Is It Time to Replace Your Old Fence?

There comes a time in any fence’s life when it needs to be replaced. When the odd patch job or repairs are no longer going to cut it—but what are the signs that indicate that you need a replacement fence instead of just fence repairs?

When a New Fence is Better than a Repaired One

Most fences have a lifespan of between twenty and fifty years. How long a fence lasts depends on the materials it was made out of and whether or not proper maintenance is done.

A wooden fence, for example, is extremely sturdy and will last a long time. That is if maintained properly. It needs to be stripped down and resealed every couple of years or so to protect it from the elements. If left to its own devices, the wood will become weather-worn and start to rot much faster.
Which is all good and well, but how do you know that it’s time for a replacement?

Check the Overall Condition of the Fence

If it’s just one board or panel that needs to be replaced, that’s done easily enough. If, on the other hand, you have to replace more than a fifth of the fence, it’s time to start looking at starting from scratch again.

Have a good look at your fence and check for the following:

• Holes or cracks: These are a sign that the fence is starting to wear out if they’re on multiple panels.
• Signs of rot: Once a wooden fence starts to rot, it’s only a matter of time before the whole thing is rotten. You can’t root out the rot once it has set in.
• Sagging: This could indicate that the fence posts need to be redone. Post replacement is a big job in itself, and it might be more cost-effective to replace the whole thing.
• Lack of stability: The idea of having a fence is to keep things in or out. If your fence is getting rickety, it’s not going to do a great job of either.
• The age of the fence: Is your fence older than you are? Then it might be time to put it out to pasture and get a newer model.

Replacement If Your Needs Have Changed

We tend to think of fencing in terms of whether damage present can be repaired, but a fence might need to be replaced even if it isn’t damaged if your needs have changed.

Here are some situations where this might be the case:

• You need more security or privacy: Perhaps there has been more crime in the area, or you’re sick of people being able to look into your yard. Either way, you’ll want to look at a new fence.
• You’ve got a dog that’s an escape artist: Some dogs go their whole lives without wanting to leave the yard. Others love escaping to see what’s on the other side. If you need to keep your pooches in, it might be wise to consider a different type of fence.
• To improve the curb appeal of your home: If you’ve spruced up the outside of your house, an old, outdated fence style could be letting you down.