Close a gap in a fence that blew down

Tom Hanks, owner, 24/7 Express Handyman Service · Updated September 2026

24/7 Express Handyman Service closed a blown-down fence gap in Salt Lake, Park City and Heber. 50 to 60 mph is the wind speed at which thunderstorm gusts are classified as damaging. (Severe Weather 101: Damaging Winds Basics - NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory)

What fence gap costs

Salt Lake City & Millcreek	from $205
Park City & Summit County	from $225
Heber Valley & Wasatch County	from $225

Fence gap in Salt Lake City & Millcreek starts at $205: the 2-hour minimum at $95/hour ($190) plus the $15 fuel surcharge, with no dispatch fee. Time past 2 hours is billed in 30-minute steps. Larger parts are billed at cost plus 25%.

Full price sheet and estimator

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(801) 999-0827 Text photos

Answered 24/7 by Tom or his dispatcher.

24/7 Express Handyman Service confirms the address, the zone rate and the dispatch fee, and takes a card, before rolling.

Quick answers

How do I close a gap in a fence temporarily?

Reattach the fallen panel if it is intact, or screw a temporary panel, plywood sheet or construction fencing between the standing posts. Stake braces on the yard side of any leaning sections so they do not fall before permanent repairs.

What wind speed knocks down fences?

There is no single number, but NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory classifies thunderstorm winds above 50 to 60 mph as damaging, and a solid fence catches wind like a sail. Posts already weakened by rot at the ground line usually give way first.

Why did only one section of my fence blow down?

Usually because that section had the weakest posts: wood posts tend to rot first at the ground line, where water and air combine to let decay fungi grow. A panel hanging from a decayed post fails before its neighbors do.

Wooden privacy fence broken and knocked over by storm winds — Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0

What 24/7 Express Handyman Service does on site

Standing up or removing fallen panels and cutting away splintered rails so nothing is left hanging.
Closing the gap with a temporary panel, plywood or construction fencing so pets and kids stay in and the yard stays private.
Bracing leaning sections next to the gap with stakes and 2x4s until the posts can be reset.

How it works

Check where the fence fell for wires, gas meters and sprinkler heads before moving anything.
Clear broken pieces and set salvageable panels aside.
Close the gap with bracing or a temporary panel tied into the standing sections.
Referred out: fences lying on power lines go to the power company first, and long runs or masonry walls go to a fence or masonry contractor.

When to stop and call

Stay back if the fence came down across a power line or against a gas meter, and call the utility first. 24/7 Express Handyman Service can close the gap once the utility has cleared the area.

What happens next

The written scope and price come first; the temporary closure holds until broken posts and panels are replaced.
Photograph the damage before anything is moved and keep every receipt; 24/7 Express Handyman Service provides an itemised invoice your insurer may ask for. The dispatch fee and job cost are paid by you on the day.

Every job 24/7 Express Handyman Service takes on is under $3,000 including labor, materials and any change orders (Utah Code §58-55-305); a change that would push a job over that line is referred to a licensed contractor, not written up as a second job. plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas appliance / combustion system work is referred to a licensed trade.

Sources

Severe Weather 101: Damaging Winds Basics - NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory — retrieved 2026-09-23
Installing Wood Posts for Greatest Longevity in Farm or Paddock Fencing (FORFS 03-05) - University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension — retrieved 2026-09-23

All sources