Fences in South Gippsland live a hard life. Winter rain soaks the posts, the clay ground heaves and shrinks, westerly gales lean on every paling and summer sun dries the timber until it splits. Add dogs, kids, trees and the odd wandering cow on rural blocks, and it is no surprise that most fences need some attention every few years.

Leongatha Handyman repairs residential fences and gates across Leongatha, Korumburra, Mirboo North, Meeniyan and the surrounding district. We fix palings, rails and posts, straighten leaning sections, re-hang sagging gates and fit new latches and hinges, so the fence keeps doing its job without having to be replaced.

Fence repairs we do

• Replacing broken, split or missing palings
• Re-nailing or screwing loose palings
• Replacing rotten or broken rails
• Bracing or replacing rotten posts on short sections
• Straightening leaning sections where the posts are still sound
• Repairing capping and plinth boards
• Repairing picket fences on period homes
• Fixing lattice and screening panels
• Repairing small garden and pool-adjacent fence sections (we do not certify pool fences)
• Patching storm damage after a tree limb or high wind

Gate repairs

Gates are the most-used part of any fence and usually the first to fail. Common problems are:

• Sagging. The gate drops at the latch end and drags on the ground. Usually the hinges have loosened, the post is leaning or the gate frame has racked out of square. We tighten or replace hinges, add a diagonal brace or tension kit, and adjust or support the post.
• Latch will not catch. When the gate or post moves, the latch no longer lines up. We realign or replace the latch, and can fit self-closing hinges and gravity latches.
• Rotten frames. Bottom rails and frames rot where water sits. We repair or rebuild the gate frame using the existing palings where possible.
• New gates. We can build and hang a new timber gate to match the fence.

Types of fences we work on

Timber paling fences

The classic suburban boundary fence in Leongatha and Korumburra, usually treated pine or hardwood palings on two or three rails. Most repairs here are palings, rails and the odd post.

Picket fences

Many of the older weatherboard homes in the district have timber picket fences at the front. These add a lot of character and are worth maintaining. We replace broken pickets, repair rails and help prepare them for painting.

Colorbond and steel fences

Steel fences are low maintenance, but panels can be dented or pushed in, and posts can lean in wet ground. We can straighten, re-fix and replace damaged sheets on short runs and fix gates and latches.

Rural garden fences

Many farmhouses have a garden fence around the house yard to keep stock and dogs where they belong. These may be post-and-rail, timber with wire, or a mix. We can repair house yard fences and gates. For long boundary or stock fencing across paddocks, a rural fencing contractor is the right choice.

Rotten posts

Posts usually rot at ground level, where the timber stays wet. When a post fails, the section leans or flaps in the wind. Depending on the situation, we can:

• Fit a steel post support, driven into the ground beside the old post and bolted on
• Dig out and replace the post, setting the new one in concrete
• Brace the section temporarily while a longer-term plan is made

Replacing a post on a short section is a typical handyman job. Where many posts along a long run have failed, a new fence is often the better investment, and we will tell you honestly if that is the case.

Boundary fences and neighbours

In Victoria, adjoining owners generally share the cost of a sufficient dividing fence under the Fences Act. If your fence is on a boundary and needs significant work, it is worth talking to your neighbour first. Small repairs are often just done by whoever notices first, but larger jobs should be agreed. We can provide a clear quote you can share.

Storm and wind damage

South Gippsland is no stranger to strong winds. The district has seen serious storms in recent years, including the February 2024 storm that brought down trees across Mirboo North. Fences are often the first casualty when trees fall or panels catch the wind. We can make a damaged fence safe quickly and then repair it properly once things settle down. If you are claiming on insurance, we can provide photos and a written quote.

Painting and staining

New palings and rails stand out against weathered timber. We can stain or paint repaired sections to help them blend in, or treat the whole fence with an exterior stain to protect it. Timber that is sealed lasts much longer in the wet.

Our process

1. Send photos of the damaged section, both sides if possible, and tell us the approximate length and height.

2. We quote, including materials.

3. We bring the timber, fixings and concrete needed, and complete most repairs in a single visit.

4. Offcuts and old timber are cleared away.

Fences on rural and residential blocks

South Gippsland is farming country, and fences are part of everyday life. In town, timber paling and Colorbond fences divide house blocks in Leongatha, Korumburra and Inverloch. On lifestyle blocks around Koonwarra, Nyora, Loch and Poowong, post-and-rail and timber fences line driveways and house paddocks. On working farms, fences keep stock where they belong. Each type has its own common problems, and the wet climate, wind and wandering cattle all take their toll.

Our fence work focuses on residential and lifestyle-block fencing: repairs, short sections, gates and posts. For long runs of new rural fencing, a specialist fencing contractor is usually the better option, and we will say so.

Leaning fences and rotten posts

The most common fence problem we see is a leaning section caused by a rotten post at ground level. Timber posts sit in damp soil for years, and in South Gippsland’s wet clay soils they rot from the outside in. Once the post goes, wind loads the panel and it leans further each storm. We dig out the old post, set a new treated pine or hardwood post in concrete, or fit a steel post support or stirrup to save a sound post, and straighten the panel.

Paling fence repairs

Paling fences lose palings to wind, kids, dogs and age. Rails crack, nails rust and palings split. We replace individual palings, broken rails and sections, matching height and style. Where a fence is near the end of its life, we will say so and suggest replacement of the worst sections first so the cost is spread out.

Colorbond and steel fences

Steel fences are popular in newer estates. They do not rot but can be damaged by falling branches, vehicles and storms. Panels dent, posts bend and rails pop out of their fixings. We replace damaged sheets, rails and posts with matching colours where available and re-tension loose panels.

Gates that drag, sag or will not latch

A sagging gate is usually caused by loose hinges, a leaning post or a frame that has racked out of square. We tighten or replace hinges, add a diagonal brace or a tensioning kit, replace latches and drop bolts, and reset or replace the hinge post where needed. For pool gates, safety rules require self-closing and self-latching gates at a set height; we can fit and adjust compliant hardware, but your pool barrier may need to be inspected and certified by a registered building surveyor.

Storms and fallen trees

Storms regularly bring down trees and branches across fences in South Gippsland. After the storms of February 2024, which hit Mirboo North hard, many residents dealt with damaged fences and outbuildings. If a fence is damaged in a storm, take photos for your insurer before anything is moved. Once a tree has been cleared by an arborist where needed, we can repair or replace the fence sections.

Shared fences

In Victoria, the Fences Act sets out how neighbours share the cost of dividing fences. If you are fixing a shared fence, it is worth talking to your neighbour first. We can provide a written quote you can share with them, but we do not get involved in disputes.

Dogs, chickens and garden fences

We also fit dog-proof mesh at the base of fences, build small garden and vegetable patch fences to keep out rabbits and wallabies, and repair chicken run fencing. In coastal areas, salt-resistant mesh and fixings last much longer.

Choosing timber for a repair

Treated pine posts rated for in-ground use are the usual choice for residential fences. Hardwood posts are stronger and look good but cost more and can be harder to source in matching sizes. Paling fences around Leongatha are typically hardwood or treated pine palings on pine rails. Where we replace only part of a fence, new timber will look brighter than the weathered sections for a year or two before it greys off to match. A coat of fence stain can help blend old and new straight away.

Getting ready for the visit

Let us know where underground services might run, clear access along the fence line where possible, and tell your neighbour if we need to work from their side.

Where we repair fences

Leongatha, Korumburra, Mirboo North, Meeniyan, Koonwarra, Dumbalk, Inverloch, Tarwin Lower, Nyora, Loch, Poowong and surrounding properties.

Coastal fences

Fences near the coast at Inverloch, Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower face salt spray, sandy ground and constant wind. Steel fixings corrode faster, posts in sand can lose grip and timber dries out. We use galvanised or stainless fixings and choose post supports suited to sandy soil.

How to make a fence last longer

• Keep soil, mulch and garden beds away from the bottom of palings so the timber can dry out
• Trim back shrubs and creepers that hold moisture against the fence
• Re-fix loose palings early before they are lost in the next wind
• Treat or paint the timber every few years
• Check gates for sagging and adjust hinges before the frame racks

Frequently asked questions