How Do I Unwarp Wood Fences?

How Do I Unwarp Wood Fences?
Written By
Steve Sloane
Steve Sloane
Published: Aug 19, 2010
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

Things You Will Need

  • Screw gun
  • Primer and paint
  • 2-inch galvanized screws
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Power saw
  • Medium sandpaper
  • 3-inch galvanized screws

In any case, the wood cannot be straightened once it warps but the warped pickets and rails can be replaced, making your fence look like new.

  1. Unscrew the warped vertical pickets from the fence. Prime and paint all sides of new pickets and wait for them to dry.

  2. Place the new pickets in the location of the old ones, making sure their tops are in line with the tops of the pickets surrounding them. Attach the pickets to the fence rails with galvanized 2-inch screws, three screws per rail. Touch up the new pickets with paint as necessary, also covering the screw heads.

  3. Unscrew and remove the horizontal warped rails from the vertical posts. Measure and cut new rails to the same size as the old ones. Remove any splinters from the ends with sandpaper.

  4. Prime and paint all sides of the new rails. Wait for the paint to dry.

  5. Attach the new rails to the posts in the same place as the old rails, using 3-inch galvanized screws. Touch up the rails with paint, also covering the screw heads.

Tips

Other than primer and paint, the wood can be stained, or other sealers can be used to protect the wood.

Photo Credits

picket fence detail image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com

picket fence detail image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com

Steve Sloane

Steve Sloane started working as a freelance writer in 2007. He has written articles for various websites, using more than a decade of DIY experience to cover mostly construction-related topics. He also writes movie reviews for Inland…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.