Replacing and Repairing Fence Footings

Of course no fence will stay in place long if the foundations are crumbling and the footings of the fence serve as that foundation. It’s just as important to know how to repair a fence’s footings as it is to build the actual structure in the first place. As well as being indispensable for the stability of the finished product, the footings are also the place where your fence starts.

The first move in replacing or repairing a footing is to remove the damaged parts. To replace or reinforce the footing, it’s necessary to break up the damaged part using a chisel and a hammer. Make sure to wear the proper safety equipment as well since you’ll need to protect yourself from flying bits of refuse. You should also clean away any loose particles with a wire brush so that you can better see what it is that you’re working with. If the footing is damaged below the surface, re-dig the hole with a spade and make sure to clean it out afterwards before you pour the new concrete.

When you pour the new footing, make sure to pour the concrete to at least one inch above the ground. You can also install a cylindrical form if desired so that the formation of the concrete will be cylindrical when you’re done. Dampen any unmanaged concrete with water. It’s also necessary to make sure that the post is level with a torpedo level when you place it in the new hole before the concrete sets. If you wait and find out too late after the concrete has hardened that the post is off plumb, you’ll be left with a big job to dig the post out and start the whole procedure again.

Again, it’s necessary that you always wear gloves when working with concrete whether it’s already dried or still wet. Concrete can do damage to the skin either way and at least some of the injuries sustained in the course of building or repairing a fence are easily avoidable.

Once you’ve got the footing poured and the concrete the way that you want it, shape the top of the footing with a trowel. It’s important here to make sure that you slope it away from the post so that water doesn’t unnecessarily run into what ever space has been left between the hole and the post. Usually it will take the concrete in the footing one week to set and then you’ll be able to caulk around the fence post after the whole thing has set for one week.

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