The idea: one round, in the right order
Many people do maintenance in whatever order they notice things, then find they have painted over dirt or tightened a screw that later needed replacing. A seasonal round works best in a fixed order, because each step makes the next one easier. The sequence below is: inspect, clear, clean, repair, lubricate and tighten, then refinish. Run it in spring and again, in a shorter form, in fall. For what each season adds, the seasonal articles cover details; here the focus is the order of work.
You will need gloves, eye protection, a stiff brush, a bucket, mild soap, a screwdriver and drill, a level, a wire brush, rags, outdoor lubricant, touch-up paint or stain, and a notebook.
Step 1: Inspect and make a list
Walk the whole line before doing anything. Look at posts, rails, boards, hardware and the gate. Push on posts, probe wood with a screwdriver and swing the gate. Write down every problem with a rough priority. Resist fixing as you go, since it breaks the sequence. Everything you need to know about gate and fence inspections gives a more detailed routine.
Step 2: Clear the area
Remove anything that holds moisture or hides problems:
- vegetation touching the fence
- leaves, soil and mulch against the base
- stored items leaning on the fence
- vines you do not want
Keep soil a small distance below wood where practical. Check drainage at the same time: water pooling near posts is a fault to fix, not just note.
Step 3: Clean
Clean before any repair or finishing, because paint and stain stick poorly to dirt and growth, and because cleaning shows hidden damage.
- Brush off loose dirt and cobwebs.
- Wash with mild soap and water and a brush. Rinse.
- For mold and mildew, use a cleaner suited to your material, following the label; see fence mold cleaning.
- Use a pressure washer cautiously if at all. High pressure can damage soft wood and vinyl surfaces.
- Let everything dry fully, typically a day or more depending on weather.
Step 4: Repair structure first
Go from the ground up.
- Posts. Re-plumb or re-set loose ones, and replace decayed ones. See leaning fence post.
- Rails. Replace soft or cracked rails.
- Boards or panels. Replace damaged ones; see rotted fence boards.
- Metal. Treat rust by brushing and priming. Fence rust removal outlines the steps.
If a repair is larger than you can handle, put it on the list for a professional rather than improvising.
Step 5: The gate: hang, align, then hardware
A gate should be corrected in this order:
- Make sure the hinge post is firm.
- Tighten hinge screws and replace weak ones.
- Check that the gate is square, and brace it if necessary.
- Check the gap around the gate.
- Adjust the latch and keeper so the gate closes and latches without force.
If the gate has an automatic operator, only do owner-level tasks: clean tracks and sensors, check batteries and test the manual release. Leave internal work to a qualified technician.
Step 6: Lubricate and tighten
Now that everything is aligned, finish the mechanical work.
- Apply a suitable lubricant to hinges, latch pivots and rollers, then wipe off the excess.
- Tighten all screws, bolts and brackets. Replace rusted fasteners with corrosion-resistant ones; see corrosion-resistant hardware.
- Do not over-tighten into wood that has started to soften.
Step 7: Refinish
When the surface is clean, dry and repaired, protect it.
- Wood: apply stain or sealer if the surface no longer sheds water. A simple test is to sprinkle water on the surface; if it soaks in rather than beading, it is probably time, though products vary. Fence staining details the process.
- Metal: touch up primer and paint where needed.
- Vinyl and aluminum: usually only washing, though some owners touch up scratches.
Apply finishes within the temperature and dryness ranges on the label, and leave time for them to cure before closing gates against them or exposing them to rain.
Step 8: Test, record and plan
Open and close the gate, push on each repaired post and look over the cleaned fence. Then write down what you did, what you used and what to check next time. Photographs help.
Time and cost expectations
A basic round on a modest fence might take a weekend, mostly for cleaning and drying. Refinishing adds time. Costs vary widely by material, region and product, so budget by listing supplies instead of relying on a general number.
When the list is too long
If the inspection list is full of structural problems, widespread rot or repeat failures, repair may not be the efficient choice. See replacement signs for a way to weigh it up. And if any item on your list is a hazard, such as a failing panel or an unsafe automatic gate, deal with it first or make the area safe until it is fixed.