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Ready-Mix Concrete To Repair Your Failing Fence Posts

When the fence around your yard begins to fail, you don't have to give up on it and replace it. Instead of ripping out and replacing fences that appear to be falling over, you can make a few repairs to give the fence a few more years before it needs to be replaced. Failing fence posts can be repaired with a little concrete, time and know-how.

Repair Underground Post Failure

This is a common problem with wooden fencing. Over the years, the wood underneath the soil rots due to excessive moisture and lack of sun exposure. The moisture is absorbed by the wood and the sun cannot dry the moisture before the rot begins to occur.

The supplies needed for this repair include:

  • 2x4 boards to support the fence as you make the repair
  • Sledgehammer and chisel to break up the concrete footer
  • Ready-mix concrete and something to mix it in
  • Handsaw
  • Hammer
  • Shovel
  • Gravel
  • Nails
  • Replacement posts to cut into pieces to replace the rotted sections
  • Long bolt that extends through two layers of fence post wood
  • Drill and bit the size of the bolts you have selected

Step 1: Start by nailing 2x4 boards to the area of fencing that you are working on. Angle the boards so that they support the fence and drive nails into the post that you are working on.  These supports will keep the fence upright as you work.

Step 2: Dig the dirt out from around the fence post that is failing. Use the sledgehammer to break up the concrete footer. If you can't get to it with the sledgehammer, use a chisel and your hammer to break it apart into smaller pieces.

Step 3: Use the handsaw to cut the damaged section of the post. Cut the replacement post to be 1-foot longer than the post section that you have removed.

Step 4: Position the new section of post on the side of the old post, drill a hole through the old and new posts and install the bolt.

Step 5: Fill the hole with a few inches of gravel and then pour the concrete into the hole to create an 8-inch footer.

Step 6: Let the footer dry for a day or two before covering it with soil. If you are expecting rain while the concrete is curing, cover the hole with plastic.

Note: When your fence gate begins to fail, it could be due to post failure. If this is the case, use the same process as above to replace the posts that support the gate. Contact a business, such as R Pepin & Sons Inc, for more information. 


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