Replace a broken fence post

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

24/7 Express Handyman Service replaced a broken fence post in Salt Lake, Park City and Heber. 3 to 7 years is how long untreated pine fence posts may last, versus 20 to 35 years treated. (Installing Wood Posts for Greatest Longevity in Farm or Paddock Fencing (FORFS 03-05) - University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension)

What fence post costs

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

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

Quick answers

How long do wood fence posts last?

It depends on treatment: University of Kentucky Extension says properly treated and installed pine posts can last 20 to 35 years, while untreated pine posts might last only 3 to 7 years. Posts in constantly wet soil tend to fall at the short end of any range.

Where do fence posts usually rot?

At the ground line, where the combination of water and air is best for decay fungi to grow. A post can look sound above the soil and be soft just below it, so dig back an inch or two and probe at grade to check.

Should I cut the top of a new treated fence post?

Only if needed, and then re-treat the cut. Trimming can expose untreated wood inside the post, so Extension guidance says the cut end must be re-treated with a wood preservative so no exposed wood is left open to decay.

Weathered old wooden fence post standing in grass — Photo: SCK2002, CC0

What 24/7 Express Handyman Service does on site

Detaching rails or panels from the broken post and supporting them while it is replaced.
Digging out the old post and its concrete and setting a new post rated for ground contact.
Setting the new post plumb, reattaching the fence and re-treating any cut ends.

How it works

Have buried utility lines marked through 811 before any digging.
Brace the fence, remove the old post and clean out the hole.
Set the new post plumb in concrete or compacted gravel and let it cure before loading it.
Referred out: long runs of failed posts and masonry or wrought-iron fencing go to a fence contractor.

When to stop and call

If the fence is leaning over a walkway, driveway or a neighbor's yard, keep people clear of it. 24/7 Express Handyman Service can brace it so it cannot fall before the post is replaced.

What happens next

The written scope and price come first; the fence is braced so it stays standing while the new post cures.
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

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