Repairing a fence after a coastal storm

The job

Gardens near the coast at Amble take the full force of winter gales. In a typical job of this kind, two panels have blown out of a run of fencing and one of the posts has snapped where it meets the ground, where years of damp have softened the timber. The garden is no longer secure, which is a real problem for anyone with a dog, and the remaining panels are flapping in the wind.

What we did

We remove the damaged panels and the broken post, then dig out the old stump and concrete where possible. A new post is set firmly in place, and the neighbouring posts are checked for movement. Replacement panels are fitted and fixed securely, with gravel boards at the bottom where needed to keep the timber off the wet soil. We take away the broken timber and tidy the area before leaving.

The result

The garden is secure again and the new section matches the existing run as closely as practical. Using a gravel board helps the new panels last longer, and we point out any other posts that look like they may need attention before next winter. Treating the fence with a suitable preserver every couple of years will help it cope with the salty, windy conditions so close to the harbour.

More about our gardening service and our work in Amble.