Ottawa's ground freezes deep enough that frost heave is a real and common cause of fence posts tilting or lifting over winter – it's mechanical, not a sign of rot, and it's fixable by resetting the post correctly.
Most fence calls are a handful of damaged boards or one problem post, not the whole fence – we replace what's actually broken rather than pushing a full rebuild.
A gate gets used and slammed far more than the rest of the fence, so hinges and latches are usually the first thing to fail – and usually the cheapest to fix.
Ottawa’s frost line runs deep enough that frost heave – the ground freezing and expanding around a post base – is one of the most common reasons a fence post shifts or tilts over winter. It’s a mechanical issue tied to how the post was set, not a sign of rot, and resetting it below the frost line is the fix.
Every job gets a quote in writing before we start – no verbal estimates that change later.
Based in Ottawa and familiar with the city's mix of century homes and newer builds.
From one quick fix to a full repair list, we take it on.
A leaning post, a sagging or hard-to-latch gate, loose or missing boards, or a post that visibly shifted after last winter's frost heave are the most common calls we get.
When we reset a post, we set it below the frost line so the same frost-heave movement doesn't just tilt it again next winter – a mechanical fix, not a patch.
A post reset below the frost line should hold through future winters, but it's worth a quick look each spring – checking for any new lean or movement – since ground conditions can shift year to year.
$150-$800
Covers minor to moderate repairs. Final pricing depends on scope – every quote is written and free.
The number of posts or boards needing attention, and whether a post needs to be reset below the frost line, are what mainly drive the price – a single loose board costs a lot less than resetting a leaning post.
Tell us what needs fixing and we'll follow up with a free written quote.
Pick a time that works. We confirm the scope and materials before we arrive.
Tidy, on time, and protecting your floors and furniture as we go.
We walk the finished job with you before we call it done.
Yes – we regularly repair a few boards, a leaning post, or a gate without touching the rest of the fence.
Frost heave is the most common cause in Ottawa – the ground freezing and shifting around the post base. Resetting it below the frost line is the fix.
Yes – when we reset a post, we set it to the depth needed to reduce the chance of frost heave moving it again.