Things No One Tells You About Fences (Until It’s Too Late)

1. Most Fence Failures Start Underground

When a fence fails, homeowners usually blame the boards or the wind or the age.

That’s almost never the real problem.

Most fence issues start below ground, at the posts. If the post isn’t set correctly, nothing above it matters. You can use the best lumber on the market and it will still fail.

Industry guidance from the American Fence Association confirms that post depth, footing method, and soil conditions are the most common causes of premature fence failure: https://www.americanfenceassociation.com/page/installation-practices

Here’s what often goes wrong:

• Posts set too shallow

• Poor soil compaction

• No gravel for drainage

• Concrete poured incorrectly

• Wood posts placed directly in wet soil

Once moisture sits around a post, rot begins. And rot doesn’t announce itself right away. It works quietly. By the time the fence leans, the damage is already done.

This is why Fine Homebuilding emphasizes drainage and proper footing as the most critical step in fence longevity: https://www.finehomebuilding.com/project-guides/decks/how-to-set-fence-posts-that-last

This is also why two fences built the same year can age very differently.

2. Wind Is a Bigger Enemy Than Rain

Rain gets blamed a lot. Wind should get more attention.

A solid fence acts like a sail. Every strong gust puts pressure on posts, rails, and fasteners. If the fence wasn’t designed with airflow in mind, that pressure has nowhere to go.

According to FEMA wind-load guidance for residential structures, lateral forces from wind cause gradual structural loosening over time, even without storms: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_wind-resistant-construction.pdf

Over time, this causes:

• Posts to loosen

• Rails to pull free

• Fasteners to fail

• Entire sections to rack and twist

This is especially common in side yards and long fence runs.

A fence that looks great on day one can slowly get beaten up by wind without anyone noticing. Until one day, it doesn’t bounce back.

3. “Pressure Treated” Does Not Mean Rot-Proof

This is one of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have.

Pressure-treated wood is resistant, not immune.

It still absorbs moisture.It still dries out.It still cracks, twists, and eventually breaks down.

The U.S. Forest Products Laboratory makes this clear in its durability studies. Treatment slows decay, but does not eliminate it: https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/documnts/pdf2007/fpl_2007_leak_001.pdf

The treatment helps, but it does not cancel out:

• Poor drainage

• Ground contact issues

• Improper installation

• Years of sun exposure

This is why post choice and installation matter more than board choice. A fancy fence with weak posts will always lose to a basic fence built correctly.

4. Gates Are the First Thing to Fail (And That’s Normal)

If your gate sags, sticks, or won’t latch anymore, you’re not alone.

Gates fail first because:

• They carry constant weight

• They move every day

• Hardware loosens over time

• Posts take extra stress

According to Family Handyman, most gate failures trace back to undersized posts and inadequate bracing: https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-build-a-fence-gate/

Most gates are undersized for the job they’re doing or they’re attached to posts that weren’t reinforced enough from the start.

This doesn’t mean your entire fence is bad. It means gates need better support and occasional adjustment.

Ignoring a failing gate, though, often leads to bigger structural issues nearby.

5. Soil Type Matters More Than Most People Realize

Not all soil behaves the same.

Clay holds water. Sand drains fast. Rocky soil shifts differently over time.

The University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources outlines how soil composition directly affects structural movement and moisture retention: https://ucanr.edu/sites/soils/

A post set perfectly in one yard can fail in another if the soil conditions weren’t accounted for. This is why fence methods shouldn’t be “one size fits all.”

In Northern California especially, soil conditions can change block by block. A fence that lasts 20 years in one neighborhood might struggle to make it to 10 in another.

This is also why repairs often require different solutions than the original build.

6. Mixing Old and New Fence Sections Is Tricky

Many homeowners don’t want to replace everything. That makes sense.

But tying new fence sections into older ones comes with challenges:

• Different settling levels

• Uneven post strength

• Mismatched materials

• Old fasteners meeting new lumber

This Old House notes that structural transitions are common failure points when old and new materials are combined: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/fences/21016486/all-about-fences

If this isn’t handled carefully, the new section can actually stress the older fence and speed up its failure.

A proper evaluation matters here. Sometimes reinforcing the old fence first is the smarter move.

7. A Fence Can Look Fine and Still Be Failing

This one surprises people.

From the street, everything may look straight. Boards line up. No obvious damage.

But behind the scenes:

• Posts may already be soft below grade

• Concrete may be cracked or loose

• Fasteners may be rusting out

• Rails may be splitting internally

According to Bob Vila, many fence failures are internal and unseen until structural movement becomes visible: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-long-do-fences-last/

By the time visible damage appears, the repair options are more limited and more expensive.

This is why periodic inspections matter, especially for fences older than 5–7 years.

8. Repairs Are Often Cheaper Than You Expect

(If Done Early)

Many homeowners delay calling because they assume the worst.

In reality, early repairs can:

• Reinforce posts

• Correct alignment issues

• Extend fence life by years

• Prevent full replacement

HomeAdvisor reports that early structural repairs are often a fraction of full replacement costs: https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/fencing/repair-a-fence/

Waiting usually does the opposite.

Small issues turn into large ones. One weak post turns into three. A simple fix becomes a full tear-out.

Timing matters more than people realize.

9. Not All “Lifetime” Claims Mean the Same Thing

Materials get sold with big promises.

What’s rarely explained is:

• What conditions void those claims

• What installation methods are required

• What “lifetime” actually refers to

The International Code Council clarifies that material warranties do not override installation standards or environmental exposure: https://www.iccsafe.org/products-and-services/i-codes/

In many cases, the warranty covers material defects, not real-world wear and it almost never covers labor.

Understanding this upfront helps homeowners make smarter decisions instead of relying on labels.

10. A Fence Is a System, Not Just Boards and Posts

This is the big takeaway.

A fence only works when all parts work together:

• Posts

• Footings

• Rails

• Boards

• Fasteners

• Gates

Structural guidance from Simpson Strong-Tie emphasizes system-based construction for long-term performance: https://www.strongtie.com/resources/education/lateral-loads

Focusing on just one part misses the bigger picture.

When fences are designed and repaired as systems, they last longer, perform better, and cost less over time.

Final Thoughts for Homeowners

Most fence problems don’t come from neglect. They come from missing information.

Homeowners aren’t told what to watch for. They aren’t told what actually matters. They aren’t told when to act.

That’s why education matters just as much as construction.

If you understand how fences really fail, you can make better decisions, avoid unnecessary replacements, and get more life out of what you already own.

And that’s always the smarter move.