Fence & Gate Repair in San Francisco, CA
Most San Francisco fences are short runs doing a lot of work: the board fence between two narrow backyards, the gate that closes off the side passage beside a Sunset rowhouse, the low front fence of a Bernal Heights cottage, the slatted screen around the bins. They live in a hard climate for wood. On the west side the summer fog keeps them damp for months and salt wind blows in from Ocean Beach; across the city the winter storms soak the ground and loosen posts set in sand or clay. Redwood and cedar hold up better than most woods, but even they gray, split and rot where they meet the soil, and steel hinges and latches rust until a gate drags or won't close at all.
We repair rather than replace whenever the fence has life left in it. That means resetting or bracing leaning posts, sistering or replacing rotted post bases, re-fastening loose rails with exterior screws, swapping out split and rotted pickets with matching boards, and rehanging sagging gates with heavier hinges, anti-sag kits and latches that line up. We use corrosion-resistant fasteners and hardware so the repair doesn't stain and seize after one foggy summer, and we haul away the old wood when we're done.
What this covers
- Leaning post reset and bracing
- Rotted post base repair and replacement
- Picket and board replacement
- Rail re-fastening and replacement
- Gate rehanging and anti-sag kits
- Hinge, latch and lock replacement
- Side-passage and trash-enclosure gates
- Old material haul-away
How a fence & gate repair visit usually goes
Walk the Fence Line
We check every post at the base, look for rot, leaning, loose rails and failed hardware, and figure out how much of the fence can be saved.
Stabilize Posts
Leaning posts are reset, braced or repaired at the base, using concrete or gravel where it suits the soil and drainage of your yard.
Replace and Re-fasten
Rotted boards and rails are replaced with matching material and fastened with coated or stainless screws that won't streak or rust out.
Hang and Adjust the Gate
Gates get new or upgraded hinges, bracing and latches, then we adjust the swing and clearance so they close on their own and latch every time.
Fog and salt are the quiet enemies of fences on the west side. In the Outer Sunset, the Outer Richmond and along the edge of Lake Merced, wood that never fully dries through the summer grows algae and rot at the base, and ordinary steel hardware rusts in a season or two. We favor stainless or heavily coated fasteners, hinges and latches there, keep the bottoms of boards up off the soil so they can dry, and recommend a penetrating stain or sealer every few years. On the sunnier east side, in Bernal Heights, Potrero Hill and the Mission, the bigger issues are posts loosened by winter rains on sloped lots and fences pushed by overgrown plants and trees. Either way, a few targeted repairs usually buy years more life.
What shapes the price in San Francisco
Fence and gate repair cost depends on how many posts and boards need attention, whether posts are rotted below grade, and how easy the fence is to reach. Backyards in San Francisco often can only be reached through the house, a narrow side passage or a garage, which means carrying every board and bag of concrete by hand. Steep or terraced lots slow things down, and matching aged redwood or a custom gate design takes more time than standard material. Upgraded hardware adds a little in parts but usually pays for itself. Fixing several sections at once is cheaper than repeated small repairs.
Neighbors often ask
My side gate drags on the ground and won't latch. Can that be fixed without a new gate?
Almost always. Gates sag because the hinge-side post leans, the screws pull out of soft wood or the gate frame racks out of square. We firm up or brace the post, add longer screws or through-bolts, install a diagonal brace or an anti-sag cable kit and reset the latch so it catches cleanly. A new gate only makes sense when the frame itself has rotted.
Who pays for a fence we share with the neighbor?
California's good-neighbor fence law presumes that adjoining owners share responsibility for a boundary fence, and it sets out a notice process before one owner asks the other to share costs. Many San Francisco neighbors simply agree and split the work. We're happy to quote the repair so both households can see the scope, but we can't sort out legal or property-line questions; for those, the law itself or a professional is the place to go.
What wood holds up best against San Francisco fog?
Redwood and cedar both handle the constant damp better than untreated pine, and heartwood grades last longest. For posts we use pressure-treated lumber rated for ground contact and set it in concrete crowned so water runs away from the wood. On the west side, galvanized or stainless fasteners and hinges are worth the small extra cost, because ordinary steel streaks and rusts within a couple of foggy seasons.
Can you repair the gate to my building's garbage area or side passage?
Yes. In multi-unit buildings these gates take heavy daily use and often need new self-closing hinges, latches and strike plates. We'll work with the owner or building manager, keep the gate secure when we leave each day and make sure it closes and locks reliably for everyone who uses it.
Should I repair or replace my fence?
If most posts are solid and the problems are a few rotted boards, a leaning section or a sagging gate, repair is usually the better value. If posts are rotted throughout or the whole fence is leaning, replacement may make more sense. We'll give you an honest view after looking at the base of every post.
Folks pair this with
Drywall Repair
Drywall Repair →TV Mounting
TV Mounting →Furniture Assembly
Furniture Assembly →Door Repair & Adjustment
Door Repair & Adjustment →Fence & Gate Repair around San Francisco
Fence & Gate Repair is one of 14 jobs our San Francisco handyman crew handles, in San Francisco and in nearby communities:
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