5 min read · Updated 18 July 2026
Fence Panel Replacement After a Storm: What to Do in the First 48 Hours
Named-storm fence damage is one of the most common jobs we get called out on. Here's the honest checklist we'd want you to run before you take photos, call insurance, or ring us.
First 48 hours - the checklist
1. Photograph the damage before you move anything - insurance will ask.
2. Make the boundary safe: don't try to re-hang a panel that's flapping; take it down flat and lean it against the fence line.
3. If the boundary encloses pets or children, use temporary heras panels or a run of chestnut paling until repair.
4. Check your buildings insurance policy - most policies exclude fences from storm damage unless the wind speed exceeded 55mph and there's Met Office confirmation for your postcode.
Is the post salvageable?
Concrete post: usually yes if the base is intact, even if the top has snapped. A concrete repair spur bolted to the sound section is a legitimate fix.
Timber post: if it's snapped at ground level, no - the wood at soil line was already rotten and this storm just found it. Replace with a concrete post, don't reset another timber one.
Repair vs full run replacement
1-3 panels down, posts sound: replace the panels, £180-£450 total.
3+ panels down, one post snapped: replace panels + post, £350-£850.
Multiple posts down or a long run leaning: the whole run needs assessment - it's often cheaper to fully rebuild than to keep patching.
How quickly can we come out?
For a named storm in Surrey or Hampshire we usually visit within 3-5 working days and fit the following week. Emergency temporary bracing (heras hire) can be arranged same-week where the boundary is genuinely unsafe.