Homeowner answers
Fences, Gates & Custom Woodwork
Fence repairs, gates, privacy screens and the one-off woodwork that finishes a yard.
10 answers, newest first RSS feed
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How do you build a wood gate that will not sag?
A gate that stays square for decades comes down to four things: a hinge post set deeper and heavier than the fence posts, a real frame with strong joints…
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Should I stain, paint or leave my new wood fence natural?
For most wood fences in North County, a penetrating semi-transparent oil stain is the best balance of looks, protection and upkeep. It soaks in, slows graying…
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Will a solid wood fence hold up to the wind near the coast?
A solid fence near the coast is a sail, and it will hold up only if the posts are built for the load. Onshore afternoon winds are steady, and Santa Ana events…
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How tall can my fence be, and who sets the rules?
Fence height is set by your city's zoning code, not by the building code, and the two work differently. Zoning typically allows taller fences along side and…
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What should I know before building a horizontal slat fence or privacy screen?
Horizontal slat fences and screens look clean and modern, but they are less forgiving than a picket fence. The boards span post to post with nothing holding…
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My wood gate sags and drags on the ground. How do I fix it?
A sagging gate is almost always one of three things: a hinge post that has leaned, hinges that are too light or have pulled their screws, or a gate frame with…
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Who pays for a shared fence in California? The Good Neighbor Fence law explained
California Civil Code section 841 presumes that adjoining landowners share equally in the reasonable cost of building, maintaining or replacing a boundary…
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Can I replace my fence posts without replacing the whole fence?
Yes, when the rails and pickets are still sound. We brace the panels upright, free the rails from the failed post, pull or cut out the old post and footing…
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Why do fence posts fail so often in San Diego soils, and how do I stop it?
Fence posts in San Diego County usually fail at the ground line, and the soil is a big part of why. Clay-heavy soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, which…
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My fence is leaning. Can it be repaired, or does the whole thing need to be replaced?
A leaning fence can usually be repaired when the lean comes from one or two failed posts and the rails and pickets are still sound. We plumb the run, set new…
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