The Lowcountry heat and humidity are hard on wood fences. Boards and pickets near the ground rot first, then rails and posts.
Repair or replace?
- Rot limited to boards and pickets: replace those sections
- Soft rails between solid posts: replace the rails
- Many soft posts at ground level: a new fence is often better value
- Considering vinyl next time: it will not rot
An estimate will show both repair and replacement options when it is close.
Why wood fences rot
- Ground contact. Boards touching soil stay wet, so they go first.
- Mulch and firewood. Anything piled against a fence holds moisture.
- Sprinklers and shade. Boards that never dry out rot sooner.
- No sealer. Bare, weathered wood soaks up more water.
How to check a fence for rot
Press a screwdriver into each post at ground level, then into the rails and the bottom of a few boards. Sound wood resists. Rotted wood feels soft or crumbles. Check several posts, not just the worst one, because the posts decide whether the fence is worth repairing.
How soon does it need fixing?
A few soft boards can wait for a dry spell. Soft posts can't wait as long: in the Lowcountry heat and humidity, one storm can take down a run of fence with rotted posts. If the fence is on a slope, or leans toward a neighbor, a road or a walkway, deal with it sooner.
What to send with your request
- Photos of the worst spots and of the whole run
- How many posts felt soft
- How old the fence is, if you know
- Whether you'd consider a different material
See fence repair for a partial fix, or fence installation in Walterboro if most of the posts have gone.