Replace a Fence Board

A single rotted or split board ages an entire fence. Five-minute swap, no special skills.

Difficulty: Easy Time: 20 min/board Cost: $5–$15/board

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Tools

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Matching fence board
Take a photo and measure the old one (length, width, thickness) before going to the hardware store
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Exterior-grade deck screws or galvanized nails

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1

Pry the bad board

Slide a pry bar between the board and the horizontal rails. Pop it off — old nails will pull through.
2

Pull stuck nails

Pull or hammer down any nails left in the rails so the new board sits flat.
3

Cut to length if needed

Most pre-cut fence boards are 6 ft. If yours is shorter, cut off the bottom — leaving the more weathered top edge matching the rest.
4

Attach with screws

Pre-drill near the ends to prevent splitting. Drive 2 screws into each rail (top, middle if present, and bottom).