Fence & Deck Repair in Palo Alto

Fence repair in Palo Alto starts with a few photos: the leaning post at ground level, the full run of the fence, and any gate that won't latch. Send them here and the independent contractor who covers Palo Alto replies with the likely repair before driving out.

• Eichler neighborhoods. Palo Alto has more than 2,000 Eichler homes in 31 tracts, and the city's Eichler Design Guidelines, which are voluntary, recommend wood in vertical or horizontal board.
• Soil. A city environmental review states that "soils in Palo Alto are known to be expansive in places," which matters at the post footing.
• Special setbacks. Some Palo Alto streets carry special setback lines, and the city's Online Parcel Report shows whether a parcel has one.

Full details: fence repair in Palo Alto. A gate in that fence line that sags, drags or misses its latch is a repair of its own: see gate repair.

Like-for-like deck repairs — replacing boards, fixing a loose railing, sistering a joist — don't normally trigger a permit. New construction is different: under the California Residential Code, a deck needs a building permit unless it's under 200 square feet, under 30 inches above grade, detached from the house, and not serving the required exit door.

Send photos of the damage through the form — post bases, the full run of the fence, any lean — and the contractor for your area replies with the likely repair and a ballpark before anyone visits.