Fence, Gate & Deck Repair in Los Angeles

Repair beats replacement more often than you are told

Fence contractors quote replacements because replacements are bigger jobs. In reality, most failing wood fences in Los Angeles have sound pickets and rails and two or three rotted posts at the soil line. Replace the posts with properly set and protected ones and the fence is good for another decade at a fraction of the cost. We will always tell you when repair is the better value, and we will also tell you honestly when the fence is genuinely finished.

Fences and gates

• Post replacement with correct depth, concrete footing, gravel base and drainage so the post does not sit in water
• Rail and picket replacement, including matching weathered wood as closely as possible
• Leaning fence straightening and bracing
• Gate sag correction with anti-sag cable kits, new hinges and proper hardware
• Automatic and pedestrian gate hardware, latches, locks and keypads
• Vinyl, chain link, wrought iron and composite repairs
• Wrought iron welding, rust treatment and repainting - see our welding page
• Retaining wall and planter box repair
• Staining and sealing after repair so the new wood matches

Decks, patios and pergolas

• Deck board replacement, hidden fastener systems and composite conversion
• Joist, beam and ledger inspection and repair - the ledger connection to the house is where deck failures happen
• Flashing at the house connection, which is missing on most older decks and is why the rim joist rots
• Railing and guard repair to code height and load requirements
• Stair tread, stringer and landing rebuild
• Pergola, patio cover and shade structure repair
• Sanding, staining and sealing

The safety item we check every time

Deck railings and stairs. A guardrail must resist a substantial lateral load, and a great many older Los Angeles decks have railings anchored into a rim joist with two nails. We check it, we tell you, and we correct it. This is the single most common serious defect we find on residential decks.

Cost

Post replacement typically runs $220 to $400 per post including concrete. Gate sag correction and new hardware generally runs $350 to $750. Deck board replacement runs $12 to $22 per square foot depending on material. Structural repairs to joists, beams or ledger connections are quoted after inspection.

• Assessment of what genuinely needs replacing versus repairing
• Post holes to correct depth with gravel base and concrete footing
• Pressure treated or naturally durable material below grade
• Rail, picket and board replacement with closest available match
• Gate hardware, anti-sag hardware and alignment
• Ledger and flashing correction at house connections
• Railing and guard load and height correction
• Hidden fastener systems on composite decking
• Sanding, staining and sealing
• Debris removal and haul-away

My fence is leaning. Do I need a whole new fence?

Usually not. Send photos - most of the time it is two or three rotted posts.

Why do posts rot at the ground?

Because they sit in water. A post set in a concrete cup with no drainage rots from the base up. We use gravel and a crown so water drains away.

Can you match my existing weathered wood?

Closely, not perfectly. New wood always looks new for a season. Staining the whole fence after repair evens it out.

Is my deck safe?

We check the ledger connection, the joists and the railing load. Railings anchored with a couple of nails are the most common serious defect we find.