Household Repairs Posts wobble. If posts are sound, coat with preservative. Then dig holes 16" deep and 12" in diameter around them. Pour in concrete made of 1 part cement, 1 part sand, and 1 1/2 parts coarse aggregate. Tamp well.

Posts rotten at base. Replace with wood that has been pressure-treated at a mill with wood preservative. If such wood is not readily available, soak bottom of post in penta-chlorophenol or zinc or copper naphthanate for 24 hours. An alternative to using wood posts is to make concrete posts reinforced with steel. Insert bolts to hold rails while concrete is damp. For mortar mix, see above.

Posts rotting at top. If replacement is not called for, dig out soft wood and fill with plastic wood. Saturate with pentachlorophenol. For extra protection, cut aluminum flashing to fit over top and nail around the sides.

Rails or pickets rotting. If rot has not progressed too far, dig out soft wood and fill holes with plastic wood. Scrape off paint and saturate wood with pentachlorophenol.

Wide top rail holds water and splits as a result. Edges of rail are curved upwards. With a plane or drawknife, cut down edges so that water will run off. Fill splits with plastic wood or putty.



Home > Household Repairs > F > Fence, Wood

May 22, 2012