A fence withstands a great deal of weather exposure, and over time can sag and break down due to general wear and tear. When this happens, it may be necessary to replace the entire fence. However, if a single fence post is leaning, you can fix it yourself instead of tearing down the whole fence. Be sure to do it as soon as possible, as a leaning fence post can damage the rest of the fence, which can result in more expenses and more work.

What You'll Need

You'll need a shovel, a sledgehammer, a chisel, a level, a pair of gloves, a pair of safety glasses, wooden stakes, two metal braces, an electric drill, screws, a wheelbarrow, and a bag of premixed concrete. All of these materials are available at most hardware stores.

Fixing a Leaning Fence Post

1. Use the shovel to dig around the foundation of the post until you reach the bottom. Usually, the concrete base of each post goes down six feet, though in some areas it is only four feet.
2. Use the sledgehammer and chisel to break apart the concrete. You don't have to remove all of it, but the majority of it will have to be broken up.
3. Use the shovel to remove the chunks of hard concrete from the hole.
4. Using the level, straighten the post so that it is properly aligned with the rest of the fence.
5. You may need a helper for this. Drill the braces into the fence post, and then drive the wooden stakes into the ground. Ensure that the fence post is straight, and then screw the stakes into the braces so that the fence post is held steady.
6. Mix the concrete mix with water in a wheelbarrow. The directions for each type of mix varies, so be sure to check the bag. As a general rule of thumb, the concrete should be a pasty mixture, like yogurt or oatmeal. Fill the now empty hole with the concrete.
7. Wait for the concrete to dry. This will, again, depend on the manufacturer, so check the bag. Once the concrete has hardened, you'll be able to unscrew the stakes from the post, and remove the braces.

In just a few simple steps, using the right knowledge and the proper tools, it can be easy to repair a leaning fence post and save the structural integrity of the rest of the entire fence.