Fence panel replacement cost, and repair versus replace

Work out what has actually failed

Push the post firmly at shoulder height. If it moves at the base, the post is the problem. If the post is solid and only the boards have broken, a panel swap is all you need.

Concrete posts almost never rot, which is why a run with concrete posts and timber panels is the cheapest fence to maintain over twenty years.

Panels, posts and gravel boards

Prices vary mainly by panel type and post material.

• Waney lap panels are the cheapest and the shortest lived
• Feather edge closeboard costs more and lasts considerably longer
• Concrete posts cost more to install but outlast timber several times over
• A gravel board keeps panel timber out of wet soil and is always worth adding

Check the boundary before anything comes down

Ownership of a boundary is not always where people assume, and taking down a fence that belongs to next door creates an argument that no amount of good workmanship fixes. A quick look at your deeds plan, and a word with the neighbour, sorts it out beforehand.

It is also good manners to mention the work if access to their side is needed to fit panels or dig out an old post.

Repair or replace the whole run?

If one or two bays have failed and the rest of the posts are firm, repairing those bays is the sensible choice. If most posts move at the base, the panels are splitting along the run, or the fence has leaned for years, patching bay by bay usually costs more over time than one planned replacement.

A mixed approach often works well: replace the failed posts with concrete ones, reuse any panels still in good order and add gravel boards, so the whole run lasts longer without paying for everything new.

What to tell a fencer when asking for a price

The quickest way to an accurate fence repair price is a few clear photographs: one of the whole run, one close up of each failed post at ground level and one showing how the garden is reached. Add a rough length of the run and say whether the posts are timber or concrete. That is usually enough to tell whether the job is a simple panel swap or a post replacement, and whether a visit is needed before quoting.

Say too whether you want the old panels taken away or kept, and whether the neighbour has agreed to any access that will be needed on their side.

Old concrete is the hidden cost

Digging out a large lump of old concrete around a failed post can take longer than fitting the new post. Where the old footing is sound and correctly positioned, a repair spur can sometimes be used instead, which is quicker and cheaper.

Getting a fence repair or replacement estimate

The quickest way to an accurate estimate is a few photographs: the whole run of fence, close ups of any leaning posts or broken panels, and the access route from the road to the garden. Say how many panels are affected, whether the posts move when pushed, and whether the fence is shared with a neighbour. That is usually enough to tell whether the job is a repair or a replacement before anyone visits.

If the gate in the same run is sagging or will not latch, mention it at the same time. The gate repair guide explains what usually causes that, and it is far easier to sort the gate during the same visit as the fence.

Need it sorted? Book a fence repair. For a whole new run, see the fence installation cost guide.

Frequently asked questions

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