You May Not Need To Call A Professional To Repair Your Vinyl Fence. Here's How To DIY

With weather wreaking havoc across the land, there's a good chance your fencing might have taken a battering in a recent storm ... or will in the near future. Although vinyl fencing is generally durable and long-lasting, it can easily crack or lose entire sections from downed branches or trees. Moreover, repairing a vinyl fence can cost hundreds of dollars. But replacement parts are easy to come by, which means repairing the fence on your own is surprisingly simple and seriously cheap — especially if you have an extra set of hands to help out.

Post caps, which are often missing on fences under the best meteorological conditions, are only about $5 apiece. Posts are about $50 each. An unassembled panel, parts of which can be used for repairs, retails for about $100. With a couple of tools and some patience, your fencing will be fixed in no time, instantly boosting your curb appeal. Once you see how easily parts and pieces interlock, you might even want to install a vinyl fence yourself.

To start the fence repairing process, pop off the cap and remove the top rail, which will be inserted into the post through precut holes on both sides. This will allow you to disassemble the fencing and replace the rail and posts. If you're installing a new rail, some recommend cutting it first to make it easier to remove in two pieces. Use a screwdriver to hold back pins if the rail is stuck. If the rail is in good shape and you need to replace the panels underneath, use a 2x1 inch piece of wood to apply pressure to the rail inside the post and shimmy it out and remove it. Once the rail is off, take out any panels that need to be replaced. Use dishwashing soap along the edges of the panels to make it easier to move them into place. Then, the fence can be reassembled.

Sometimes the brackets between sections of vinyl fencing can break or wear down and an entire panel will fall out. These brackets can be easily replaced: A packet of two can sell for as little as $5. If you have small holes in the fence, another DIY hack is to use a vinyl fence patch kit, which costs about $50. A less expensive solution is to use spray foam to fill the holes, cut off the extra material after it dries, sand it down, and paint it.