Damage by Storm! Your Best Solutions to Repairing.

And the thunder rolls. For those of us in the Midwest, we can anticipate the Spring excitement that comes with storms. We also recognize the pain that goes along with cleaning up after the storms. One common mistake
that is made is when we take it upon ourselves to complete some of the cleanup work without knowing that what we are doing will potentially cost us, even more, to correctly repair. It is not uncommon that a strong storm may take down sections of your fence. As you can imagine, extremely strong storms will create even more damage. If your storm is extreme and takes down your fence, one of the biggest costs creators is when you decide to cut down your existing fence with the intent that your new fence will not be interfered with by the previous. Recently, I recognized that my neighbor did just this. In driving through town, I noticed the same type of fence by those that were also affected. Due to this, it became my obligation to write this blog.

• Posts shouldn’t be cut off at grade by the homeowner. If you are removing posts, please make sure that you identify what posts have been affected by the storm. Posts that may reveal long vertical cracks are not necessarily the result of the storm, but a feature of the past as it has aged. Most wood will show wear through cracking, chipping, checking, etc. Again, this is not storming damage but a result of the wood aging.
• Even if it has been determined that the post has been damaged by a storm, please don’t just cut them off at grade. There is a good opportunity that some, if not all of the remaining post footings will still need to be removed. Without a substantial post still out of the ground, you now must hand dig around the footing for extraction. This is very time-consuming and costly if completed by others at a later date.
• Determine your level of patience. When the storms roll in, so do the calls to contractors. As one would anticipate the only way a contractor can meet the influx of demand of work is to complete the work above and beyond your traditional 40-hour workweek. What does this mean for the homeowner? Additional costs as these costs for overtime are then forwarded to you. Late Fall and early Spring is the best time to complete these repairs if you can wait, as a contractor doesn’t have the demand or the overtime to pass on.
• If you own a PVC fence, please understand that that you too, will have damage. Many believe that PVC fence is maintenance-free. Storm damage is not included within the realm of maintenance. More importantly, PVC fence is more prone to having the vertical pickets and rails blown out by the extreme winds. You may feel that this is the only damage and it may be, however, it is in your best interest to review each post. Your greatest opportunity for damage will be at the base. It is still highly recommended you review the entire post. At the base, PVC posts are more susceptible to having cracks or crimps in this area. If you find such damage, these posts too, need to be replaced, as it is only time before extreme damage is revealed.
• When the storm rolls in, you will see many fences blown over. The greatest probability is for fences that are between two structures, where winds become even more extreme as it is their only path to travel. When replacing fences in such scenarios, please consider replacing that fence with something that is not fully private. A semi-private fence allows winds the opportunity to blow through them. Understand, that they too, are potentially damaged in a storm but not to the extent that one might find with a true private fence.

AmeriFence of Madison has been in the business for over fifty years. One more reason we are your Madison fence company. We are extremely educated in repairing and replacing fences damaged by storms. Our goal is to not only build your fence but to create a relationship that will continue throughout time. Our expectation, like yours, is to create an experience that is positive for everyone.