Fence repair and gate service
Wind, sun, sprinklers and age wear every fence down. Here's how to tell whether yours needs a fix, a new gate or replacement.
Repair calls around Twin Falls tend to bunch up after a big windstorm and when the snow melts. Vinyl panels pull out of their rails, wood fences lean where posts rotted at the soil line, gates that closed fine in the fall start dragging, and a stretch of fence on a corner lot gets clipped by a car or a snowplow. Some of it is a quick fix. Some of it means the fence is at the end of its life.
What usually fails?
- Wind. Solid panels catch gusts, pull loose from posts or snap posts at the footing.
- Short posts. Posts set shallow, sometimes because a hole hit rock, loosen and lean first.
- Rot at the soil line. Wood posts decay just below grade, especially where lawn sprinklers hit them daily.
- Sagging gates. An undersized hinge post or a gate with no brace or metal frame.
- Impacts. Cars, trailers, snow removal and the occasional loose cow.
Repair or replace?
| Situation | Usually |
|---|---|
| A few loose vinyl panels or rails | Repair: reset or swap parts |
| One or two leaning posts | Repair: reset or replace those posts |
| Most wood posts rotted along the run | Replace the fence |
| Gate dragging or not latching | Rehang, brace or reset the hinge post |
| Discontinued vinyl style, many broken parts | Replace the section or the whole fence |
How do you fix a sagging gate for good?
The hinge post carries the whole gate, so it should be heavier and set deeper than the line posts. A wood gate needs a diagonal brace running from the bottom hinge corner up toward the latch side, or a steel frame. Wide double gates for an RV, boat or trailer need a drop rod so they don't swing in the wind. Think about winter, too: a gate that opens toward the driveway can be trapped behind a pile of plowed snow.
After a windstorm
Take photos before anything is moved, especially if you plan to file an insurance claim. Keep people and pets away from loose panels. When the contractor comes out, ask them to check posts and footings, not only the panels, since that's usually where the failure began.
A fence is priced after the contractor walks the line, checks the digging, counts gates, corners and grade changes, and hears what the fence has to do. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone before someone has seen the property is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Will homeowners insurance pay for a wind-damaged fence?
That depends on your policy and deductible. Photograph the damage and call your insurer before the fence is torn out.
Can you match my existing vinyl fence?
Often, if the manufacturer still makes the style and color. If not, replacing a full section can look more consistent.
Related services
More background: Twin Falls fence guide.
Fence flattened by a west wind, or a new backyard with nothing around it?
Call the number above and a Magic Valley fence contractor will set a time to see the job and quote it directly.