many posts are rotted or leaning along the run.
• You are fixing something every few months.
• You want a different style or material anyway.

If replacement is the better call, the contractor can quote a new wood fence, vinyl fence or chain link fence at the same visit.

Matching old and new

New wood will look different from weathered wood for a while. It evens out after staining or a season or two outside. Older vinyl may have faded slightly, so a new panel can look brighter. A good contractor is upfront about how close a match will be before any work starts.

What a good repair contractor won't do

• Patch a rotted post with a bracket and call it fixed when the post needs to be replaced.
• Sell you a whole new fence when a repair will do the job.
• Reset a post without calling NC811 first, even for a small repair.

Small fixes you can watch for

Between repairs, a quick walk along your fence a couple of times a year catches most problems early. Push on each post. Check that the gate swings freely and latches on its own. Look at the base of wood posts after a wet spell, and clear vines and limbs off the fence before they add weight.