Storm Damaged Fences: More Helpful Tips

Damaged fences are not a small ticket item, especially when it comes to storm damage. So, to follow-up on our recent post about dealing with storm damaged fences, we have a few more tips for you to help save money and frustration.

1. Your original contractor is the best option for damaged fences.

The person or company who originally built your fence is most familar with the design and profile of your fence. This is especially true for vinyl and ornamental fences–which often have unique specifications and dimensions. Many companies and contractors align themselves with specific manufacturers, so using a new contractor makes it harder to match your original fence if they do not use the same manufacturer. This struggle often causes longer lead times and increased costs.

2. Show you are committed.

Fencing plays a huge role in keeping children and pets protected, and damaged fences pose a safety risk for these loved ones. When severe storms hit and affect an area, your local fence companies become very busy with calls from home owners wanting repairs. To get the repairs you need, show your committment by setting up an appointment with your contractor to review the work. In your meeting, ask your contractor to include the lead time in the proposal so that the expectation is clear from the beginning of your project. If you are satisfied with the proposal, sign it! Hesitation means higher backlogs and longer lead times.

3. Be specific or be flexible.

A common complaint that pops up with fence repairs is that the new fence material does not match the original fence–especially for older wood fences. In most cases, your fence company uses the materials they have on hand–new wood posts, pickets, and rails. These cannot match the older fence because they have not experienced the same aging your fence has seen over the years. If you want the repairs to match, you have to specify that you want reclaimed wood or aged materials, and ready yourself to pay the cost.

4. Move or protect ornamentals and plantings.

Your contractors do their best to protect your property from damage. However, a little help from you makes their job much easier. Move your valuable ornamentals and/or plants away from the fence. The repair crew moves back and forth, displacing the ground as they make repairs. Moving or at least covering these items keep them out of harm’s way.

Need to repair your fence? We can help. Request a free estimate today!