Repair or Replace?
Most fence repair calls in Tacoma come down to the same question, and the honest answer is not always the one that bills more. If the posts are sound and a windstorm took out a section, repair is straightforward and worth doing. If the posts have rotted at grade along the whole run, patching one section buys you a year before the next section goes.
The test we use on site is simple: push on the posts. Sound posts with damaged boards is a repair. Soft, moving posts across multiple bays is a replacement conversation, and we would rather have it honestly up front than do work you will pay for twice.
We repair fences we did not build. A large share of our repair work is on fences installed by someone else, and we will not lecture you about it — we will just tell you what it needs.
Repairs We Handle
Leaning & Failed Posts
The most common repair in the South Sound. Wood posts rot at the soil line and the fence starts to lean. We reset or replace the affected posts, and can convert to steel posts so the same failure does not repeat.
Storm & Wind Damage
Blown-down sections, snapped rails, and trees or branches through the fence line. We can secure an opening quickly and complete permanent repair after — useful when the fence is what is containing a dog.
Rotted Boards & Rails
Bottom boards wicking moisture from soil contact, or rails that have given out under the weight of the pickets. Board replacement is inexpensive relative to a full rebuild when the structure behind them is still good.
Sagging & Dragging Gates
Gates fail before fences do — they carry their own weight on two hinges and get used daily. Usually solved with proper bracing, a gate wheel, or rehanging on a correctly set post rather than replacing the gate.
What We Look At During a Repair Assessment
Post condition at grade
We probe the posts at the soil line, which is where wood fails here. This single check usually determines whether you are looking at a repair or a replacement.
How much of the run is affected
Two bad posts in a 120-foot fence is a repair. Twelve bad posts is a fence at the end of its life, and spending on patches is money you will spend again next year.
Drainage and grade
If a section keeps failing, the cause is usually water. Where downspouts discharge, where the ground slopes toward the fence, and where soil has built up against the boards all matter more than the wood itself.
Matching existing material
Weathered cedar does not match new cedar, and we will tell you where a repair will be visible. Sometimes the right answer is replacing a full elevation rather than patching a conspicuous section.
Repair Work
Fence repair in Tacoma
Failing fence before replacement
Chain link fence repair
Rebuilt residential fence line
South Sound Fencing crew at work
Wood fence in PNW rain
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I repair or replace my fence?
It depends almost entirely on the posts. Sound posts with damaged boards or rails is a repair worth doing. Posts that are soft at the soil line across multiple sections means the fence is at end of life, and repairs will keep recurring. We assess this free on site.
How much does fence repair cost in Tacoma?
Repairs are priced by scope rather than per foot — resetting a few posts is a very different job from rebuilding an elevation. We give a written estimate after seeing the fence, and we will tell you if replacement is the better value.
Can you fix a leaning fence without replacing it?
Often yes. If the lean comes from a small number of failed posts and the rest of the structure is sound, resetting or replacing those posts corrects the run. Converting to steel posts at the same time prevents a repeat.
Do you handle storm-damaged fences?
Yes, and it is a significant part of our winter work. We can secure a downed section quickly when you need the yard contained, then complete permanent repair on schedule. Our storm damage guide covers what to document for insurance.
Will you repair a fence you did not install?
Yes. Most of our repair work is on fences built by others. We assess what is there and quote the work it actually needs.
My gate drags on the ground. Is that a whole new gate?
Usually not. Dragging gates are typically a hinge post that has shifted or a gate frame that has racked out of square. Bracing, rehanging, or adding a gate wheel solves most of them for far less than a replacement.
Get a Fence Repair Estimate
Free on-site assessment across Tacoma, Pierce County, and South King County.
- Honest repair-or-replace assessment
- Leaning posts, storm damage, and rot
- Gate rehanging and hardware
- We repair fences we did not build
- Free written estimate, no obligation
What Happens Next
Licensed & Insured • Local Team • Schedule-Friendly Installs
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