Fence Repair and Replacing Posts: Repair-Spurs, Full Post Replacement and Panel-Only Repair

Quick Answer: UK fence repair splits into three approaches: panel-only replacement (slide out damaged panel from concrete posts; no ground works), repair-spur fitting (a concrete or steel "splint" bolted to the existing post and set into a new concrete foundation; saves digging out the failed post), or full post replacement (excavate the failed post and concrete envelope; reset a new post in fresh concrete). Repair-spurs are the standard cost-effective fix for snapped timber posts where the panels and rails are sound. Full post replacement is needed where multiple posts have failed, where the rotten post has dragged the panels out of plumb, or where you are upgrading from timber to concrete posts. All ground works require excavation safety checks for buried services.

Summary

Fence repair is a high-volume, low-margin service most fencing contractors do alongside new installations. The fundamental decision on a repair quote is: how much of the existing fence can be saved, and what level of works will give the customer a fence that lasts another 15–20 years rather than 2–3.

The biggest temptation — and biggest source of customer disappointment — is doing the minimum: patching a leaning post with an over-the-top concrete repair spur and not addressing the rotten post or the broken arris rails behind it. Three years later the fence has the same problem. A more honest quote, costing 30–50% more upfront, replaces the failed post and rotten components and gives the customer two more decades of service.

This article covers the three repair approaches, when each is appropriate, the install sequence for each, and the customer-conversation framing that gets a quote accepted at a fair price. Many of the practical specifications cross-reference fence post installation depth and concrete post gravel boards.

Key Facts

Quick Reference Table

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Damage Scenario Best Repair Approach Typical Cost (per post / panel, ex-VAT)
Panel damaged, posts and rails sound Panel-only replacement £30–80 supply + £30–60 labour
Single timber post snapped at ground; panels OK Concrete or steel repair spur £40–80 supply + £60–110 labour
Single concrete post broken Full post replacement £35–70 supply + £100–180 labour
Multiple failed timber posts Replace all with new concrete posts £30–60 per post + £80–140 labour per post
Leaning fence (whole run) Diagnose: posts or ground? Full survey + structural reset
Storm damage (blown over) Full reset with concrete posts £130–250 per metre of fence
Rotten gravel boards only Replace gravel boards with concrete £20–40 supply + £25–50 labour per length
Loose pales / split pales Repair pales individually £5–15 per pale supply + labour
Rotted arris rail Replace rail; or fit splint bracket £15–30 per rail repair
Fault Diagnosis Decision Tree Action
Single post leaning, post sound Excavate, re-set in fresh concrete with deeper hole
Single post leaning, post rotten at ground line Repair spur (cheap) OR full replacement (better)
Run of posts leaning same direction Wind/ground problem; full structural reset
Run of posts leaning random directions Ground movement / clay; investigate drainage
Panel damaged, post intact Panel-only replacement
Run blown over after storm Full reset with concrete posts
Gravel board rotten, pales OK Replace gravel board only
Pale loose, post and rails OK Re-fix pale or replace individual pales

Detailed Guidance

Diagnosing the failure mode

On site, before quoting, walk the fence and identify the failure pattern:

  1. Push the post at the top — does it move? How much? Where is the pivot point?

    • Pivot at ground line, no flex below → post snapped at ground level
    • Pivot below ground, whole post rotates → insufficient depth or soft ground
    • No movement → post sound; problem is panels/rails

  2. Inspect the post at ground line — kneel and look closely

    • Soft, dark, fungal staining → rot; needs replacement or splint
    • Hard, clean timber → sound; ground or installation problem

  3. Inspect the concrete envelope — if visible

    • Intact, surrounding the post → post failed, foundation OK
    • Cracked or fragmented → foundation failed; full replacement needed

  4. Look at the panels and rails

    • Sound → repair the post and refit
    • Multiple panels damaged → reset the whole run

  5. Check ground conditions

    • Saturated, soft ground → may need drainage solution
    • Clay heaving → seasonal movement; deeper holes
    • Made ground → unstable foundation; deeper or piled

A 10-minute diagnosis saves a return visit when the customer's "the post is wobbly" turns out to be a rotten gravel board plus three loose pales.

Repair spurs — when they're the right answer

Repair spurs are appropriate when:

Spurs are inappropriate when:

Installing a repair spur

Procedure:

  1. CAT scan the immediate area for buried services
  2. Excavate a pad foundation 300mm × 300mm × 450mm deep adjacent to the failed post — on the inside (garden) face is typical
  3. Place 50mm pea-shingle in the base for drainage
  4. Position the spur vertically against the failed post; check plumb on two faces
  5. Mark and drill through the existing post for the coach bolts; 11mm hole for M10 bolts
  6. Pour 1:2:4 concrete or postcrete around the spur to 50mm below ground level
  7. Bolt the spur to the failed post with M10 or M12 coach bolts, washers and nyloc nuts; tighten incrementally
  8. Finish ground level with topsoil or paving

The spur takes over the wind-load resistance the failed post can no longer provide. The original post is now decorative / cosmetic, supported by the spur.

Full post replacement

When the post above ground line is also rotten, or when the customer wants a proper repair:

  1. Disconnect panel from the failed post — lift it out of the slot or cut the panel-to-post fixings
  2. Excavate around the failed post; expose the concrete envelope
  3. Extract the post — either pull with a post-puller, or smash the concrete envelope with a breaker and lift out
  4. Dig hole to correct depth — see fence post installation depth; for a 1.8m fence, 600mm minimum
  5. Place 50mm pea-shingle drainage base
  6. Position new post plumb, braced
  7. Set in fresh concrete (1:2:4 or postcrete)
  8. Reconnect panels and rails
  9. Finish ground level

Time: 30–60 minutes per post for an experienced fencer.

Upgrading from timber to concrete posts

A common upgrade during repair work — the customer is fed up with timber posts rotting, and upgrades the whole run to slotted concrete posts.

Procedure is the same as full post replacement, but:

Customer-facing: this is the highest-value repair option. Re-pitch as an upgrade, not a repair.

Panel-only repair

Easiest repair scenario. Concrete posts and gravel boards stay in place; only the panel between needs replacing.

  1. Slide the damaged panel up out of the post slots
  2. Inspect gravel boards (replace if rotten)
  3. Slide new panel into the slots
  4. Done in 15 minutes

This is the main commercial advantage of concrete post and panel systems over in-situ close board — repair cost is a fraction of new build.

Gravel board replacement

When pales above are sound but the gravel board has rotted:

For timber gravel boards:

  1. Remove the rotted board (usually screwed or nailed to the bottom of the panel / pales)
  2. Cut new pressure-treated gravel board to length (150mm × 25mm × 1830mm typical)
  3. Fix with stainless screws to the panel bottom rail

For upgrading to concrete gravel boards:

  1. Remove old timber gravel board
  2. If post slots accept gravel boards (slotted concrete posts), slide the concrete board into the slot from the side
  3. If post slots only accept panels, bolt a steel L-bracket to the post inside face to support the gravel board; or replace the post

Arris rail repair

Rotted arris rails on a close board fence can be repaired without removing all the pales:

  1. Identify the failed rail (sagging, broken mortice, visible rot)
  2. Lever out the failed rail; do not damage the pales above
  3. Replace with a new pressure-treated arris rail
  4. If the mortice in the post is damaged: fit a galvanised arris rail bracket on the post face below the mortice and screw the rail into the bracket
  5. Re-fix pales to the new rail

Storm damage — fencing blown over

After a major storm, the typical pattern is:

Quote framing: "stage 1 — temporary make-safe; stage 2 — full reset." Make-safe is propping or removing damaged sections; the reset is a normal new-install. For insurance claims, photograph the damage and the make-safe state.

Buried services — service-strike avoidance

Before excavating for any post replacement:

Cost of a strike: gas main £5,000–25,000 in repair and disruption; water main similar; the customer may claim against you. Cost of a CAT scan: £5–25 per visit. Cheap insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just concrete around a leaning post to fix it?

Only as a temporary measure. Adding concrete to a leaning timber post that's rotten at ground level doesn't address the root cause; the post will fail again within 2–3 years. Repair-spur or full replacement is the proper fix.

How long does a repair spur last?

The concrete or steel spur itself: 40+ years. The galvanised bolts: 20+ years. The failed timber post above ground: 5–15 years (depending on how rotten it was when you fitted the spur). Honest customer framing: the repair extends the fence life by 10–15 years; full post replacement extends by 20+.

Can I reuse the concrete envelope from a failed post?

Not really. The original concrete envelope is sized for the original post; the new post will be slightly different dimensions. Better practice: break out the old concrete and pour fresh.

What if my neighbour owns the fence?

Boundary fence ownership is a legal matter — typically shown on the Land Registry title plan. The "T" marks on a title plan indicate ownership and maintenance responsibility. If you do not own the fence, you cannot repair it without the owner's consent. See planning permission fences walls for boundary-line and ownership notes.

How much should a single post repair cost?

Concrete repair spur: £100–190 supply and fit (depending on access and ground type). Full timber post replacement: £130–260 including new post, concrete and reinstating panels. Upgrade to concrete posts: £130–250 per post.

Will my insurance cover storm-damaged fencing?

Most household insurance policies exclude fence damage from storm/wind cover, regardless of cause. Some specialist policies include it. Customer should check policy schedule before relying on a claim.

Regulations & Standards