Installing a fence on your commercial or residential property serves many great purposes. From keeping out trespassers to defining the boundary of the property and from improving privacy to keeping your pets and children safe, the fence is a great way to enhance the curb appeal of your property. However, many property owners need to pay more attention to the regular upkeep of these fence posts, resulting in broken and damaged posts over time. This not only decreases the property value but also kills their primary purpose of providing a physical barrier.  If this is the case and you want to learn if you can fix the issue yourself, the answer is yes. In this post below, we will walk you through a few common causes and signs for broken fence posts. We will also learn how you can quickly fix fence posts following a few simple instructions. So, if you are interested, keep on reading.  4 Key Causes and Signs of Fence Post Damage Before you even start fixing the broken and warped fence post, it is essential to understand the signs of the damage and the specific type of damage you are fixing. Knowing this will help you find the best solution. Plus, you will be able to determine whether the issue can be fixed with a simple repair, or you will have to go for a complete post replacement.  Property owners often need help to tell the difference between the issues that can be easily repaired and the fence problems that require complete replacement. Due to extreme environmental and weather conditions in Ontario, fence posts are vulnerable to a number of damages. The most common ones include leaning posts, corrosion, rotting, and cracking and splitting fences. Let’s understand the causes and signs of fence post damage in detail.  1. Corrosion Corrosion usually happens when metal posts are exposed to environmental elements such as moisture and oxygen. The chemical reaction between the metal and the oxygen in the air, when exposed to moisture, results in oxidation, leading to rusting. Whether you have a sprinkler system directed towards the base of the post or the soil is wet all the time, it can cause the metal to deteriorate.  Hence, this weakens the metal structure over time, and the fence loses its stability. In this case, you should remove the rust using a wire brush and apply rust-resistant primer and paint afterward. Moreover, applying rust inhibitor or sealant on the defective areas can also resist corrosion and increase the lifespan of your fence post.  2. Rotting Wood In Ontario, rotting wood is one of the primary causes of damaged and broken fence posts. It usually happens in wooden fence posts, which makes the wood soft, spongy, crumbly, and discolored. Since wooden posts are buried in the soil, prolonged exposure to moisture in the base area promotes bacteria and fungi growth. These microorganisms then feed on the wood fibers and cause them to break, leading to decay and rotting in the posts.  Read more about Can A Rotten Fence Post Be Repaired In Ontario? The good news is that even the rotting wood can be saved with a few necessary repairs. However, it is important to know that if the rot damage is below 30%, you can repair it. To do so, you can use a repair kit or use pressure-treated wood with preservatives to avoid rotting. If the rotting has taken over the entire fence, it is best to replace it before it gets to other posts.  3. Leaning Fences If the post is wobbly when you share it, that’s when you know the wood has started to decay from the base. If you notice any leaning fences, know that the base of the post has been compromised. This usually happens due to excessive moisture accumulating in the area, resulting in unstable and unsound posts. Leaning fence posts can be a result of shifting soil, poor fence installation, and extreme weather conditions like heavy rain and strong winds.  These issues can cause fence posts to weaken and lean, resulting in an unstable base. To fix fence, you can use steel braces to secure the base or reinforce it with concrete. If the damage is beyond simple fixing, replacing the fences with a new one is the right solution. 4. Cracking and Splitting Lastly, the visible cracking and splitting of the wooden fence post is a clear indication of damaged fence posts. This typically happens due to the temperature changes and humidity, leading to the contraction and expansion of the wood fibers of the fence posts. In Ontario, where fluctuating weather is one of the biggest concerns, cracks can damage your fences, reducing the structural integrity of the entire post.  Fortunately, you can repair small cracks using a wood filler and apply sealant or wood stain to prevent the moisture from damaging the wood further. Additionally, placing caps on the fence ensures moisture does not seep into the wood, minimizing the chance of wood splitting. However, if the damage cannot be fixed with a wood filler and a cap, you must replace the damaged fence post with a new one.  Step-by-Step Process of Fixing a Broken Fence Post Now that you are aware of the causes and signs of the damage, you will be able to fix the broken fence post more efficiently. To help you do that, here is a step-by-step guide to repair the damaged fence post. Follow these steps, and you will be able to get the job done like a pro: 1. Evaluate the Damage First things first, every fixing project starts with evaluating the damage. In most cases, minor repairs and wood filling can fix fence posts. So, you need to check if the breaks are minor and can be fixed easily. If there is significant rot and damage, you will need to upgrade the fences.   2. Gather Materials and Tools After making sure you can repair the damage yourself, you must gather all the…
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A fencepost acts like a security net for the rest of your fence. This means keeping it in its best condition is essential to maintain the overall look and health of the post. So, if you notice any signs of damage in the post or a rotten fence post, like rush, discoloration, and soft wood, you must repair or replace it immediately. Ontario is known for its fluctuating weather and extreme conditions. This means humid summer and freezing winter can take a toll on your fence post, which often results in rotting and decay. Therefore, repairing the damaged section before further deterioration can save you a lot of money and worry. Below, we have mentioned how you can repair the rotten fence post. So, let’s dive in. 5 Main Causes of Fence Post Rotten Numerous causes can lead to the rotting and decay of fence posts. While moisture is always the primary culprit, knowing what the other causes are will help you prevent rotting.  Here are a few common causes of fence post rot in Ontario.  1. Moisture Exposure One of the biggest threats to wood fence posts is exposure to damp conditions. When the wood post is in direct contact with the wet soil for a longer period, it creates an ideal condition for fungi and bacteria to grow. These bacteria and fungi can slowly east away your wooden post, leading it to decay and rotting. This type of rotting usually starts with the installation process, where damp soil is often overlooked. So, to prevent that from happening, make sure to reinforce fence posts with cement so that it stays protected for years.  Read more about Is It Worth Staining An Old Fence? 2. Poor Drainage Inadequate drainage is another leading cause for fence posts to rot, particularly wooden posts. This is because when excessive water accumulates in the soil around the post due to poor drainage, it leads to rotten fence posts. The constant damp environment creates perfect growing conditions for fungi to grow. Over time, these bacteria eat the structure and weaken it, promoting rot. To treat this, make sure to replace the rotten post with new and rot-resistant ones made of metal or pressure-treated wood. Also, gravel should be installed around the post base to improve drainage in that area.  3. Insect Damage Pests and insects are often the primary culprits of rotten fence posts. Pests and insects like termites, carpenter ants, and wood boring beetles can create galleries and tunnels within the wood. These holes can allow moisture to penetrate deep into the wood fence and cause rot-causing fungi, which damage the fence post to the point of no return. In such cases, the only solution is to repair or replace the damaged fence altogether.  4. Excessive Rainfall Ontario receives a lot of rainfall and has broken records in the past few years. Houses in areas that experience excessive rainfall often have to deal with rotten fence posts. This is because regular and heavy rain can saturate the ground, causing prolonged exposure to moisture. If not treated properly on time, fence posts, significantly wooden posts, can absorb water and cause wood to decay from the ground level. To prevent this from happening, make sure to apply wood preservatives to extend the lifespan of the fence post.  5. Sprinkler Systems Most of the time, excessive moisture is the leading cause of a rotten fence post. The sprinkler system plays a massive role in keeping soil and wood wet all the time, especially when the target is mostly the base of the fence post. This, as a result, allows the wood fence post to decay or rot over time. To prevent this from happening, you simply need to adjust the head of the sprinkler and move it away from the base of the post. You can also install splash guards to ensure minimum moisture exposure at the post area.  5 Key Signs of a Fence Post Rotten While knowing the causes can help you treat the rotten fence post, identifying early signs can help you prevent further damage. Spotting the early signs of a fence post rot can help you treat the damage and make the necessary repairs to ensure the longevity of the post.  Here are a few signs you must look out for:  1. Soft or Spongy Texture  If the post feels soft or spongy when you press it, this means moisture has already penetrated deep into the wood, and fungi are growing. The ideal texture should be rugged and sturdy, just like standard wood. If you identify the issue, the first step should be replacing the rotten areas with new ones and securing the base of the post with concrete. However, if the damage is beyond repair, it is better to replace the entire post to maintain structural integrity. You can either do it yourself or call a professional post replacement company like Custodia to do that for you.  2. Leaning Posts If you are noticing a leaning fence post, this is a clear sign of decay and rotting at the base. If the base has become unstable, it’s either because the soil is wet or the wood has excessive moisture. Additionally, the fence is soft and spongy, and the damage is greater than you are anticipating. To fix this issue, you want to follow the same method of securing the base of the post with the cement. You can also replace the rotten and spongy part of the wood with the new parts to ensure stability.   3. Separation from Panels Separation of the post from panels is usually caused by the excessive moisture accumulated at the base of the post. Due to the rotting and weakened wood, the panels start to pull apart, and the post is unable to be supported. The detachment of the panels is typically the cause of moisture damage at the base, which can further advance to soft and spongy fence posts. So, when you notice the separation,…
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