Fence Repair After Bay Area Windstorms

Fences in East Contra Costa County take the worst of their damage during the same stretch every year: the winter storm season. Here's why, and what to expect if yours goes down.

Why winter storms are hardest on fences

The National Weather Service's Bay Area forecast office (opens in a new tab) generally identifies late fall through winter, roughly November through March, as when the region gets the large majority of its annual rainfall, often arriving in atmospheric-river storm systems that combine heavy rain with sustained wind and stronger gusts. That combination is exactly what fences struggle with: rain saturates the soil around posts, loosening the grip that keeps them upright, right as wind loads on the panels peak. A fence with even one or two already-soft posts is much more likely to go down under that combination than in calm, dry weather.

The first 24 hours

If your fence just went down, the priorities are safety first: check for downed power lines, secure pets, and close off any pool area the fence was protecting. For the full step-by-step, see what to do when your fence blows down.

What the repair typically involves

• Assessing the posts first. In storm damage, the posts almost always failed before the panels did. A repair starts with removing broken posts and old concrete, not just re-hanging boards.
• Checking the rest of the run. If wind and rain took out one section, the posts on either side were under the same stress. A thorough repair checks neighboring posts, not just the failed ones.
• Reusing intact panels. Boards and rails that came down in one piece can often be reinstalled on new posts, keeping the cost down.
• New footings. Old, cracked concrete rarely gets reused; new posts generally get new footings, ideally with a sloped top and gravel base so the next storm doesn't cause the same failure.

Repair vs. replace after storm damage

A storm rarely breaks a genuinely healthy fence. More often it finishes off one that already had soft posts. If the storm damage is limited to one section and the rest of the fence checks out solid, a storm damage repair is the right call. If the same wind exposed rot all along the line, this may be the moment to consider replacement rather than repairing a fence that's likely to fail again next season. See repair or replace a damaged fence for the full decision.

Insurance basics

Many homeowners policies cover wind or fallen-tree damage to fences under "other structures" coverage. Rot and general wear typically aren't covered, and deductibles apply, so a small repair may not clear the deductible. Photograph the damage before anything is moved or repaired, and check with your insurer or agent before assuming coverage either way.

Getting ready before the next storm

1. Walk the fence every fall, ideally before the first big storm, and push on each post at waist height.
2. Fix soft posts now. A post repair in October is a routine job; the same post in a January storm becomes an emergency call along with everyone else's.
3. Check drainage. Make sure water isn't pooling against post bases, and that sprinklers aren't spraying the fence line.
4. Know who to call. Storm season brings a surge of calls to every local fence contractor. Having a contact before you need one saves time when a fence is actually down.