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A Homeowner Guide to Fence Repair and Restoration
Learn how to triage fence damage, separate urgent structural problems from cosmetic wear, and decide what to repair, refresh or replace first.
Care and Upkeep
Fence Repair and Restoration
Fixing specific fence problems and refreshing worn fences.
Checking a Fence After a Storm or High Winds
A safe, step-by-step routine for inspecting posts, panels and gates after a storm or high winds, and for deciding what to fix right away.
Cleaning Mold, Mildew and Algae From Fences
Safe ways to clean mold, mildew and algae from wood, vinyl, metal and composite fences, plus practical steps to slow the green and black growth returning.
Frost Heave and Shifting Posts in Cold Climates
How freezing ground pushes and tilts fence posts, which soils and conditions make it worse, and design choices that can reduce frost heave.
Painting a Fence: Prep, Primer and Finish
How to prepare, prime and paint a fence so the finish lasts: cleaning, scraping, material-specific primers and topcoats, and the weather conditions to wait for.
Removing Rust From Iron and Steel Fences
How to remove rust from iron and steel fences using wire brushing, rust converters, primer and protective topcoats, plus when rust means repair or replacement.
Replacing a Rotted Fence Board or Picket
Step-by-step instructions for replacing a rotted fence board or picket, including how to test the rail behind it, match the new piece and finish it properly.
Staining and Sealing a Wood Fence
Learn how to prep a wood fence, choose between stain and sealer, plan around drying times, and recognize when it is time to reapply the finish.
Straightening a Leaning Fence Post
Why fence posts lean, how to tell whether a post can be braced, reset or must be replaced, and the general steps for straightening one safely.
Termites and Wood-Boring Insects in Fence Wood
How to recognize signs of termites, carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles in fence timber, and general ways to limit insect damage around your fence.
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