Here's the straight answer. If your posts are rotted out, it's time to replace. If your fence is less than ten years old and has a few issues, a repair makes sense. That's the simple version, and it covers most fences we look at in Wichita.
Then there's the question most fence companies won't ask you. Are you happy with the look of your fence? Would you enjoy being outside more if you got a new fence, maybe a stain to complement the house, worked on your patio? If all of those are a yes, let's get to work. A fence that's technically standing but makes you avoid your own backyard isn't doing its job.
We build and repair cedar privacy fences and vinyl fences across the Wichita metro, so we see both sides of this call every week. Here's how we actually make it.
How do you tell if a fence post is shot?
Grab the post and push. If you can easily move it with your hand, it's gone. Same if it's starting to split out along the base or middle of the post. A leaning fence is almost always a post problem, not a picket problem.
Can you fix a leaning post without replacing it? You can put a bandaid on a leaning post if you want. But we are in Kansas. All you're doing is delaying your fence getting redone in the next couple years. We'd rather tell you that up front than sell you a repair that won't hold through the next wind season.
That's also why we set metal posts on every full fence install, cedar included. Wood rots at the ground line. Steel doesn't.
How old is too old to repair a fence?
Our rule of thumb is ten years. A fence less than ten years old with issues is usually worth repairing. The structure still has life in it, so fixing the weak spots makes sense.
Past that, the math starts to flip. Stained on schedule, a cedar fence lasts 15 to 20 years in Kansas. If yours is deep into that window and the posts are going, every repair is money spent on a fence that's on its way out.
And honestly, the moment you aren't happy with your fence as a whole, you should replace it. Not because a contractor says so. Because you're the one looking at it every day.
What does Kansas weather do to cedar and vinyl fences?
Hail is the big one for vinyl. Cheaper vinyl products will crack and break from hail, and a cracked panel gets replaced whole. That's one reason we install a heavier vinyl system with steel pipe inside every post instead of the box-store stuff.
Cedar has fewer hail issues. A picket can take a hit that would crack a hollow panel.
Both are somewhat susceptible to Kansas wind. Wind works on the posts, year after year, and the posts are where fences die. If we built your fence, you should be A-Okay. The metal posts are there for exactly this.
What can picket replacement actually fix?
Our picket replacement is more aesthetic than it is function. For a strong fence that has simply greyed out, we can replace your pickets and give you a fresh look. We walk the whole line and check posts, rails, pickets, gates, hardware, and lean while we're there.
What it is not: a repair job for a dying fence. If the posts move in your hand, new pickets are lipstick. We'll tell you that on site rather than take your money for a fence that needs replacing. Picket replacement shines on fences with good bones and a tired face.
Will insurance pay for storm damage to my fence?
People ask after every storm, and the honest answer is: don't count on it. Between the deductible and depreciation, a fence claim usually pays out far less than people expect, if it pays at all. Read your policy before you plan around it.
For customers who already got a fence from us, we try to do what we can to help on the cost of storm repairs. Take care of your fence company and your fence company takes care of you.
The real question: are you happy with your fence?
A lot of people want a fence purely for function. Keep the dogs in, give us some slight privacy. That's like a wall inside your house that just needs to separate rooms. No need to hang anything on it, no fresh paint. That's ridiculous. Your fence defines your backyard.
If you're purely looking for function, there are cheaper ways to get by. We exist for you to enjoy your yard, not to get you by for a couple years. We've had fence repairs completely change the front of somebody's home and keep their dog out of the neighbor's hair at the same time. We love that.
So when you're weighing repair against replace, add the question nobody puts on the estimate: which option ends with a backyard you actually want to live in?
Get a straight answer on your fence
If you're not sure which side of the line your fence is on, have us walk it. We'll tell you if it needs new pickets, a post fix, or a fresh start. You can see the kind of work we do on recent Wichita-area jobs and in our Google reviews, where we're rated 5.0 stars across 22 reviews.
If a new fence is on the table, our Wichita fence cost guide shows what drives the price, and our permit guide covers the rules. We're fully insured, and we pull permits on every job that needs one.
Start with a free quote. It takes about a minute.
Can you fix a leaning fence without replacing the posts?
Sometimes, but it's a bandaid. In Kansas wind, a repaired lean on a bad post usually comes back. If the post moves in your hand or is splitting, replace the post.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a fence?
A repair costs less today. On an older fence, repeated repairs can pass the cost of doing it right once. Our Wichita fence cost guide breaks down what drives the price of a new fence.
Do I need a permit to repair a fence in Wichita?
Most residential fence work in Wichita doesn't require a permit, with exceptions like pool barriers. Either way, we pull permits on every job that needs one.
Do you repair fences you didn't build?
Yes. Our fence repair work exists for exactly that. We'll walk the line, tell you what it needs, and tell you honestly if it's past saving.