Fence Repair in Chicago
Split boards, loose rails and sagging gates fixed by Chicago carpenters, done right the first time.
HandyBandi does fence repair Chicago homeowners keep putting off until a leaning section starts drifting toward the neighbor side. We’re carpenters, we’re your neighbors, and we fix the backyard fence and alley fence behind a lot of bungalows and two-flats: a missing picket, a loose rail, a gate that drags on the walk. We send vetted techs who actually show up and fix things, then explain what they did. It all falls under our carpentry services in Chicago.
Most fence companies in town would rather sell you 100 feet of new fence than swap three pickets. We like the small jobs. A split board, a latch that won’t catch, a fallen section after wind damage, that’s a normal afternoon for us. You get a written quote before any tool comes out, cedar or pressure-treated pine matched to what’s already standing, and new screws in place of rusted fasteners. Plenty of people find us through fence repair near me searches and keep our number.
Why Choose Us?
Wood Fence Repairs We Take On
Wood fence repair is all we do here, on privacy fence and picket fence styles alike. Every swap is in kind, same wood and same profile. Our deck and porch repair crew can take the deck in the same visit.
What's Included with a Service?
Boards and Pickets
Fence board replacement for cracked or rotted planks, plus any missing picket the wind took. New wood can get fence staining later.
Rails
A loose rail pulls the run out of line. We refasten or replace the rail and swap loose hardware so boards sit flat.
Panels Between Good Posts
Fence panel replacement when a whole panel is shot but the posts on each side are solid. That includes privacy fence repair on tall, solid runs.
Gates
Fence gate repair covers a sagging gate, a bent gate hinge, a worn latch and a racked gate frame, with exterior painting after so it matches the house.
Fence Repair Cost in Chicago
Fence repair cost depends on how many pieces are actually broken, not on how old the fence looks. HomeGuide’s 2026 numbers put an average fence repair at $300 to $900, while a major repair can climb to $2,500. Replacing a single fence board runs $100 to $300, wood fence work averages $20 to $35 per linear foot, a leaning section costs $200 to $800, and a gate repair lands between $50 and $400. For fence repair Chicago jobs we count the bad boards during a walkthrough and quote that exact number, so five broken pickets means you pay for five pickets. For storm damage fence repair that can’t wait until Monday, we add a flat emergency fee and come out anyway. Everything else we do is on the handyman price list.
| Type of Work | Cost in Chicago |
|---|---|
| Fence board or picket replacement | From $100 |
| Rail replacement | By request |
| Fence panel replacement | From $20 per linear foot |
| Gate repair | From $50 |
| Leaning section repair | From $200 |
| Emergency service | +$250 fee |
Leaning Fence: Is It the Post or the Rail?
Push on the fence post closest to the lean. If the post stands straight and solid, the rail is the problem, and the section pulled away from it. That’s a leaning fence repair we handle in one visit. We pull the section back, replace a split rail and swap old fasteners. If the post itself rocks, the wood has rotted at ground level or the concrete heaved after a few hard winters, and that one goes to a fence company. We look for the cause instead of just tightening the obvious thing and hoping for the best. Here’s a quick check you can do yourself:
- Post straight, boards tilted: rail or fasteners, our job
- Post rocks when you push it: post or footing, fence company job
- Gap between rail and post: loose hardware, our job
Snap a photo of the lean from the lot line side and send it over.
Posts, Digging and Other Jobs for a Fence Company
Some fence work isn’t ours, and we’d rather say so up front. Replacing a fence post means digging, setting concrete and checking for buried lines, and HomeGuide calls it the most expensive part of any fence repair. In Chicago, any non-emergency digging needs a dig ticket from 811 Chicago, the city’s Digger system, at least 2 business days ahead. Call 312-744-7000 or read the 811 Chicago dig notification rules, then wait for the utility markings. We tell you all of this before we drive out. These go straight to a fence company:
- Post replacement
- Digging and concrete
- Vinyl fences
- Chain link fences
- Metal fences
When a Repair Becomes a New Fence in Chicago
The city draws the line pretty clearly. Under the Chicago fence permit rules, upkeep like painting or replacing limited damaged elements of a fence needs no permit, and most fence repair Chicago calls we get fit right there. A brand new fence no taller than 5 feet also skips the permit, as long as it meets the Chicago Zoning Ordinance. A Chicago Landmark home, or one in a landmark district, may not get those exceptions, so check first. Once a repair turns into a whole new fence, we hand it to a fence company. We fix fences, we don’t build new ones.
Chicago Neighborhoods We Serve
HandyBandi runs crews across Chicago neighborhoods including Andersonville, Bucktown, Rogers Park, Lincoln Square, Hyde Park, and Logan Square, plus the surrounding suburbs. Many Chicago condo associations require a bonded and insured contractor before work can start in the building, and HandyBandi meets that bar on every job, whether it’s a vintage condo rehab, a bungalow on the Northwest Side, or a greystone walk-up on the South Side.
- Andersonville
- Uptown
- Edgewater
- Lincoln Park
- Rogers Park
- West Ridge
- Albany Park
- North Center
- Bucktown
- Lincoln Square
- Logan Square
- Avondale
- Lakeview
- Irving Park
- West Town
- Austin
- Hyde Park
- Evanston
- Oak Park
- Skokie
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to what Chicago homeowners ask us most.
+− How much does fence repair cost in Chicago?
Most repairs run $300 to $900, one board $100 to $300, and major repairs up to $2,500.
+− Can a leaning fence be fixed without replacing it?
Yes, when the post is solid. We straighten the section and replace the rail and fasteners.
+− Do I need a permit to repair a fence in Chicago?
Not for upkeep or replacing a limited number of damaged elements. Landmark homes can be an exception.
+− Do you replace fence posts?
No. Posts need digging and an 811 Chicago ticket, so that job goes to a fence company.
+− Can you replace just a few boards or one panel?
Yes. A few boards or one panel between solid posts is a normal job for us.
+− Do you stain or paint the new boards to match?
Yes. New wood gets stained or painted once it dries, so it blends in.