CRF Services Ltd

Fence repair after storms, rot and leaning posts

A fence repair fixes the part of a boundary that has failed while keeping the rest of it standing. CRF Services Ltd repairs garden fences around Rochester and Medway: panels blown out by wind, posts leaning or snapped at the ground, rails split on closeboard fences and gravel boards rotted through. This page is about putting an existing fence right. A brand new boundary is covered on the [fencing](/services/fencing) page.

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Working out what actually broke

Most fences fail at the posts. A timber post sits in wet ground for years and rots just below the surface, so the fence looks fine until a strong gust pushes the whole section over. Concrete posts rarely rot but can crack or loosen in a shallow footing. Panels themselves fail when the slats split, the frame comes apart or the clips holding them to the posts rust through.

The first part of any repair is checking along the run. Push each post firmly. If one moves, its neighbours often follow within a season or two, and it is worth knowing that before deciding how much to fix.

Common fence repairs

The repair depends on the type of fence. Panel fences in slotted concrete posts are the simplest, as a damaged panel lifts out and a new one drops in. Timber posted panel fences need the panel unscrewed and refixed. Closeboard fences, built on site from rails and featheredge boards, can be repaired a board or a rail at a time.

Fence panel replacement in an existing run
Leaning posts straightened and reset, or replaced
Snapped timber posts repaired with a new post set in fresh concrete
Split arris rails on closeboard fences replaced or braced
Loose or missing featheredge boards refixed
Rotten gravel boards swapped so panels stop sitting in the soil

Fence panel replacement

Panels are sold in standard widths, but older fences were not always built to them, and a new panel may need trimming or packing to fit. Matching the style of the neighbouring panels matters if only one or two are going in. Where the posts are concrete and sound, swapping panels is quick. Where they are timber and soft, putting new panels on old posts usually means a second call out later. The fence panel replacement cost guide and the fence post replacement guide cover those two jobs in more detail.

After a storm

When a fence comes down in high wind, the first job is making it safe: laying flat any panels that are flapping, and propping or removing anything leaning over a path or a neighbour's garden. Take photos before anything is moved if you plan to claim on insurance, as most insurers want to see the damage. Many people search for an emergency fence repair near me after a storm, but CRF is one tradesman and cannot promise a set response time. Storms bring a lot of calls at once, and repairs are booked in the order they come, with the details sorted by phone.

Panels that are still intact can often be refitted on new posts, which keeps the cost down.

Repair or replace the whole run?

Repairing makes sense when the fault is local: one post, one panel, a few boards. When most of the posts are soft, the panels are grey and brittle, or the fence has been patched several times, replacing the run is usually better value over the next few years. The fence installation cost guide explains what goes into a full replacement so you can compare. Both options are set out in the quote, with an honest view on which suits your fence.

Shared boundaries and gates

Fences often sit on a boundary shared with a neighbour, so it is worth a quick conversation before work starts, especially if posts need digging out from their side. A gate in the same run that has dropped can be sorted on the same visit; the gate repair guide explains why gates sag. To book, send photos of the damage and a rough length of the affected section through the contact page.

Local fencing pages cover Gravesend and Sittingbourne.

This work is part of our Landscaping service.

Common questions