Deck Construction & Repair | Fencing & Gates | Heritage Services in Amelia Island, FL

Loose fence posts are common here due to sandy, well-draining soil combined with high winds from storms and nor'easters. Over time, the ground around a post shifts, causing wobbling. Heritage Services resolves this by removing the old post, setting a new one in concrete below the frost line, and bracing it properly. For existing posts, we can dig around the base, add concrete, and tamp it down for stability.

It depends on the extent of damage. If only a few boards are cracked or the railing has loose connections, repair is often sufficient. However, if there’s widespread rot in the joists or the ledger board (where the deck attaches to the house) is compromised, replacement is safer. We inspect for moisture damage, fastener corrosion, and structural integrity. For decks built before modern building codes, a full replacement with stainless steel fasteners and pressure-treated or composite materials is recommended for Amelia Island's humid climate.

Panel blowouts happen when wind gets behind the fence and pushes the pickets or the entire section outward. The fix involves using stronger framing—like 4x4 posts set no more than 6 feet apart—and attaching panels with hidden fasteners or through-bolts. We also recommend spacing pickets slightly for wind to pass through, or installing wind-screen mesh in high-exposure yards. For new fences, we can build with horizontal boards or reinforced shadowbox designs that reduce wind load. For existing fences, we reinforce post connections and add diagonal bracing at corners.