Fence repair in McKinney, TX.
From spring storm damage to posts loosened by years of clay soil movement, most fences fail in the same handful of ways. We fix them properly, with deep-set posts and honest advice on when repair beats replacement.
Most fence problems start underground.
A fence rarely falls over all at once. It starts with a gate that drags, a section that leans a little more after every storm, or pickets that pop loose along one run. In North Texas these small failures have the same root causes: expansive clay soil that heaves posts up and down with the seasons, spring storms that snap pickets and push over weak sections, and builder-grade construction that was never meant to last more than a decade.
McKinney Fence Pros handles fence repair across Frisco, Plano, Allen, Prosper, and the surrounding North Texas communities. We repair cedar, pine, vinyl, chain link, and ornamental iron, and every repair starts with a free on-site estimate so you know exactly what is wrong and what it costs to fix it right. If the honest answer is that replacement is the better value, we will tell you that too.
Not sure whether your fence is worth saving? Our guide to wood fence costs in McKinney walks through the same math we use on every estimate, so you can see how repair and replacement compare.
What breaks fences in North Texas
Clay soil is the number one enemy. Blackland Prairie clay swells when it rains and shrinks in the August heat, and that cycle works shallow-set posts loose over time. A post set 24 inches deep in concrete can still move if the footing is undersized for the soil. When we reset leaning sections, we set posts deeper with wider footings and, where lean is likely to return, we switch to steel posts that do not warp or rot.
Wind is the second factor. Spring storms rolling through Collin County regularly snap pickets, tear rails loose, and push entire runs over, especially on corner lots and along open greenbelts where there is nothing to break the wind. After a storm we see the same pattern every time: the sections that fail are the ones with rotted post bases, missing fasteners, or rails that were nailed instead of screwed.
Sun and heat finish the job. Texas summers dry out wood fences fast, and an unstained cedar or pine fence can start checking and graying within two seasons. Re-staining is not cosmetic here. A quality stain with UV protection and water repellent adds years to a wood fence, and it is one of the cheapest repairs you can buy.
What we repair.
Storm damage repair
Downed runs, snapped pickets, and twisted rails after spring storms. We straighten what can be saved and replace what cannot, usually in a single visit.
Leaning sections reset
Posts loosened by clay soil movement get pulled, re-set deeper with proper footings, and braced until the concrete cures.
Picket and rail replacement
Rotted or missing pickets and rails replaced to match your existing fence, so the repair blends in instead of standing out.
Gate rebuilds
Sagging, dragging gates rebuilt with proper framing, sturdy hinges, and latches that actually latch. The gate is the hardest-working part of any fence.
Post replacement
Rotted wood posts swapped for new wood or steel posts set deep enough for North Texas clay, so the same post does not fail twice.
Re-staining and sealing
Cleaning, prep, and a quality stain that protects wood from sun and rain and brings tired fences back to life.
Repair or replace? An honest answer.
This is the question behind almost every repair call, and the answer comes down to math. As a rule of thumb, if less than a third of the fence is compromised and the posts are still solid, repair is usually the better value. If more than a third is failing, or the posts themselves are rotted at grade, replacement often costs less per year of life than patching a fence that will keep failing.
We will give you both numbers during the estimate: the cost to repair properly and the cost to replace. No pressure either way. Plenty of fences we look at are worth saving, and plenty are not. You deserve the real answer before you spend money.
One more honest note. If your fence is a builder-grade pine fence approaching the 10 to 12 year mark, repairs buy time but they do not reset the clock. In that situation many homeowners choose to replace with cedar on steel posts, which is the combination we recommend for this soil. Our cedar fence installation page explains why.
How a repair visit works.
Call or request a quote and we will schedule a free on-site estimate, usually within a few days. We walk the fence line with you, point out what failed and why, and give you a written price for the repair.
Most repairs are completed in a single visit once materials are on hand. We haul away the old pickets, rails, and posts, reset or replace what is needed, and leave the yard as clean as we found it. Gates get tested before we leave, because a gate that does not latch is a repair that is not done.
Frequently asked questions.
Yes. After spring storms we handle downed runs, snapped pickets, twisted rails, and gates that no longer latch. Call soon after the storm, because exposed post holes fill with water and make the damage worse.
It depends on the damage. Replacing a handful of pickets is a small job; resetting a leaning 30-foot run with new posts is a bigger one. Every repair starts with a free on-site estimate with a written price, so there are no surprises.
Usually, yes, if the posts are still sound. We pull leaning sections, re-set the posts deeper with proper concrete footings, and brace them while the concrete cures. If the posts are rotted at the base, replacement posts are the right fix.
Yes. We repair vinyl privacy and picket fences, chain link, and ornamental iron, including welded repairs and replacement panels, in addition to wood fences.
If less than a third of the fence is failing and the posts are solid, repair is usually the better value. If the posts are rotted or most of the fence is compromised, replacement costs less per year of fence life. We will give you both numbers and a straight recommendation.
Yes. We clean, prep, and stain wood fences with a quality exterior stain that protects against Texas sun and rain. Staining every few years is one of the cheapest ways to extend a wood fence's life.
Get your fence standing straight again.
Call (214) 555-0182 for a free on-site repair estimate anywhere in McKinney and the surrounding North Texas communities.