Here’s a quick and easy way to fix a leaning fence without having to access your neighbour’s garden or take all the panels off. This method only requires a few basic materials and standard steel angles (30mm wide on each side) which can be found in most DIY stores. 

Which type of fence problems can this method fix:

In most cases, wooden garden fence posts fail due to rot below or at ground level or simply due to the base not being strong enough because no concrete was used. This method will only work for fence posts that didn’t have any post spikes or solid concrete poured around them. Below is an example of this type of post and us fixing our fence:

Tools required:

Digging bar/pry bar
Spade
Spirit level
Hacksaw (if you need to cut the steel angles)
Combi drill/impact driver
Trowel (bucket or brick trowel would do)
2″ x 2″ timber for support (about 2m in length)
Plastic bucket

Materials needed for this method:

2 x 1m steel angles (30mm or so on each side, so 2 angles will cover about 60mm width of a 75mm/100mm fence post)
Screws (flat head stainless steel screws are better but gold timber screws would do too)
Postcrete (concrete mix, quick set)

The process of fixing the fence:

How to fix a leaning fence step by step video

Here’s a video on how to fix a leaning fence if you prefer a video to reading 😉

Please don’t forget to like and subscribe on Youtube if you find the video useful.

Step 1: Dig out the base to enable levelling the post

Dig out enough soil around the post as possible until you see the bottom of the post. This will help loosen the fence post so that it can be levelled vertically.

Step 2: Straightening/levelling the fence post

Screw a small piece of wood two thirds up the fence post so a support can be wedged against it to keep it level. Grab a spirit level (ideally at least a metre long) and use that to guide you in making the post straight. Once you are happy with the alignment of the post, wedge a piece of timber (ideally at least 2″ x 2″ and 2m long) against the piece of wood you screwed earlier on the post to hold the level in place as per the picture below.

Step 3: Fitting steel angles

You want at least 0.5m underground and 0.5m above ground of space and positioning of the existing “u” clamps on the post permits. Most DIY stores will sell these angles. A picture of the one we used is below:

Drill through the steel angles on both sides with a steel drill bit for screw fastening. Attach the steel angles to the post securely with sufficient screws as illustrated below.

Step 4: Pour quick set postcrete (concrete)

Once you’re happy with the level of the post and the angles are secured, its time to pour the Postcrete in.

Please follow the instructions on the bag. Most manufacturers recommend you fill up the hole up to 1/3 with water first and then pour the concrete mix in gently.

You can use a piece of pry bar or a metal rod to mix it all in to ensure the concrete fills all the gaps and makes maximum contact with angles.

It is also a good idea to make the concrete slant away from the post so rain water drains away from the post easily. You can use your brick trowel to achieve this bearing in mind that the postcrete sets pretty quickly so this has to be done within the first 5 mins of pouring the concrete.

Wait for half an hour or so and then you’re done! You could always grow more grass or plant flowers around the post so that the concrete isn’t visible.

I hope you found this post useful. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or suggestions. Thanks and speak soon!

2 year update, Fence still stands strong!

After over two years and two major storms, Dudley and Eunice, I am glad to report that the fence post is still standing strong, just as it was the day it was installed!

When Storm Eunice blew in at 122 miles per hour (the fastest wind gust ever recorded in England!!) a handful of the other fence posts broke. Nonetheless, our solution endured the test of time 🙂

Very pleased with the outcome and hope all the readers are finding this fix useful too. It would be great to see your pictures / comments if you ended up doing something similar – just send us an email or leave a comment below.

Take care and speak soon!