Georgia homeowners are no strangers to repeatedly changing their fence panels, seeing as the region’s severe weather and high humidity can quickly lead to rot and damage with the wrong contractor.

If you’ve found yourself needing to change your fence panels, the following information will detail the steps to take. You’ll also learn why you may be more inclined to hire a team of fencing professionals to take care of the process for you.

How to Change Fence Panels

Here’s a straightforward, step-by-step method for removing old fence panels and installing new ones:

Check the Damage

It’s good to recognize how extensive the issue is before you begin. Sometimes, the damage is obvious: Knocked-out, damaged, or completely missing fence panels call for a one-for-one replacement. However, things like rot or water damage might mean addressing other parts of your fence during the repair to prevent the problem from getting worse.

Test the wood by poking it gently with a tool like a screwdriver. If it caves in under pressure, you’re likely dealing with rotted wood and will have to both replace the panel and check your posts for signs of rot as well.

Fix the Post

If you have any damaged or leaning posts, you’ll want to ensure that each of them is completely reinforced and secure before replacing the fence’s panels; working on panels with damaged posts is a recipe for entire sections of the fence to fall apart.

There are many materials you can use to accomplish the task, but concrete is usually the most effective.

Install Your Replacement

Once you’re aware of the extent of the damage and have taken the necessary steps to secure its posts, you’re ready to change your fence’s panels. Measure your fence as precisely as possible to ensure you purchase the right size materials (and enough of them).

You’ll start the installation process by digging holes into the right spots to fit (or refit) your posts. If you have existing posts, you might need to temporarily remove them in order to make the installation easier.

In either case, with the fence’s posts secured, you can attach its new panels. The exact method you use will depend on the fencing material, but most should have panel clips that make them easy to slide and screw in. No matter what, just make sure each panel is level before securing it and moving on to the next.

Add the Finishing Touches

If you purchased a newer material that doesn’t quite match your fence’s weathered look, now is a good time to paint or stain the replacement panels so they match. You might also want to add weather-proofing sealant to preserve the materials.

Do I Need a Permit to Change My Fence?

Whether you need a permit largely depends on your project’s scope. Most existing fence upgrades or repairs (like switching out panels) won’t require a new permit, especially if you aren’t making the fence taller. Some counties, however, might still mandate that you obtain a permit.

Hiring Professionals to Change Your Fence Panels

It’s possible to swap out a few fence panels in as little as a day with enough know-how and DIY spirit. However, if the project is more involved (or if you simply aren’t as confident), it’s wise to turn to a team of professional fencing contractors.

Doing so does more than simply take the load off your back and provide you with peace of mind; hiring professionals also gives way to the following benefits:

Warranties and Satisfaction Guarantees

It’s not hard for a homeowner to accidentally botch a fence repair or replacement. But that isn’t something you’ll ever worry about with professionals. Not only do they guarantee your satisfaction, but they also offer warranties on their work, so they’ll come and fix things if there are issues down the line.

Adherence to Local Ordinances

Professional fencing contractors know what the rules are and how to play by them. Of course, it’s still a good idea for any fence owner to double-check their local building codes before starting a project, even if they’re hiring professionals. However, doing the latter means it’s much more likely that things work out well and are kept compliant.

Saved Time and Money

It may sound expensive to have professionals replace your fence panel when you can do so on your own. Still, once you realize that doing so usually means spending hours learning about fence replacement, it’s hard to argue that hiring the pros is more time-efficient.

Even more important is the money you could potentially save. It can already be expensive to take a DIY approach to a project. And if you end up having professionals come and fix your work anyway, you’ll be spending far more in total than you would if you had just called them first.

Professional Fence Fixes and Replacements in Georgia

If you need help bringing your fence back from the brink, contact the expert fencing contractors at East Georgia Fence today to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment!

How to Change a Fence Panel & Why to Call a Pro