Fences are built to last. Typically, a well-installed and maintained metal fence can last almost fifty years. Wooden fences, which are more susceptible to various elements such as weather, can still last an average of 15 years, most getting up to the 20-year mark.
However, various factors such as age, rust, or rot can lead your fence, especially the fence posts, to need replacement.
Fence posts are a key structural element of fences. Therefore, when you observe breakage, rot, or any other defect on your fence post, you should be ready to repair or replace it.
Here’s what you need to know about fence posts repair and replacement and how to know if it’s time to have your fence checked.
Concrete, wood and steel are the most common choices for fence posts. Choosing the best for your fence installation requires weighing the pros and cons of each, primarily based on installation, durability, and long-term and short-term costs.
Due to their weight, concrete fence posts are often considered the most labor-intensive to install, repair, or replace. An extra pair of hands will be required for an efficient and safe job. Therefore, any work on them will likely take longer.
Wood is easier to install. It’s lighter than concrete and thus requires less effort to move the posts around. However, you’ll often find about two people helping to install, repair, or replace wooden fence posts for the best results.
Both of these materials require approximately 4-foot-deep post holes. Therefore, it’s recommended that you use a powered post hole digger or auger to make the task much easier.
Metal or steel fence posts are often the easiest to install. They’re lighter than concrete and wood and can be installed with a manual t-post driver, reducing installation costs.
Security and durability are crucial considerations when deciding on a post material. A fence post that is highly susceptible to wear and tear will not serve well in the long run. Also, fence posts that can get damaged easily pose a safety risk to your land and the livestock within the fencing.
Concrete fence posts are durable and can last about 20 years with minimal maintenance. However, excessive rain and wind can cause chips and cracks on concrete fence posts, leading to damage or instability.
Treated wood fence posts can last between 10-15 years, depending on the type of wood. Untreated wood fence posts often last under 5 years. Rotting, warping, and splitting are the most common damages on wood fence posts.
Metal or steel fence posts last the longest, up to 25 years, with minimal maintenance. These posts are not susceptible to splitting, rotting, warping, or cracking, and can withstand wind speeds up to 110mph when properly installed.
Pricing of fence posts should be looked at in more than just short-term costs. Cheaper fence posts, like wood, may be initially appealing but require more frequent repairs or replacement. More expensive options, such as steel fence posts, are often the most cost-effective in the long run.
On rural properties, a combination of two materials will likely be used to construct a sturdy and affordable fence. Wood or concrete is typical for corner and brace posts, while steel t-posts suffice in the middle of each row.
In most cases, your fence posts will need replacement or repair depending on various factors, such as weather and insect infestation. Most professionals advise regularly inspecting your fence posts for signs of damage or degradation, such as rot, rust, cracks, termites, or breakage.
Minor damages that don’t cover a large portion of the fence post, such as termite damage that covers less than 30%, are often handled by a simple repair job. Such fence posts are often still structurally sound.
However, extensive damage where the fence post can be easily pulled off the ground or is bent or broken will often need the replacement of the entire fence post. Attempting repairs on severely damaged fence posts will often cost more than replacing them.
With proper upkeep, most fences will last 20 to 50 years. At such an old age, it will only be natural that the fence posts will need replacement as part of an entire fence overhaul.
Before deciding whether you should repair or replace a damaged fence post, you should consider the following:
Most wood fence posts are fixed to the ground using concrete anchors. However, due to improper installation techniques, the posts may not be firmly secured to the ground, leading to potentially serious fence damage or failure.
Instead of using concrete post anchors for repair, you can use fence post spikes as an alternative. Wood fence posts fixed in fence post spikes are less likely to rot than wood-in-concrete posts.
Fence post spikes allow the placement and removal of fence posts without digging the large holes required in a concrete installation. A fence post anchor is generally more robust, easier to install, and lasts longer than a concreted post.
However, they’re often less stable since the tapered tip offers less torque. Moreover, they’re more susceptible to frost heaving, where the posts are pushed upwards and outwards by ice forming in the soil over winter.
Hammering staples into the wood post or adding 2×4 scraps at the bottom helps reduce heaving.
Installing a fence can be very expensive. You don’t want to repair or replace your fence often, which can further balloon the costs. Therefore, talk to a trusted fencing professional who’ll direct you to the best fencing solution for your needs.
A pressure treated fence post can generally last 10 to 25 years. Untreated cedar fence posts have decay protection because of their natural oils and compounds, but will usually last a few years less than their pressure treated counterparts. The actual number depends a lot on the environment and the conditions. Harsh weather and high moisture levels, for example, are tough on wood posts no matter what type they are.
Yes! Pro-Sleeves are a terrific way to extend the life of your wood fence. They’re heat-shrinkable sleeves with a meltable liner that protect wood posts from rot and decay around the vulnerable ground line area.
The weakest link in a wood fence is right where the post meets the ground. Rot isn’t usually a problem deeper down because there’s no oxygen to jump-start the chemical processes that cause decay. Above the ground line the fence is high and dry. Pro-Sleeves target the problem area.
We put the sleeves on the posts in our shop before they’re shipped to your address. They’re slipped onto the posts then the bituminous liner is melted with a heat gun to form a perfect ground line seal.
Yes! The sleeves come with a 20 year manufacturer’s warranty. It really is a simple and affordable way to add years to your wood fence. Ask your sales rep for details.
If you have more questions about posts or other subjects, we’re happy to answer them. Call 613-736-1122 or click the chat button on the right during business hours.