Reliable Commercial Fencing in Galveston, TX 77551 - HummingBird Landscapes

That’s a common sight in our island community. The heat and direct sun cause the wood to expand and contract rapidly, leading to splits. A less obvious culprit is salt-laden wind, which dries out the wood faster than inland climates. Simple caulking won’t fix the root problem. Our solution starts with proper sealing using a marine-grade UV blocker and a breathable stain. For existing fences, we can replace the most damaged boards and apply a protective coat that fights cracking. We often suggest leaving a slight gap between boards for expansion—it looks neat and gives the fence room to breathe without splitting.

Usually, it is the heat warping the wood, but uneven settling of coastal soil also plays a role. In Galveston, the sandy loam shifts easily, especially after a heavy rain or a dry spell. The sign of a heat-related problem is that the gate drags most in the afternoon and settles at night. A soil issue means the drag stays constant. For heat warp, we plane the gate bottom and reinforce the frame with galvanized brackets. For settlement, we realign the post. Either way, we check the hinge alignment, swap out rusted hardware for stainless steel, and install a weather-resistant sweep to keep that gate gliding smoothly for years.

Often, yes, especially if the rot is only at ground level. A classic sign is the fence leaning after a storm but the pickets still look solid. We can dig around the post, cut off the rotted section, splice in a new treated post butt using a galvanized repair bracket, and set it in concrete. This saves the rest of the fence and is much quicker than a full replacement. For posts that have simply twisted from sun exposure, we sometimes use a steel ground anchor to straighten and brace the post. We match the new wood to your existing fence as closely as possible, so the repair blends right in with your yard.