Fence repair or replace? How to tell.
A practical walk-around for deciding whether your fence wants a fix or a fresh start.
Start with the posts
Posts decide everything. Grab each post at chest height and give it a firm push. A sound post barely moves; a failing one rocks in the ground. Check the ground line especially — that is where Canterbury winter wet rots timber first. If one or two posts move but the rest are solid, you are looking at a repair. If most of them rock, patching is good money after bad and a replacement run is the honest answer.
Then look at rails and palings
Split rails, missing palings and boards soft to the touch are all fixable in isolation. A run where the rails are intact and straight can take new palings and look the business again. But rails that sag between posts, or palings rotten along the bottom edge for metres at a time, usually mean the structure underneath has gone — new boards on failed rails will not stay straight.
Don't forget the gate
Gates fail first because they move. A sagging gate that drags, a latch that never quite catches, hinges pulling out of soft timber — nearly all of it is repairable, and a rehung gate with decent hardware transforms how a fence feels. Mention the gate when you call; it is often the quickest win of the whole job.
The repair-or-replace rule of thumb
If the posts are sound and the damage is local — storm breakage, one rotten section, a tired gate — repair it. If the failures run the length of the fence, replace the run. When in doubt, call 027 819 0417 and we will give you a straight opinion on site. We would rather talk you out of work you do not need than sell you a fence that will not last — and if repair is right, our fencing service has you covered.