Has Your Sanford Fence Become A Liability?

How Old is Too Old?

Has the Florida heat and humidity finally taken its toll on your fence? If your fence is starting to look dated, you might find yourself weighing the pros and cons of a new fence vs a repair. To truly know what the right call is for your fence, you need to know how old is too old. If your fence is more than 10 years old and showing signs of damage, it’s time to consider investing in a new one. If your fence is less than 10 years old and needs some TLC, that’s when a repair could be appropriate. That’s a bit vague, so let’s get into some of the specifics to help you determine what’s right for your property. 

5 Warning Signs of Fence Failure

To help you decide whether or not your old fence can last another season, there are a few warning signs you can look out for. Evaluating your fence doesn’t have to be complicated. You’ll just need a screwdriver and some time. Here’s what you should look out for:

1. Wobbly Posts

You should walk the length of your fence and check every post by firmly pressing on it to see if it moves easily. If your post can’t handle the weight of firm pressure from your hand, it can’t handle hurricane winds. 

2. Leaning Panels

Stand next to your fence at one end and look down the length of your fence. Is it leaning? If your fence is leaning, it means something has shifted, making your fence unstable. 

3. Rotted Wood

This is where your screwdriver comes in handy. Take your screwdriver to any spot on your fence that looks damaged, then press the tip into it. If the screwdriver goes into the board with little resistance or crumbles under pressure, your fence has rotted and become unstable. 

4. Missing Boards

If your fence is missing boards, the wind won’t pass through it evenly; it will find the easiest tunnel and put more pressure on your fence as it tries to go through. This could cause your fence to become a sail in a hurricane, damaging surrounding structures. 

5. Exposed Anchors

With so much rain, erosion happens faster. Check the bottom of your fence to see how much the ground has gapped from your fence. Wind can go under your fence, too, which could create the same problem as a missing board. If you can see any post anchors, your fence needs to be reset so it doesn’t come up flying. 

Why Wind Targets an Old Fence

In Sanford, you face intense wind loads during storm season. Your fence needs to be able to handle 50-60mph winds. When wind pushes against a new fence, it hits it all evenly. The fence acts as a barrier and dampens the wind by allowing it to pass evenly through the spaces between the boards. But if you have even one weak point, the wind will funnel through that spot, which creates unequal pressure on your fence, and could cause more damage and may even cause fence failure. 

Patching Predicaments

There are some situations where a patch job is appropriate, but the reality is, you can only fix what you see. Wind presses on every part of your fence and will find the weak points that aren’t obvious to the human eye. That’s why it’s always the safer bet to replace rather than repair, because you can’t fix what you can’t see.

The Real Cost of Repairs

Repairs add up. You might think you’re saving money by avoiding a new Sanford fence installation, but really, you could be flushing money away. If you don’t replace your fence when it is needed, it could become a sail in hurricane weather, damaging surrounding property. Fees to repair the damage could be high. Much more than what it might have cost you to install a new fence to begin with. Which you’ll have to do anyway if your fence fails. 

Reliable Installation Methods

Working with a local Sanford fence company can help you build a fence that will survive hurricane season. When you work with a fence contractor in your area, they can help you choose a material and installation method that will last. They know you’ll need a non-porous material so that humidity and rain don’t warp it. Installation methods that work will leave spacing for wind to pass through evenly, and use quality hardware that can withstand great wind loads. 

A Fence That Survives Storm Season

Making the call to build new doesn’t have to be a hassle. It’s a great opportunity for an upgrade. When you work with a team like Superior Fence & Rail of Oviedo, they have options for UV resistance, too. Their SolarShield technology protects your fence from fading. Vinyl fencing is a great option in Sanford because it resists moisture. Work with a Sanford fence company that knows what your property needs to keep you and your assets safe year-round.