Sunrays, rains, winds, and frost bring about drastic damage to the wooden fences. Wood is pretty vulnerable to the natural forces that we witness every day. Of all the various reasons that contribute to the damage of wooden fences, rotting tops the all. And at some point, it is expected of us to restore the shabby, blemished wooden fence into a fine, eye-catching fence once again.
Redoing the fencing with pressure-treated lumber is a way to do away with the rotted fence, but it might be very expensive at times. Because it is saturated with preservatives, this option is not too budget-friendly. So, what’s the alternative? Well, if you are wondering how to repair wooden fence rails, then we have got you covered with the solutions.
Step-by-step guide on how to repair wooden fence rails
1) Repairing round, post, and rail wooden fence
Fence posts often break at the point where there is maximum pressure. Once that happens, the adjacent fences also start falling apart. Mentioned below is a step-by-step guide on repairing a round-post and rail fence.
- First of all, you need to dig the flat end of the rail deeper into the existing hole. Make sure you do it as deeply as you can.
- Hold the sharp end against the point that you want to insert it.
- Keep a mark on where the post strikes the pointed edge. It is but the portion that needs to be cut off.
- Use a coping saw to reach the pointed end that you’ve marked in the previous step.
- Now slip the cut end into the hole at the post.
- Place a rail between the two posts.
- Make sure that two posts of equal lengths are facing each other in both of the corresponding posts.
Surprisingly, this simple process should not take you more than 15 minutes to be executed. Also, while digging for the posts, you might choose to cement the edges to ensure that the posts stay intact despite reasonable pressure and undue natural conditions.
2) Repairing the slumpy gate of the wooden fence
The fence gate is an indispensable part of the rail fencing. But with time, the gate loses its durability too. The fasteners may begin to lose, and the gate’s hinges might even weaken. Due to this condition, the gate may fall apart or might just become troublesome while opening or closing.
- To tackle this issue, you simply have to lift it and settle it using a ready-to-go fixing kit.
- Metal brace kits help in fixing the gates by lifting the corners, avoiding the chances of damage due to dragging.
- Besides, using a metal brace also ensures consistent gapping all across the gate so that it doesn’t end up sagging.
A high-quality metal-braced gate determines how tightly the entire fencing is held, hence, directly adding brownie points to the latter’s lifespan.
3) Sealing the fence while fixing it
Sealing the fence is a part and parcel of the repairing process. While you are seeking an answer on how to repair wooden fence rails, the method of sealing should be fairly considered.
- To knock moisture out of the scene, use fence stain and a quality varnish/ sealant. Wood sealant has various advantages to the fencing. It protects the wood from UV Rays, excess moisture, rotting, and drying out sooner than the expected time.
- Before affixing the fence stain, you need to wash the entire fence properly.
- A stain that can be sprayed on appeals better to the eyes. Hence, it would be preferred over other ones.
- Make sure that the surrounding areas are well-protected.
- To do away with the sprays and cleansing products, keep some strong cleaning products handy.
4) How to repair wooden fence rails with rotten post
The need for post replacement or repairing arises primarily due to rotting. Wooden fences mainly rot at the level of the ground where they are in contact with concrete and dirt. To repair the fence post, begin with detaching pickets and rails from the fence. If they are affixed firmly in the concrete, then you might have to use a mender to make it work.
- Shake all the posts to make out which one needs fixing.
- Select the material that you would want to continue the fencing with. It is most preferred to go with a pressure-tested lumbar since it works appreciably well against the elements that threaten the wood fence.
- Use a post hole digger to make spaces for new posts. If you’ve got a bigger area then you can go with a shovel or even a power driller.
- Most importantly, fill the hole with gravel up to almost 2 inches (5.08 cm). It is aimed at protecting from rotting.
- Now place the post in and make sure it is put straight. You can even use a level to ensure the same. Brace the base with nails to keep it intact.
- Mix the concrete well and fill it inside the post hole up to the top-level. Knock out the air bubbles on the top by stirring it with a stick for a while.
5) Fixing the slats
While we are repairing the wooden fence rails, the slats must be given special attention. It’s important to make sure that the slats are fixed steady and are providing overall support to the fence. Follow these simple steps to do the same:
- Using a crowbar, discard the damaged slats.
- Cut new slats using a cutting tool. Measure it according to the length of the post.
- Affix the boards to the top and bottom of the rail. Also, the space between each of the boards shall comply with the width of the board.
Keeping in view all the various components of the fence and using the right equipment, you can easily restore the charm of your lawns or outdoor spaces. And now that you know all the major componential information on how to repair wooden fence rails, you should be able to get the much-delayed must-do in very less time. That too, with minimum effort and in a pocket-friendly manner.
