A leaning fence is not always a dead fence. Plenty of fences we look at across Melbourne only need two or three posts replaced, and the owner was told the whole run had to go. The opposite happens too: people keep patching a fence that has failed at ground level, and they end up paying twice.
You can work out which side of the line your fence sits on in about ten minutes with nothing but your hands and a screwdriver.
Check 1: push test on every post
Walk the fence line and push firmly at the top of each post. A sound post barely moves. A post that rocks in the ground has failed at the footing or rotted at the soil line.
Count how many move. Under a third of the posts is repair territory. More than half and you are usually better off replacing the run, because the labour to dig out and reset that many posts gets close to a new fence.
1 to 3 loose posts on a 20 metre run: repair
Half the posts loose or rocking: replace
Posts sound but palings damaged: repair or reclad
Check 2: the screwdriver test at ground level
Timber posts rot where the wood meets the soil, not at the top. Push a screwdriver into the post about 50mm above the ground. If it sinks in easily, that post is done, no matter how good the rest of it looks.
Steel posts and Colorbond posts fail differently. Look for rust bubbling at the base and any splitting where the post meets the concrete.
Check 3: how old is it
A timber paling fence in Melbourne conditions generally gives you 15 to 20 years with hardwood posts, less with treated pine in wet ground. Colorbond runs 20 to 25 years. If your fence is inside that window and only has localised damage, repair it.
If it is past the window, money spent on repairs buys you a year or two at best. Price a replacement and compare the two numbers properly.
Check 4: is the damage in one spot or right along the run
Storm damage, a car reversing into it, or a tree limb usually hits one section. That is a clean repair. Rot, warping and gaps that appear evenly along the whole fence are age related and will keep spreading.
Check 5: what does each option actually cost
This is where most people guess. Fence repairs in Melbourne generally start around a minimum call out and rise with the number of posts and palings replaced. A new timber paling fence starts around $120 per metre inc GST installed.
Run both numbers before you decide. On a 20 metre run, if the repair quote lands above roughly 60 percent of a replacement quote, replace it. You get a new fence with a new lifespan instead of a patched one.
The neighbour question
If the fence sits on a shared boundary in Victoria, the cost of a replacement is generally shared between the two owners for a standard dividing fence. Repairs are usually shared the same way. Talk to your neighbour before you book anything, and put it in writing.
Can you replace just a few fence posts? Yes. Individual posts can be dug out and reset without pulling down the whole fence, as long as the palings and rails are still sound. It is the most common repair we do.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a fence? A repair is almost always cheaper on the day. Over five years it often is not, because a fence that has failed at ground level keeps failing. Compare the repair quote against the replacement quote and use the 60 percent rule.
How long does a fence repair take? Most residential repairs are done in a single visit, usually the same morning or afternoon. Concrete around new posts needs time to cure before the fence takes load.
Do I need a permit to replace a fence in Victoria? A standard dividing fence up to 2.0 metres between neighbours generally does not need a building permit. Front fences and heritage overlay properties are the exception, so check with your council.
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