Las Vegas Fence Repair: Why Caliche Runoff Makes Posts Lean (and How We Set Them Back)

Local Handyman Las Vegas

February 3 , 2025

Las Vegas Blvd street scene showing traffic light, bollards, and the Las Vegas Convention Center in the background

In Las Vegas, fences usually start failing at the posts—fast runoff over caliche-heavy ground and big heat cycles work them loose and out of plumb. We reset what’s moved, replace what’s cracked, and reinforce it so the next wind day doesn’t finish the job.

A lot of yards here sit on loamy alluvial soil with caliche layers, so when monsoon rain hits hard, water tends to run and pool instead of soaking evenly—posts get undermined on one side and you end up with that “whole fence is drifting” look. Then the extreme heat + UV dries and checks wood, loosens fasteners, and makes pickets warp; metal fences get their own problem with thermal expansion working hardware over time. Wind is the closer: once a post is even slightly loose, gusts turn a small wobble into a lean, and gates start dragging because the hinge post isn’t true anymore. Common homeowner symptoms are a gate that won’t latch, rails separating from posts, popped nails/screws, and pickets twisting. The lasting fix is usually post-focused: straighten and brace, set or reset posts properly, replace failed rails/pickets, and tune the gate so it swings without rubbing.

Two freshly dug holes for fence posts are visible next to a white block wall and concrete path in a Las Vegas yard, with a post-hole digger and pry bar, indicating fence repair.

Common Las Vegas Fence Repair	What it usually includes	Typical range
Gate sag / won’t latch	Hinge/strike adjust, brace, hardware tune	$150–$450
Loose rail / pickets	Refasten/replace rails or pickets	$200–$650
Leaning section (no new posts)	Re-square, brace, reinforce connections	$300–$900
Replace 1 wood post	Remove/set new post, reconnect rails	$450–$1,000*
Replace multiple pickets/boards	Swap boards, refasten, minor blend	$250–$800
Metal fence panel/hardware fix	Re-anchor, replace brackets, align gate	$250–$950

The prices provided are intended as general guidance only, as every job is different and actual costs may vary. We recommend obtaining a detailed estimate—ideally from multiple professionals—before setting your project budget. For accurate pricing, please reach out to us and we’ll create a custom estimate for your project.

We see a lot of “looks fine from the street” fences that are actually moving at the posts—then one windy afternoon and the gate won’t close. If we fix the post geometry and the load path, the rest of the fence usually behaves again.