5 Warning Signs Your Fence Won't Survive Next Winter

1. The fence moves when you push on it

A healthy post shouldn't flex at the base. If a section rocks noticeably when pushed, the post footing has likely failed — often from rot at grade, which is where Beaverton's wet soil does the most damage.

2. Visible gaps at the post base

A small gap where the post meets the ground means the post has already shifted. Left alone through a wet winter, that gap widens and the lean gets worse.

3. Soft or spongy wood near the ground

Press a screwdriver into the post near soil level. If it sinks in easily, rot has already started underneath, even if the wood above ground still looks fine.

4. A gate that's started dragging

Gates are usually the first thing to show fence-wide problems, since they carry the most repeated stress. A gate that used to swing freely and now drags or won't latch often means the hinge post is weakening.

5. Old repairs that are failing again

If a previously repaired section is showing the same symptoms, the original fix likely didn't address drainage at the post base — the real fix resets the post over a gravel drainage layer, not just straightening it.

Catching any of these now, before storm season, usually means a quick section repair instead of an emergency call after a windstorm takes the whole thing down. See our fence repair page or call for a free assessment.