If you live in Marietta, you know the routine. A summer thunderstorm rolls in off the Chattahoochee, the pines in your backyard start swaying, and by morning your fence is leaning, a gate won’t latch, or a whole panel is flat on the grass. It happens in East Cobb, around Kennesaw Mountain, out in West Cobb — anywhere those tall Georgia pines and oaks hang over a fence line.
You don’t always need a brand-new fence. Most storm damage is very fixable, and fixing it fast matters. A leaning fence gets worse every time it rains, an open gap is a problem if you have dogs or kids, and many Marietta HOAs will send a letter if a broken fence sits visible from the street for too long.
First, Triage: What’s a Repair and What’s a Replacement?
Walk the fence line once it’s safe and look honestly at three things: the posts, the panels, and the rot. If one or two posts are leaning but still solid at the base, that’s a repair. A pro can dig out the loose footing, reset the post in fresh concrete, and re-level the section in a few hours. Broken or cracked pickets, a warped rail, and a gate that took the wind and now drags — all repairs, usually same visit. Where it changes is rot. Georgia humidity and red clay that stays wet will rot the bottom of a wood post from the inside out. If a post snaps clean at ground level or crumbles when you push a screwdriver into it, that post needs replacing, not bracing. And if more than a third of your posts are rotted, or the fence is 15 to 20 years old and leaning in several directions, be honest with yourself — patching it will cost you again next storm season. A good handyman will tell you which side of that line you’re on before you spend a dollar.
What Fence Repair Costs in the Atlanta Area
For the small, common jobs Marietta homeowners actually call about, expect roughly this: replacing a handful of broken pickets or a single panel section usually runs $150 to $350 depending on wood type and paint or stain matching. Resetting or replacing one leaning post is typically $200 to $400 including concrete. Gate repairs — new hinges, a new latch, re-hanging a sagging gate — often land between $125 and $300. Larger storm work, like rebuilding 20 to 30 feet of downed fence, can run $800 to $1,500, still a fraction of a full replacement that starts in the several thousands. Pressure-treated pine is the budget-friendly standard here. Cedar costs more but handles Georgia moisture better and looks better in those East Cobb backyards. If your fence is older pine, mixing in a few new pickets will show a color difference at first — they weather to match in a few months, or a stain coat evens it out right away.
Storm Prep, Insurance Photos, and the Temporary Fix
If a storm just hit, take photos before you touch anything: wide shots of the whole fence, close-ups of snapped posts, and any tree limb that caused it. Insurers in Georgia see thousands of these claims each summer, and clear photos with a date are what make a small claim easy. Keep receipts for any emergency repair, too. Need it secure tonight? A temporary brace with a 2×4 staked into the ground can hold a leaning section for a few days, and a sheet of plywood or temporary fencing can close a gap for pets. Don’t pour fresh concrete in standing water or during the next downpour — it won’t set right, and Marietta summers will absolutely send a second storm the same week. And a quick neighbor note: in many Marietta subdivisions the fence on a shared line is a shared conversation. A quick knock on the door before work starts prevents the classic dispute about who pays for what. For fences facing the street, check whether your HOA requires a specific picket style or stain color before replacing a visible section.
Ready to Get Your Fence Standing Again?
If you’re in Marietta, Kennesaw, Smyrna, or anywhere in Cobb County with a leaning post, broken panel, or gate that won’t close after a storm, call Just Fix Today at (678) 549-8083. We offer same-day estimates, we’ll tell you honestly if it’s a repair or a replacement, and we can handle the fence, the gate hardware, and the little carpentry that comes with it in one visit. One call, one crew, done.
FAQs
Q: How much does fence repair cost in Atlanta? A: Small repairs like pickets and gate hardware usually run $125 to $350. Resetting a leaning post is typically $200 to $400. Rebuilding a storm-downed section can run $800 to $1,500 depending on length and materials.
Q: Can a leaning fence post be fixed without replacing the fence? A: Yes, in most cases. If the post itself is solid, it can be dug out, straightened, and reset in fresh concrete. If the base is rotted, that single post should be replaced while the rest of the fence stays.
Q: Should I file an insurance claim for storm fence damage? A: Take photos first and keep repair receipts. For smaller repairs under your deductible, paying out of pocket is usually simpler. For a large downed section or tree damage, a claim may make sense — your photos will help either way.
Q: How long does a typical fence repair take? A: Most picket, panel, and gate repairs are done in a few hours in one visit. Rebuilding a longer downed section may take a full day, plus time for concrete to set before the fence takes full load.
Q: Why do fences rot so fast in Georgia? A: Humidity, warm temperatures, and wet red clay keep the base of wood posts damp for months. Posts set in concrete that holds water, or posts buried directly in soil, rot fastest. Proper drainage and treated lumber slow it down a lot.
Q: Do you repair gates as well as fence panels? A: Yes. Sagging gates, broken hinges, misaligned latches, and gates that drag after a storm are some of the most common calls we get in Marietta, and they’re usually a quick fix.