Getting Your Fence and Gate Ready for Santa Ana Wind Season

Why are Santa Ana winds hard on fences and gates?

A solid fence acts like a sail, and wind pushes against the whole surface. Posts, fasteners and gate hardware carry that load, so any rot, loose connections or sagging shows up fast. Wind also slams gates open and shut, which works latches and hinges loose and can crack frames.

The wind itself is only part of it. Fences in Southern California spend most of the year in strong sun and dry heat, which dries out wood and loosens fasteners. A fence that looks fine from the street can have rotted post bases or rusted nails that will not hold in a strong gust.

Gates are usually the first thing to go. They are heavy, they swing, and their hardware takes the most punishment. Even a small amount of sag becomes a slam or a jam when the wind pushes on it.

What should I check on my fence before windy weather?

Push on each post and panel to check for movement, look at the base of every post for rot or softness, make sure rails and pickets are firmly fastened, and look for leaning sections. A post that wiggles at the ground, or wood that is soft under a screwdriver, needs attention before the wind finds it.

• Post bases: probe for soft wood and look for gaps between the post and its footing
• Rails and pickets: look for loose nails, screws that have backed out and split boards
• Panel connections: check brackets and fasteners at every post
• Lean: sight along the fence line for sections that tilt
• Neighbors' side: shared fences are worth a conversation if one side is failing
• Nearby trees: look for dead limbs that could land on the fence in a gust

A simple fix now, like tightening hardware or replacing a few rotted boards, is much easier than rebuilding a section after it falls.

How do I check and fix a gate?

Open and close the gate and watch how it moves. Check that it swings freely, that the latch lines up, and that the hinges are tight in solid wood or steel. Sagging gates can often be corrected by tightening or replacing hinge hardware, adding a brace or adjusting the latch, but a damaged frame or post needs repair.

Can I make my fence more wind-resistant?

Often, yes. Solid sound posts set in good footings, tight fasteners, rust-resistant hardware and well-braced gates all help, and gaps between boards or a lattice top let some wind through instead of resisting all of it. Taller, solid fences carry the most load, so check local rules and ask before changing a design.

A fence that lets some air through is generally under less wind load than a solid one. That does not mean you need to rebuild a privacy fence, but it is worth considering when a section is being replaced anyway.

In fire-prone areas, how a wood fence or gate connects to the house is also worth a thought, and local fire and building departments can tell you what applies where you live. We can talk through options at an estimate and tell you what we would do and why.

When should I call for fence or gate repair?

Call when a post is loose or rotted at the base, when a section leans, when a gate will not close or latch securely, or after any storm or windy night that has damaged the line. Leaning or failing sections can fall in the next gust and damage property or injure someone, so do not wait.

We repair and replace wood and steel fences and gates as part of our fence and gate repair service, and we can paint or stain a finished fence through our painting service. For gate posts set in concrete, see our concrete repair work.

If a section has already come down, call us. We offer 24/7 emergency service for genuine emergencies such as storm damage, and we will tell you what can be secured right away and what should be scheduled.