how to fix a falling timber fence?
Hi @freddu,
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.
In order for us to help to the best of our ability, we really need to see the fence and exactly what is causing it to fall.
Typically, a fence has three components; posts, rails and palings. The posts are installed in concrete and give a fence its strength, so they are likely a big part of the issue. The rails attach to and run between the posts. The palings then attach to the rails to finish off the visible face of the fence.
If your fence is falling over completely, it may mean the posts have rotted out, in which case they would likely need to be replaced. If they are simply leaning, then there may be ways to resecure them, but we would need to see it to be sure.
So, could I please ask you to upload some photos of your fence? If you need a hand, I can certainly assist with this if required.
In the meantime, you can check out these discussions that are about the same topic for some potential solutions -
Let me know what you think.
Jacob
Hi Jacob
Thanks for your quick reply!
See the photos attached.
The fence leaning to my side, I try to push back, but very hard to push straight up.
Other side fence keep leaning too, as neibough ground higher than my side
Regards
Fred Du
As fences are considered shared property, and it seems like the fence is leaning due to something happening on the opposite side, it's likely you're going to need to coordinate with your neighbour on this one.
For that fence to be leaning like that, but still be intact, it means the posts are leaning. We'd really need to see the posts to see what is happening here. Is there any way to get a photo of the posts? Particularly the base of the posts. Are they rotten? Is there concrete around the base? Any info we can get about those posts can help.
You also say that the ground is higher on your neighbour's side of the fence. Is there a retaining wall on their side of the fence? Is there soil pushing on the fence? We need to do some more investigation to really know what is going on.
I think there is a good chance the fence posts need to either be replaced, or reinforced. There could also be an issue with soil pushing on the fence which would need to be addressed using a retaining wall prior to any repairs to the fence.
With your neighbour's permission, can you grab a couple of pictures showing the posts and what is going on on the other side of the fence? They would definitely help.
Let me know how you go.
Hi, Jacob
I take PHOTOS from my neighbor side today, looks the post root are dameged, please look the photos attached, and give me your opinion.
Thanks for taking the time to get those extra photos. They tell the story quite clearly.
Unfortunately, once a timber fence leans more than just a little and can't simply be pushed back into position, it typically indicates that the posts have either rotted out at ground level or have shifted significantly in the soil.
From your latest photos, I can also see that the bottom rail has deteriorated quite badly. Combined with the amount of lean, this leads me to believe the fence posts have failed due to rot. Timber that has reached this stage of decay has generally come to the end of its serviceable life.
You've already gone to a significant amount of effort trying to stabilise the fence with props, but I don't think there's a practical repair that will restore it to a safe, long-lasting condition. At this stage, I'd be considering replacing the fence rather than trying to reinforce it. Once timber starts rotting and decaying, it's usually time for a new fence.
I'd recommend discussing the replacement with your neighbour, as it will likely need to be a joint project.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
