Local Fence & Gate Repair in Malibu, CA
Gate dragging on the ground or fence leaning after a windstorm? Rehanging, bracing and a few new boards usually get it standing right.
Side gate scraping the concrete, or won't latch unless you lift and shove? Most calls for fence repair in Malibu start right there. Gates sag because hinges loosen, posts lean and the frame racks out of square. The fix: tighten or replace the hinges, square the frame with a brace or anti-sag cable and reset the latch so it closes on its own.
Fence repair in Malibu gets the same honest look from us. A couple of cracked pickets or a loose rail is a quick fix. A post rotted off at the ground needs more, and we'll explain what that takes.
Pretty much every wood fence and gate needs some attention after enough sun, wind and sprinkler water. We'd rather fix the one bad section than talk you into a whole new run.
Signs Your Fence or Gate Needs Repair
Gate drags or won't latch
The latch side drops as the gate racks out of square. You end up lifting it every time you walk through.
Post leaning or wobbling
Wood posts rot right at the ground line, where soil stays damp. Once that goes, the whole section leans.
Cracked or missing boards
Sun and water split pickets over time, and a ball or a branch does the rest. Single boards are easy to replace.
Hinges pulling out
Screws strip out of soft or old wood. The gate hangs crooked and the hinge flops.
Rails split or sagging
Horizontal rails carry the weight of the boards. When one cracks, the pickets above it wave in the wind.
Rusted latches and hardware
Plain steel hardware rusts fast near the coast. Stuck latches and seized hinges are common calls.
Fence Repair in Malibu for Homes and Rentals
Homes
Side yard gates, pool area gates, wood privacy fences and the little picket fence by the garden. That's most of what we fix. Metal gates too, when the hinges or latch are shot and need swapping.
Rentals & small business
We handle gate and fence repairs for rentals, HOA common areas and small business lots. Property managers can send photos of each problem spot and we'll price them together. Long new fence lines and automated gate openers are outside what we do.
Our Approach to Fence & Gate Repair
Find why it sags
We check the hinge post first, then the hinges, then the gate frame. Fixing the gate does nothing if the post it hangs on is leaning.
Fix the post
A loose post gets braced, reset or repaired with a steel post anchor driven beside it. Rotted ones may need to come out.
Square and rehang
We pull the gate square with a diagonal brace or turnbuckle cable, then rehang it on heavier hinges with longer screws.
Reset latch and boards
The latch gets lined up or swapped, and cracked boards get replaced with matching lumber and exterior screws.
When It's the Posts, Not the Boards
Rotten posts are the hard version of this job. Wood rots fastest right at the soil line, so a post can look fine from the top and snap off at the base. The old concrete footing is often still in the ground, so we either break it out or set a new post next to it.
Hillside fences add another wrinkle. Posts on a slope carry uneven loads, and soil that shifts after a wet winter can push a whole run out of line. We can reset a post or two and re-tension the rails. A full run that's walking downhill may need a new fence line, and that's a bigger project.
And sometimes the fence isn't worth saving. If most of the posts are soft and the boards are gray and split, more repairs just delay the inevitable. We'll tell you when we think that's where you are.
Sagging gates rehung, broken latches swapped, leaning posts braced and busted boards replaced. Send a photo and the address, and you'll get a straight answer.
(333) 333‑3333Wind, Salt and Fire: Fences in Malibu
Fences here take a beating from wind. The City of Malibu lists a 94 mph wind speed among its building design factors, and a solid privacy fence acts like a sail when gusts hit it. That's why we look hard at posts and footings, not just boards. Salt air also eats plain steel hardware, so we use galvanized or stainless hinges, latches and screws.
Fire is part of the picture too. All of Malibu is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and under state law AB 38 sellers have to meet defensible space rules before escrow closes. We don't do inspections, but we can fix gates and fence sections so your yard is in good shape before one.
Can You Fix a Fence or Gate Yourself?
Sagging gate? An anti-sag kit, basically a cable and turnbuckle that runs corner to corner, costs a few bucks at the hardware store and works on a lot of wood gates. Swapping a stripped hinge screw for a longer one is fair game too.
Posts are where DIY gets harder. Digging out old concrete, setting a new post plumb and getting the height right takes time and a strong back. If more than one post is going, it's usually worth a call.
Fence Work We Handle and When We Bring In a Partner
Gates, hinges, latches, boards, rails and a post or two are our kind of job. Work done without a contractor's license in California has to come in at less than $1,000 for the whole price, and it can't need a building permit or be part of a larger project. A new fence line, a block wall or a retaining wall goes to a trusted licensed partner. We'll set up that referral and stay your point of contact.
What to Expect
- How long does it take?
- A gate rehang or a few boards is often a couple of hours. Setting new posts takes longer, since the concrete needs time to cure before the fence goes back on.
- Will there be a mess?
- Some dirt if we dig post holes, and scraps from old boards. The old lumber and broken concrete go with us, and the area gets raked before we leave.
- What does it cost?
- Public cost guides put minor fence repairs like a single board at $100 to $300, and standard repairs like a panel or post at $300 to $900, per HomeGuide. Number of posts, digging conditions and lumber type move the price.
- Do I need a permit?
- Basic repairs, like boards, hinges and resetting a post, usually don't. New fences, tall walls or retaining walls can, and anything that needs a permit goes to a licensed partner.
- Do I need to be home?
- Not if we can get into the yard. Leave the side gate unlocked and keep pets inside, and we can do the work while you're out.
Fence & Gate Repair FAQ
How much does fence repair in Malibu cost?
Minor repairs like a single board run $100 to $300 on national cost guides, and panel or post repairs run $300 to $900. A gate rehang with new hardware is usually toward the low end. Rotted posts set in old concrete push it up. We'll see it and give you a number before we start any work.
Can a sagging gate be fixed without replacing it?
Usually, yes. Sagging mostly comes from loose hinges, a leaning post or a frame that's racked. The fix is tightening or upgrading the hinges, adding a diagonal brace or turnbuckle cable to pull it square and resetting the latch. If the gate frame itself is rotted, we can rebuild it with new lumber.
What wood do you use for fence repairs?
Pressure-treated lumber for posts and anything touching the ground. For boards and rails, we match what you have, usually redwood or cedar. New wood won't match old gray boards right away, but it weathers in over time. Staining or sealing the repaired section helps it blend sooner, if you want that.
Can you fix metal or vinyl fences?
Some of it. We swap hinges, latches and broken pickets on metal gates, and replace damaged vinyl panels and caps when parts are available. Welding broken metal frames isn't something we do, so that goes to a welder. Vinyl is tricky when the style is discontinued, and we'll tell you up front.
Should I repair or replace my fence?
Repair it if most of the posts are solid and only a few boards or one gate are bad. Replace it if the posts are soft all along the run or the boards are split everywhere. Patching a fence that's done costs more over time. And a full replacement usually runs past the state limit for our kind of work, so it goes to a licensed partner.
Need fence repair in Malibu?
Text Zacharias a photo of the gate or the bad section. He'll tell you what it needs and what it doesn't.