Labor costs to repair your metal fence will largely depend on what type of repairs need to be made and the extent of the damage. If your repairs require welding, you can expect to pay between $75 and $200 per hour, with most professionals charging around $125. If you have an aluminum fence and have an old panel removed and replaced, the labor costs per hour will be between $40 and $50 per hour. Most panels require an hour of labor. Post work that requires removing and reinstalling into cement can run anywhere between $50 and $100 per hour.
While labor costs are most often related to the type of repairs and materials, there are a few issues that can increase labor costs. Wrought iron fences with more intricate designs can be more complicated to repair and take more time. Broken fence pieces that require more specialized welding work can also increase the cost.
Relying on a professional is always best for all repairs. Most of the repairs needed for metal fences require skilled labor, specialized tools, and the proper safety precautions.
The type of metal your fence is made from affects the repair cost. Different types of metal require different tools and processes for repair, making some metals more costly to work on than others. The cost to repair a metal fence can run as low as $15 per linear foot to as high as $100 per linear foot, depending on the material.
| Fence Material | Average Cost Per Linear Foot (Including Labor) |
|---|
| Aluminum | $15 - $20 |
| Steel | $20 - $30 |
| Wrought Iron | $40 - $100 |
Aluminum Fence Repair Cost
You can expect to pay between $15 and $20 per linear foot to have your aluminum fence repaired. When an aluminum panel on a fence is damaged, welding is an option but rarely used. Most likely, your repair person will unbolt, remove, and replace panels that have been damaged. The average cost for a panel of aluminum fence is $65, while more decorative or ornate panels can cost $100 or more each. The need for aluminum fence repair usually is due to warping, physical damage, or weathering.
Steel Fence Repair Cost
You will likely spend $20 to $30 per linear foot when you have your steel fence repaired. Repairing damage to steel fences often involves welding new sections and repainting. Steel fences are extremely durable and typically suffer damage due to storms or accidents. Another common repair with steel fences is repainting. Since steel is extremely durable, the welding process takes some time, which adds to the cost. Typically, steel panels will not be replaced unless they are severely damaged.
Wrought Iron Fence Repair Cost
The most expensive type of metal fence to repair is wrought iron. Average repair costs run between $40 and $100 per linear foot. Like steel fences, wrought iron fences require welding to repair. However, wrought iron fences tend to be much more ornamental than steel ones, making the welding process more complicated. Repairing wrought iron fences is the most common choice if only a small section is damaged or if you wish to preserve the original fence. Like steel, wrought iron is very durable and will likely only need repairs if it has suffered storm or accident damage or is old.
The costs for repairing a metal fence depend on the type of metal and the type of repair needed. In some cases, repairs must be made over large sections of fences, while other repairs focus on smaller, specific portions of the fence. Certain types of repair or special repair areas require longer labor times and more costly materials, which will increase the price. Depending on the type of repair that needs to be made, you can expect to pay as low as $7 per linear foot to as high as $200 per linear foot for repairs.
| Repair Type | Average Cost Per Linear Foot (Including Labor) |
|---|
| Wrought Iron Fence Painting | $7 - $10 |
| Welding | $11 - $18 |
| Hole Repair | $12 - $15 |
| Post Repair | $15 - $20 |
| Railing Repair | $50 - $70 |
| Gate Repair | $50 - $200 |
Wrought Iron Fence Painting Cost
Painting a wrought iron fence is a common repair used to freshen up the fence and cover minor cosmetic damage. You can expect to pay between $7 and $10 per linear foot to paint. For a 160-foot wrought iron fence, you can expect to pay between $1,120 and $1,600 to have it completely repainted. To paint your wrought iron fence, professionals will prep the surface, making sure to remove peeling paint, clean the rust off, and prime it with a rust inhibitor before beginning to paint. If you plan to paint just one section, they will need to color match it properly.
Welding a metal fence runs an average of $11 to $18 per linear foot, depending on the type of weld and materials needed. You may find that your welder charges by the hour instead, which can average between $65 and $125 per hour. Welding is most often used when you need to reconnect broken pieces or add new pieces or sections. During the welding process, the professional prepares the surface and cuts off any jagged edges before welding the pieces.
You can expect to pay between $12 and $15 per linear foot to have a hole repaired in your metal fence. The process involves removing any rust from the area, making sure all debris is eliminated. Your professional will then patch the hole in one of two ways. First, they may choose to add putty into the area, making sure it completely dries before sanding. The other option is to weld a patch in place. Once completed, the area will be repainted.
Repair Broken Metal Fence Post
Repairing a metal fence post runs between $15 and $20 per linear foot. The posts are a vital part of your metal fence as they provide it with added stability. While metal fence posts are normally quite durable, they can become damaged due to rust or being hit with a hard object. The costs for repairing a broken metal fence post will include removing the post, making the repairs, resetting it in concrete, and attaching the fencing.
Wrought Iron Railing Repair
Repairing railings on a wrought iron fence will run between $50 and $70 per linear foot, including the cost of railing pieces. Time and use can cause railings on a wrought iron fence to become loose or damaged, requiring repair. Your professional will cut off the damaged piece and replace it with a new one, welding it in place to secure it properly.
Metal fence gate repair is a much more complicated and costly process, running between $50 and $200 per linear foot. While repairs can include damage to the actual gate, they also can include repairs to the hardware, such as hinges. The cost depends on whether the gate is repairable or needs to be replaced. Costs include removing the gate, transporting the gate to the shop where repairs will be made, and rehanging the gate once repairs are completed. If you need to replace the gate, you can expect the new gate to cost between $90 and $260 installed.
Repair costs for your metal fence depend on the type of problem that has occurred to your fence. Different problems require different repairs to correct, and in some cases, more than one type of repair is needed for the damage. While certain problems affect specific materials more than others, some problems are common to most of the metal materials available. You can expect to pay anywhere between $7 per linear foot and $60 per linear foot for metal fence repair depending on the type of problem that needs to be fixed.
| Type of Problem | Average Repair Cost Per Linear Foot (Including Labor) |
|---|
| Rust | $7 - $10 |
| Loose/Missing Railing | $20 - $70 |
| Twisting/Warping | $22 - $32 |
| Storm/Car Damage | $25 - $70 |
| Shifting/Loose/Wobbling Post | $45 - $60 |
Aluminum fences don’t rust, but steel and wrought iron fences may if they aren’t treated properly. Rust begins as merely an unsightly issue but can eventually affect the fence's integrity if not corrected. The typical method of repairing a rusted fence is to sandblast the fence, coat it in both primer and a material to stop and convert rust, then paint the fence with oil paint. Removing rust using a sandblasting method runs between $7 and $10 per linear foot.
Loose or Missing Railings
Aluminum fences are more likely to lose a railing or have one come loose than a steel fence or wrought iron fence. However, enough impact could cause the loss of a steel or wrought iron railing as well. Damaged railings can be a safety hazard and should be repaired immediately. Most often, repairing a railing involves removing the railing and welding on or reattaching a new one. Depending on what material your fence is made of, you can spend anywhere between $20 and $70 per linear foot to have one repaired.
Twisted or Warped Fence
An impact from a car or tree may not break the fence while still leaving it damaged due to warping. This is more problematic with aluminum fences than with steel, as aluminum is much more likely to warp under pressure than steel. If you have a wrought iron fence, you will not have to worry about twisting and warping. To fix this issue, the damaged section will be removed and replaced. The cost of this repair is $22 to $32 a linear foot.
Storm or Car Damage
If the fence is heavily damaged by a storm or by vehicle impact, the damaged portions will need to be removed and replaced. For steel and wrought iron fences, this will mean welding on new pieces to the existing, non-damaged sections. For an aluminum fence, this will mean using screws to attach the new pieces. Replacing a section of aluminum will be the least expensive, and wrought iron fence sections will cost you the most. The cost to replace an aluminum section will include rehanging with needed hardware. Replacing steel or wrought iron sections will include the cost of welding the section back in place. Depending on the material, you can expect to pay anywhere between $25 and $70 per linear foot.
Shifted, Loose, or Wobbly Post
Posts are held in the ground by concrete, which generally keeps them stable for many years. Soil erosion, however, may cause the concrete and posts to shift. The concrete itself may become damaged, leading to a wobbly or loose post, or a post may rust, causing it to come loose from the concrete. In most cases, either the old concrete will need to be dug up and replaced, or a new post hole will need to be dug directly next to the old one. Depending on the material that the post is made of, you can expect to pay between $45 and $60 per linear foot to replace one.
Occasionally, the damage to your fence may be so great that you need to replace it rather than repair it. A few things must be assessed when making this determination. The first is determining how significant the damage is. If more than 50% of your fence has been damaged, you may want to replace it to ensure continued durability. To make this assessment, you should consider the damage to the structure and the damage to the aesthetic value.
You also need to consider the use of the fence. Do the structure and durability of the fence affect its function? For example, if the fence contains an animal, damaged areas can weaken the structure and make it easier for the animal to escape.
Consider how the damage occurred. If the fence was damaged during a storm, there is a good chance that your homeowner’s insurance may pay for it to be replaced if a certain percentage was destroyed. If a replacement is not an option, but it is covered by insurance, you may have enough on your policy to cover the repairs.
Another consideration to make is the age of your fence. If your fence is older and you are having trouble finding a match for the color, shape, and size of your existing fence, you may need to replace your fence to maintain the curb appeal of your home. You can expect a new metal fence to cost around $2,500.
Additional Considerations and Costs
- You may need to remove your current fence for several reasons. If your fence has significant damage after a storm, for example. You may also decide to remove your fence if you no longer need it or want to install one of a different material. Removing a metal fence will cost between $5 and $10 per linear foot, depending on the material, its size, and how many posts need to be removed.
- You may find that your homeowner's insurance will cover the cost to repair your fence in certain situations. This will depend on what caused the damage and what is covered in the other structures portion of your insurance policy. Most policies cover repair due to storm damage or vandalism. Damage from yard debris during mowing or dings from wear and tear will likely not be covered.
- Pressure washing is not typically recommended to prep a wrought iron fence for painting. Instead, it is better to sandblast it to remove rust and loose paint before applying new paint. You can expect to pay between $7 and $10 per linear foot to sandblast wrought iron.
- While some metal fence repairs can be done DIY, it is best to retain the services of a professional. Most repairs require specialized tools, and welding requires specialized skills.
FAQs
- How much does it cost to fix a metal fence?
Repairing a metal fence can run anywhere between $250 and $800, with most repairs running around $475 for repainting and minor welding on a 150 ft. fence. The cost depends on the type of repairs made and the size of the fence.
- How do you fix a rusted metal fence?
To fix a rusted metal fence, you need to sand down and remove all of the old rust, patch any holes, apply a rust inhibitor, and repaint.
- Can rusted wrought iron be repaired?
Rusted wrought iron can be repaired the same way steel can. Sometimes it can be less expensive to install new sections.
- Can you paint over rusted metal?
You should never paint over rusted metal as it will cause poor adhesion with the paint and lead to flaking. Removing rust and smoothing the surface is vital before painting.
- How long will a wrought iron fence last?
On average, you can expect a wrought iron fence to last for 60 years with basic maintenance. It can last longer if well-maintained and repaired as needed.
- Can I use rubbing alcohol to clean metal before painting?
Rubbing alcohol can be used to clean bare metal surfaces before painting. It should never be used to clean metal that has been previously painted.
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