Choosing Between Fence Repair and Fence Replacement

Like many other high-value items or appliances you own, when damage or wear-and-tear takes place, your first question is often whether it’s more sensible and cost-effective to repair the item or replace it entirely. A good example here is a fence – fences can pick up a variety of nicks and stress over the course of many years due to their exposure to the elements, and while some of these can be repaired for a relatively low cost and hassle, others might dictate replacing the entire fence.

At Utah Fence Warehouse, we’re a fence supplier who keeps your needs in mind here. We offer a wide variety of vinyl fencing, wood fencing and numerous other materials for when your home or property requires a new fence, but we’ll never push this on you in cases where minor repairs are all you need to maintain your current one. Let’s go over the kinds of issues that can sometimes be repaired, plus some others that may dictate replacement.

Common Issues That Can Be Repaired

Here are some common issues that can generally be handled by basic repairs, broken down by a few of the most common fencing material types:

• Vinyl fences: Vinyl is very low-maintenance, but small areas of damage can occur, particularly during the winter when heavy snowfall might build up on them. They can also be hit by a vehicle, a tree branch or some other larger debris. Finally, they may crack from time to time. All these issues can generally be repaired in their area while leaving the rest of the fence intact.
• Wood fences: Wood can wear down over time due to moisture, insects and other realities of the environment. They may also discolor, warp or splinter. In cases where these issues are relatively small, they can be repaired – though replacement is often necessary if they become widespread and severe.
• Aluminum fences: One common issue with aluminum fences is shifting soil that loosens fence posts, which can usually be repaired using some backfill and either soil or gravel.

Issues Requiring Replacement

On the flip side, here are a few situations that generally indicate it’s time to replace the fence:

• 20% rule: Generally speaking, if damage or other issues are forcing you to repair more than 20% of the fence’s panels or pickets, it’s more cost-effective in the long run to simply replace the entire thing.
• Post concerns: Repairing fence posts is more expensive than replacing pickets or panels due to the need for digging out of the ground. If you have major post issues, you might want to overhaul the whole fence.
• Age: Simply put, some older fences will have reached the end of their lifespan and may not even have replacement parts available from the manufacturer. This means it’s time to replace the fence.
• Personal need: In other cases, it won’t be damage or wear that necessitates fence replacement – it will be your needs, such as better privacy, more height or some other specific function.

For more on whether to repair or replace your fence, or to learn about any of our fencing contractor services, speak to the staff at Utah Fence Warehouse today.