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Aluminum and wrought iron fence repair
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1Rotted or broken pickets
Wood pickets fail first at the bottom, where they sit against wet soil or mulch through Ohio's freeze-thaw months, and storms snap the boards that are already soft. Swapping individual pickets is routine when the posts and rails behind them are sound. New boards look brighter until they weather or are stained to match. If the rails are soft too, or most of the run is failing, replacing the section usually makes more sense, and Matt will tell you which.
Have ready: A photo of the damaged boards, roughly how many, the fence height and the picket style (dog-ear, flat top, shadowbox).
2Leaning post
A post leans when frost heave and wet clay loosen its footing, or when a wood post rots at the ground line. If the post itself is solid, it can usually be dug out, set plumb and reset, and the panels on both sides come back true. If it is rotted, snapped or the concrete footing has cracked, that one post is replaced and the fence around it usually stays.
Have ready: A wide photo of the run and a close photo of the base, the fence material, and how many posts lean.
3Cracked vinyl panel
Vinyl stiffens in the cold, so a stone from the mower, a falling limb or a hard knock in January can crack a board or rail. A crack will not close up and it lets the panel flex, but vinyl is built in parts: the cracked board, rail or single panel is replaced on its own, and the posts on either side stay. The catch is matching, because vinyl profiles and colors vary by brand and age, and older white vinyl may have yellowed.
Have ready: A close photo of the crack, a wide photo of the whole panel, the panel height and color, and the brand if you know it.
4Sagging gate
Gates sag when the hinge post leans, when hinges and screws work loose, or when the frame racks out of square under its own weight. The usual fix is tightening or replacing the hinges, squaring the frame with a brace or an anti-sag kit, resetting the hinge post if it has moved, and then adjusting the latch so it catches again. The hinge post carries the gate, so it gets checked first.
Have ready: Photos of the gate closed from both sides, its width and material, and whether it drags or will not latch.
5Loose rail or missing caps
Aluminum rails sit in brackets or post holes held with screws that can loosen as the ground moves through winter, and post caps work loose and blow off with temperature swings. Re-fastening a rail or replacing caps is usually quick work, but a loose rail can also mean the post under it has shifted, so the posts get checked before the job is called done. Replace missing caps soon, because an open post lets water in and it freezes there.
Have ready: A photo, the fence material, and how many rails or caps are loose or missing.
6Bent chain-link top rail
Chain-link top rail comes in lengths that sleeve into each other, so a length bent by a falling branch or a vehicle can usually be cut out and replaced, then the mesh is pulled tight and tied back on. If the line posts bent with it or the mesh is torn, those parts are replaced too. Galvanized and black coated rail come in standard sizes, so a match is usually straightforward.
Have ready: A photo of the bend, roughly how long the damaged stretch is, the fence height, and whether the mesh is torn.
Verdicts
How a repair goes
FAQ
It depends on how the section is built and how badly the picket is bent. Some can be straightened, and some are replaced. Send Matt a photo and he will tell you which.
Matching depends on the style and the age of the fence, so photos of the section and any label or maker name you can find help.
Surface rust caught early can be cleaned and the metal repainted, which is a reasonable DIY job. Rust that has eaten through a weld or the bottom of a picket is a repair or a replacement, and it is worth a photo before it spreads.
For a chipped finish or a missing cap, touch-up paint and a new cap are fair DIY fixes, and worth doing before water gets in. They will not straighten a bent picket, tighten a loose rail on a post that has moved or rehang a dropped gate. If you are unsure, send a photo and we will tell you.
Yes. See gate installation and repair, or what a repair costs in our fence repair cost guide.
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