How Do I Repair my Fencing?

[Skyfair]

I've got a paddock that held cattle but has been unused for several years. 6x6 PT posts are leaning badly. I can dig around them and use the tractor or a winch to pull them straight but how do I secure them and prevent this from happening again? Do I need to remove the rails and then reset them once the posts are plumb? I live in northern New England, so frost is an issue. Your experience and expertise is appreciated.

 

[alexpops]

How did it happen? Cattle pushing against it when they were there? or is it frost heave? Only one section, or all over? Did you put the wedges in to try & straighten, or were they there when you bought? What are planning to do with the paddock when fixed? If it was mine, I'd probably pull the fence, auger holes below the frostline & reset with some ReadyMix (if the posts are long enough -- if not ... new posts). Then, see what you can salvage from the rails & replace the bent/warped ones with new wood.

 

[CH4Ohio]

It's my experience that posts usually start snapping off right near ground level when I start pushing or pulling on them. Then you're stuck trying to get a buried stub out of the ground.

Might be easier to cut the nails with a sawzall, pull the posts, and then reset them in new ground. You could just move them to one side 4' or bring the fence in or out a few feet. I find it's easier to set or reset posts than deal with broken ones. At least that's been my experience.

You might find that the posts aren't worth using after you pull them too. Will just have to see.

Don't forget to fill up any unused post holes. Easy for people and animals to break a leg stepping in old post holes. Good luck with it!

 

[Skyfair]

How did it happen? Cattle pushing against it when they were there? or is it frost heave? Only one section, or all over? Did you put the wedges in to try & straighten, or were they there when you bought? What are planning to do with the paddock when fixed? If it was mine, I'd probably pull the fence, auger holes below the frostline & reset with some ReadyMix (if the posts are long enough -- if not ... new posts). Then, see what you can salvage from the rails & replace the bent/warped ones with new wood.

Unfortunately, the fence was in this shape when we bought the place four years ago so I don't know what caused the lean. The wedges were there but appear to be a short term fix by the previous owner that didn't work. We will likely have goats or sheep in the paddock after this - no cattle.

 

[dieselscout80]

I would guess that fence had a snow drift or piled snow left on it. If was cows I think they would have popped those boards off as the posts are leaning from the inside.

 

[Carl_NH]

As others have said, pull the boards off, pull the posts straight up and out. Using a chain or log tongs - you want to pull straight as possible so not to break off the post,

Using a Post hole digger redig the holes and reinstall or replace the posts. If you dont have a PHD, they can be done by hand but thats a lot of work. I use crusher run around the base tamping it in, then a half bag of sakrete, then last 8-10" fill and tamp until solid - effectively a donut to hold the post in the ground

Tractor Supply 5" round treated posts are pretty good for fencing if your 6x6 need to be replaced.

Then for goats and sheep, your board spacing is off - they will go under or through the fence. You need at least 4 rails 8-10" apart with the first one being 6 or 8" off the ground.

 

[LHF2019]

Is the fence sturdy as is? If so are you looking to fix for aesthetic reasons? I’m assuming you’re going to use woven wire on the inside. I would use as is if it is solid

 

[CH4Ohio]

I assume you've pushed on these posts, right? Are any of them rotted off right at the top of the ground? It looks to me like one or two posts in the middle of that span are already rotted in two.

I've had this happen on several sections of fence. In my case, posts would rot off at the ground and once one post gives way it just starts to spread the lean in both directions.

I've also had this happen at gates where a gate hanging perpendicular to the fence put stress on a post and just pulled it over time. Once they start to lean, every rain or snow or shrinking or heaving just makes the situation worse.

 

[Skyfair]

Posts are surprisingly solid. No weakness or rot detected...yet.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Posts are surprisingly solid. No weakness or rot detected...yet.

I am surprised! In that case, I'd just pull them and drill some new holes. Add a gate if you need to in order to change the post locations or just add a short 4' section and go from there. I'd rather pound in round posts than auger holes for square posts, but either would work. Good luck with it!

 

[MossRoad]

I've got a paddock that held cattle but has been unused for several years. 6x6 PT posts are leaning badly. I can dig around them and use the tractor or a winch to pull them straight but how do I secure them and prevent this from happening again? Do I need to remove the rails and then reset them once the posts are plumb? I live in northern New England, so frost is an issue. Your experience and expertise is appreciated.View attachment 3252981View attachment 3252982

If it's only those 7-8 posts, and the ground is soft, I'd just use a hand post hole digger to dig a hole down straight along the inside of each post, then tip them back up to plumb. Temporarily brace them in place, straighten out the fence line, level the top rails, put some crushed rock in the bottom and enough dry concrete to fill the hole up to a couple inches. Then top off with soil.

 

[Skyfair]

If it's only those 7-8 posts, and the ground is soft, I'd just use a hand post hole digger to dig a hole down straight along the inside of each post, then tip them back up to plumb. Temporarily brace them in place, straighten out the fence line, level the top rails, put some crushed rock in the bottom and enough dry concrete to fill the hole up to a couple inches. Then top off with soil.

It is just those 7-8 posts. How deep do you think I should dig? I suppose I could reach the bottom of the existing posts...

 

[Carl_NH]

With this approach 2' deep, the bottom can be left alone. Get some rocks 6-8 inches and place behind each post then two come-along on the 3 and 5 post attached to tractor etc, Fill behind with the rocks to get straignt then pout in some loose stone then some concrete.

To get out the fence bow you may need to remove the rails on one or two posts,

 

[MossRoad]

It is just those 7-8 posts. How deep do you think I should dig? I suppose I could reach the bottom of the existing posts...

Yes, dig down to the bottom of the post. That way you can assess its condition, and, you can put crushed rock under and around it to facilitate drainage. You can also raise and lower it to the proper height by adjusting the rock under the post.

 

[Skyfair]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. This is such a great Forum!

 

[etpm]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. This is such a great Forum!

Yes, this is a great forum. I was telling my brother about it, how so many folks post about a problem they are having and how often one or more solutions are suggested. And so many times the problem is fixed.
Eric

 

[Snezzy]

I'd agree with "leave 'em as they are but add wire mesh" unless you train your sheep and goats to respect electric fence, which should be easy to add. Sheep will try to go under. Goats will go over if you are in the habit of tossing loose kids back over the fence, because they'll learn, "Goats can fly!" and will teach the rest of the herd to fly. Take them around the long way instead.

To test whether a fence will hold goats, toss a bucket of water at the fence. If the water goes through, there's a good chance the goats will, too.

If you install mesh or panel with spacing larger than 4x4 inch, goats will get their horns stuck. They'll yell until you come by and unstuck them.

For "northern New England" you'll already be thinking of the depth of frost. There is a reason why good NH roads are on an 8-foot crushed rock base and remain solid while the ones in Mass are on 3-foot or less and fall apart.

MORE; We put concrete around fence posts here in NC, and found that the stress of horses tended to snap them off, leaving a spot on the ground with a lump of concrete in it that now 30 years later cannot be easily repaired. We stick a T-post in nearby and tie the busted wooden post to it. Our newer posts are set directly into our rather clay-heavy soil, no concrete, and are easier to pull out if necessary. I'd do it differently 30 years ago, if I could reach back there. Franklin said, “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.”

 

[Gord Baker]

Thre

I've got a paddock that held cattle but has been unused for several years. 6x6 PT posts are leaning badly. I can dig around them and use the tractor or a winch to pull them straight but how do I secure them and prevent this from happening again? Do I need to remove the rails and then reset them once the posts are plumb? I live in northern New England, so frost is an issue. Your experience and expertise is appreciated.View attachment 3252981View attachment 3252982

 

[Gord Baker]

I've got a paddock that held cattle but has been unused for several years. 6x6 PT posts are leaning badly. I can dig around them and use the tractor or a winch to pull them straight but how do I secure them and prevent this from happening again? Do I need to remove the rails and then reset them once the posts are plumb? I live in northern New England, so frost is an issue. Your experience and expertise is appreciated.View attachment 3252981View attachment 3252982

Sadly there is no 'easy' way . Remove the 6 boards on the post just past that gate with the wedge in it. Lift out the post and see what happened. Rotted off?
Not deep enough? IF it is NOT rotted off, dig the hole deeper and Invert the post.
Repeat many many times! Good Luck. If you don't really need the Fence, advertize the materials For Sale As Is.

 

[charris65]

Lots of good ideas here. My initial guess was that the posts were rotted off, but since they are solid, it must be some other reason. My guess then would be that strong winds could do that if the posts aren't set deep enough and/or the frost heave with soft ground. I set my 8' PT posts 3-4 feet in the ground. You could use 4Xs instead of 6Xs, but I'd use 6Xs with the gate. As someone else already suggested, I'd dig down the insides of each post to plumb them and check for depth. I'd use rocks to wedge the posts on the outside. It would be a real hassle leaving the boards on to plumb or reset the posts, so I'd take them all off. You're going to need more boards anyway and space them closer together. I set my posts 6' apart OC, so I buy 12' lumber in either 1X6 or 5/4X6, and stagger them. I agree with using at least 4 boards high, set about 6" apart, and the bottom one 6" off the ground. I also put my boards on the inside rather than the outside. That way, animals pushing on the boards results in a push on the posts which makes the fence stronger. Boards on the outside means pushing on the inside pops off the boards since only nails are resisting the pressure. Good luck, you have some work to do.