Fence Repair · Ottawa
Fence repair in Ottawa
Korvex Construction repairs leaning and damaged wood fences across Ottawa. We reset or replace the posts that failed, rehang the panels that are still sound and replace broken boards, so you keep the fence you have. The free on-site estimate tells you whether repair or replacement is the better spend.
- Wood posts
- Wood boards
- Lattice top
What goes wrong
Why a fence leans while its boards are still good
Most leaning fences fail at the posts. In Ottawa clay, wet soil around a post freezes, lifts it and settles back unevenly in spring, and wood at ground level rots faster in soil that stays damp. A few posts let go, the rails pull the next ones with them, and the whole run starts to lean, often while the panels above are still in decent shape.
Wind adds load to a fence that is already loose, and a solid privacy run catches more of it than an open one. Gates show the problem first: a hinge post that moves makes the gate drag and the latch miss. Broken boards near the ground are the other early sign, where a mower, snow or soil piled against the fence has done its work.
A repair starts with the posts. We check each one along the run, reset the ones that are sound and replace the ones that have rotted or snapped, set them back to a string line, and rehang the panels on them plumb. Broken boards are replaced, and lattice goes back on top where it fell.
Spring, just after the frost lets go, is a good time to look. A post that moves when you push the top of it, a gap opening at the foot of a post, boards pulled off their rails, a gate you have to lift to latch and a top line that dips between posts all point to the same place: the ground and the posts standing in it.
You keep the fence and the boards that still have years in them, with a line that reads straight again. Where the posts have failed along most of the run, a repair tends to fail again within a few winters, and we say so at the estimate.
How we build it
Posts first, panels after
A fence is as straight as its posts, so the repair starts at the ground and works up to the boards. Panels come off only where a post under them has to be reset or replaced, and they go back on the same line.
- Walk the line
Every post along the run is checked, so the repair covers the ones about to fail along with the ones already leaning.
- Locates
Buried lines are located before any post hole is dug.
- String line
Reset and new posts go back to a string, so the repaired run lines up with the posts that stayed.
- Keep what is sound
Panels and boards in good shape go back on. Only broken pieces are replaced.
- Say when to stop
Where most posts have rotted through, we tell you that replacing the fence is the better spend.
- Leave it tidy
The yard along the fence line is cleaned up when the repair is done.
- Sound panels, rehungKept in service and fastened back once the posts are plumb.Fastened to the framing
- RailsChecked for rot at the joints and replaced where they no longer hold a fastener.Checked level
- Reset or new postsEach failing post reset or replaced and set back to the line.Bearing on firm ground
- Native soilWet clay around the posts is what moved them; we look at it as we dig.To firm ground
What we build
Fence repair: the work we take on
Leaning fence lines
A run that leans along its length straightened post by post: failing posts reset or replaced, panels taken off and rehung plumb on them.
Post replacement
Rotted or snapped posts taken out and new posts set to a string line, so the repaired section lines up with the posts that stayed.
Broken boards
Boards that cracked or broke away near the ground replaced, and the panel fastened back to its rails.
Storm-damaged sections
A section pushed over by wind or a falling branch rebuilt between sound posts, matched to the panels on either side.
Sagging gates
Gates that drag or will not latch: the hinge post checked first, then the gate rehung so it swings and closes cleanly.
Lattice tops
Loose or fallen lattice put back on the repaired sections, so the top of the fence reads as one line again.
Posts in tight spots
Posts beside trees, sheds and decks reset or replaced where they stand, with boards framed around what cannot move, such as a trunk or a branch on the line.
Real projects
A leaning line brought back to plumb
A Korvex fence repair in Ottawa: the posts fixed first, the sound panels kept in service.
Leaning wood fence straightened
A leaning fence line brought back to plumb: failing posts reset or replaced, panels rehung, broken boards replaced.
View projectRelated projects
Often part of the same job
Reviews
What homeowners say about our fence repair work
Quoted as written on Facebook and HomeStars. All reviews
“Did awesome work! had them repair a leany fence and they were on time, cheap and super professional”
Josh Cohen-Collier · Leaning fence repaired
“Vlad and his partner did a terrific job repairing our sagging wood fence, giving it a new life, for a very reasonable price. They communicated clearly and professionally at every stage of the process, they completed the job in a timely manner, and their work was top notch. Highly recommended!”
Geoffrey Robinson · Wood fence repair · Ottawa
“They installed new fence posts and were creative in reinstalling the panels that were old and past their prime. Vladyslav and his partner are efficient, reliable and their work is reasonably priced. They are pleasant to deal with and good at communicating the details of the job. I highly recommend them.”
HomeStars user · Fence posts replaced · Nepean
Related services
Often built together
Service areas
Fence repair across the Ottawa area
Soil, lot grading rules and house age change from one part of Ottawa to the next. Here is what that means for this work in each area.
On request: Gloucester, Carp, Richmond, Russell, Embrun. To check your street, call or text 613-880-7679.
- OttawaClay under most of the city
Leda clay underlies most of Ottawa and is sensitive to water and disturbance. Excavation, compaction and a granular base are sized for that soil.
- KanataBeaverbrook and older streets
Beaverbrook’s first street, Tiffany Crescent, dates to 1964, and the area is known for its hedged houses. A rebuild on these lots works around established hedges, trees and older footings.
- BarrhavenFirst streets and new phases
The first subdivision houses along Larkin Drive date to the late 1960s and early 1970s, while Half Moon Bay is one of the newer areas. Older yards come with existing structures to remove, newer ones with a recent grading plan to follow.
- OrleansYards from the 1970s boom
The first big wave of suburban streets went up in the 1970s, so the oldest yards are around fifty years old. Original patios, walls and fences there have been through many freeze and thaw cycles.
FAQ
What homeowners ask about fence repair
What fails when a fence starts to lean?
The posts, in almost every case. Ottawa clay holds water, and wet soil around a post freezes, lifts it and settles back unevenly. Wood at the soil line also rots faster where the ground stays damp. Once a few posts move, the rails drag the rest along. Korvex checks the posts first, because the panels on a leaning fence are often still sound.
Should I repair or replace my fence?
Repair makes sense when most posts are solid and the panels are in fair shape: the failing posts are reset or replaced and the line comes back. Replacement makes sense when posts have rotted along most of the run, because a repair then tends to fail again within a few winters. Korvex walks the line with you and tells you which applies to your fence before quoting.
Can you replace just a few posts?
Yes. Posts that have rotted or snapped come out, new ones go in on the same line, and the panels are fastened back to them. Neighbouring posts that are loose but sound can often be reset rather than replaced. The posts that stay set the line, so the new ones are set to a string between them. Corner, end and gate posts carry the most load, and they are often the first to go.
Will new boards match my old fence?
New wood is lighter than boards that have weathered for years, so fresh boards stand out at first. Korvex keeps as many of your existing boards as are sound, which keeps the repair close to the rest of the fence. Ask at the estimate about evening out the colour of the repaired sections. New boards are cut to the width and height of the old ones, so the pattern of the fence stays the same.
Does a repaired fence still have to meet the fence by-law?
The City of Ottawa fence by-law caps fence height at 1 m in a front yard and 2.13 m in side and rear yards, lower near street corners and driveways. A fence that does not enclose a pool needs no building permit, and a fence around a pool or hot tub needs a pool enclosure permit. Korvex checks your fence against these rules at the estimate, which matters most when a section is rebuilt or raised.
Who arranges locates before posts are replaced?
Whoever digs requests them through Ontario Dig Authority (formerly Ontario One Call), at least five business days ahead, and the service is free. Private lines, such as power to a shed or a gas line to a barbecue, are the owner’s to have marked. Tell us about them at the estimate and new post holes are planned around them.
My fence is on the property line. Can it still be repaired?
Yes. A repair keeps the posts on the line they already stand on. Talk to your neighbour early, since the work happens on both sides and the fence is often shared. Part of the work usually needs access from their side, which is easier arranged before the crew arrives. Where the boundary is unclear, a survey plan settles it before any post moves.
How is a fence repair priced?
By the number of posts that need resetting or replacing, the boards and sections to replace, any gates, and how easily the fence line can be reached. Korvex Construction walks the line with you anywhere in Ottawa and the suburbs, and the written price follows that visit. It lists the posts and sections to be repaired, so you can see where the money goes.
Book a free fence repair estimate
Tell us what you want built and send a few photos. We come out, look at what sits under the job, and give you the scope and the price in writing.