A leaning section after a windy night, a rotted post at the gate, boards missing after a storm: most fence problems are repairable, but the right fix depends on what failed.

What usually breaks, and why

Wind. Storm logs compiled from NOAA data show gusts around 60 to 70 mph near Killeen and Fort Hood in 2023, and a 67 mph gust with roof damage on August 1, 2025 (HailDrive). In 2022 a storm brought three tornadoes to Bell County, as the Killeen Daily Herald reported. A solid fence takes the full load, so the failure usually shows up at the posts or where the rails meet them.

Moving soil. Clay swells and shrinks, and the Texas Water Development Board says the state soil can crack more than 4 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Over a few years that can tilt posts that looked fine when they were new.

Moisture. Wood posts rot at the ground line, where water sits. Pickets cup, split and pull away from fasteners.

What can be repaired

Replacing pickets. Quick and low cost if rails and posts are sound.
Re-attaching rails. A loose rail can often be re-fastened with proper hardware.
Resetting or replacing a post. A tilted post may be straightened if the footing is sound. A rotted post needs to come out.
Replacing a section. When several bays are bad, replacing the section may make more sense than chasing individual boards.

When a repair needs a permit in Killeen

This is the part most owners miss. The City of Killeen's projects-that-require-a-permit list says a fence permit is needed for fences over 24 inches tall, for replacement of more than 25 feet of the material area, and for replacement with a different material than the original, with the example that changing a wood post to a metal post requires a permit. The city's Building Inspections page adds that a permit is required to erect, move, repair or replace a fence. Practical translation: patching a few boards is one thing, replacing a run or switching to steel posts is another. Ask your pro which side of the line your job falls on, and have them confirm it with the city.

If the work starts before the permit is issued, the city's permit sheet says the fees double. Harker Heights takes a different approach; its city FAQ says permits are generally not required for maintenance and minor repairs, per the Building Permits page and FAQ, but check your own case.

Repair or replace?

If posts are rotted throughout, a repair is a temporary patch. Ask the pro how many posts are bad, what the failed spots cost to fix, and where replacement starts to pay off. Then compare against a new run using the cost guide. A fence that leans in several places usually has a systemic cause, such as shallow posts or soil movement, rather than one bad post.

Quick tests you can do

Push on a post at head height. If the base moves or you can see soil open around it, the footing has failed.
Probe the post at ground level with a screwdriver. Soft wood means rot.
Check whether boards keep working loose in the same area, which points to a rail or post problem.

Say what you found when you fill out the form. A pro who knows the post is rotted can quote the right job.

After a storm

Photograph everything before moving anything.
Secure loose panels and any gate that can swing.
Ask for a written scope that says what will be replaced and what reused.
If posts will be reset, the Texas811 notice still applies before digging.

Insurance questions are between you, your carrier and your contractor; we do not give insurance advice. If the fence is shared, tell your neighbor before work begins. Related: gate repair and replacement.

Spring hail and wind

Storm-report aggregators show Killeen's hail reports bunching in April and May, with the most recent entry in their data a 1.25-inch hail report on May 1, 2025 (StormerSite). The Herald covered a Mother's Day 2024 storm with rain and hail. Wind, not hail, is what usually takes a fence down, but a storm that does both is when repair calls spike, so expect longer waits after a big event and use the temporary steps above in the meantime.

Resetting versus replacing a post

If a post leaned but the wood is sound, a pro may be able to dig it out, reset it with fresh concrete and brace it while it cures. If the wood is rotted at the base, a new post is the answer. In both cases the old concrete collar often has to be broken out or worked around, which is why post replacement costs more than patching pickets. Ask which one the pro recommends and why.

Temporary steps while you wait

Tie down or prop leaning panels so they do not fall on a gate, a car or a neighbor's property.
Close and latch every gate; a swinging gate is the first thing wind will break.
Keep pets in a part of the yard that is still enclosed.
Do not dig to reset a post yourself before Texas811 has marked the lines.