A leaning fence in Boston is almost always a post problem — either the post has rotted at grade, the concrete footing has heaved from freeze-thaw action, or the post was never set deep enough. Diagnosing the cause determines the correct repair.
Post rot at grade is the most common cause in Greater Boston. Posts made of untreated or inadequately treated lumber rot at the soil line — the transition between moist soil and air creates ideal conditions for fungal decay. Test this by excavating around the base and probing with a screwdriver: solid wood resists, punky wood penetrates easily. Footing heave affects Boston's frost-heavy soils — footings set at inadequate depth heave annually with freeze-thaw cycles, gradually tilting posts. Improper installation — posts set in backfill soil without concrete, or in footings too shallow — are never stable regardless of material condition. AWPA treated wood standards →
A post that has heaved but is otherwise structurally sound can sometimes be plumbed and re-secured — excavating to below frost depth, replumbing, and adding a deeper concrete collar. This is only appropriate when the post material itself is sound and footing failure was the primary cause. If the post has heaved AND rotted at the base, it needs replacement — a heaved and rotted post plumbed and re-concreted will rot through within another few years. Test the post before deciding: probe the base thoroughly before committing to repair vs. replacement.
Post replacement in Boston requires setting the new post to proper depth — minimum 48" in the ground for a 6' privacy fence. We excavate the old footing completely, remove all existing concrete and debris, set the new post in a tube form, and pour fresh concrete with a sloped top to shed water away from the post base. New posts must be ground-contact rated pressure-treated (UC4B treatment level) for direct soil and concrete contact. Surface-ground or above-ground rated posts will rot at the base within years even in concrete. HomeAdvisor fence repair costs →
We assess every post on a fence when we're replacing one. A fence with one failed post often has adjacent posts in early-stage failure that will lean within another year or two. Replacing a single post and leaving adjacent posts in poor condition results in the homeowner paying mobilization costs twice. We identify all posts at or near failure and provide a comprehensive quote for addressing all structural issues in one project rather than a sequence of callbacks. This Old House fence repair guide →
Need Fence Repair in Boston?
AURA Painting Inc serves all Boston neighborhoods. Licensed MA #193121, fully insured, 2-year warranty. Free estimates — most jobs scheduled within the week.
Call (617) 777-7700 ← Back to Fence Repair