Free tool

Repair or replace your fence?

9 plain questions about the posts, panels, gate and any wind damage. The result says whether a targeted repair is likely enough, what it means and what to do next. Nothing is sent anywhere.

9 questionsAnswered by looking from the yard
4 resultsFrom targeted repair to secure it now
Fixed rulesThe same answers always give the same result

Answer the questions

1. What is the fence made of?
2. Roughly how old is it?
3. How many posts lean or are broken?

Judge it by eye from the yard. A post that leans usually tips the panels on both sides of it.

4. How much of the panels, boards or fabric is damaged?

Broken, missing, cracked or badly warped boards, pickets, vinyl panels or chain link fabric.

5. Do you see rot, rust or termite signs where the posts meet the ground?

Answer from what you can see. Rot looks dark, soft or crumbling at the ground line; metal shows rust at the base; termites leave mud tubes or small pellets. There is no need to dig, pry or pull on anything.

6. How does the gate work?
7. Has wind damaged it?
8. Does the fence still do what you need?
9. Is it shared with a neighbor?

0 of 9 answered

Your result

Answer the 9 questions and your result appears here. Nothing is sent anywhere, and every question can be answered from the yard by looking.

How the result is decided

The rules run in a fixed order, and the first one that matches decides. The result lists the answers that decided it.

If you saidThe result
A section down, or leaning over a walkway, driveway, pool area or a neighbor's yardSecure it now. Keep clear until the wind drops. This outranks every other answer.
Many posts leaning or broken, rot at many posts, or half the panels damagedReplacement likely.
The fence no longer meets your height, privacy, HOA or pool barrier needsReplacement likely, even if it is in fair shape.
Two of these: three or more leaning posts in one stretch, about a quarter of the panels damaged, termite signs, a section leaning after wind (an age over 20 years counts as one when another is present)Replacement likely.
One of thoseRepair now, plan replacement.
One or two leaning posts, rot at one or two posts, a sagging gate or a loose panelTargeted repair likely.
None of the aboveTargeted repair likely, with little or nothing to repair.

Why posts decide most of it

Posts carry each panel's wind load into the ground and are the only part of most fences in soil. A fence usually fails at the posts while the boards above still look fine.

In Oxnard's loose, sandy ground a post gets its grip from the depth and size of its footing, so a few leaning posts after a windy season are worth fixing before they spread.

What it cannot tell you

It cannot see inside a post, below the ground or into a footing, so it cannot say how far rot goes. A site visit answers that. It does not say a fence is safe or predict what an insurer will decide.

If a section is down after wind, keep people and pets clear until the wind drops, and stay well back from any power line. More reading: posts in sandy soil, fixing a sagging gate and wind damage and insurance. Next: estimate a new fence.

Talk through your result

Send your result and a few photos of the fence. Your assessment result is added to the request.

Call (805) 909-4556
Rancho Oxnard Fence
300 E Esplanade Dr, Oxnard, CA 93036
office@ranchooxnardfence.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 2 PM
Outside these hours, emergency calls only

A photo of the old fence, or of the yard where the new one goes, helps.

Step 1 of 2

The property and the work
Call (805) 909-4556Get an Estimate