Vinyl fences are designed to be watertight and weatherproof. However, over time it can become loose in some areas or even sink below the ground’s surface. If this happens, you may notice gaps between your fence and the concrete pad that supports it.
When left unrepaired, the fences can be used as an entry point for wild animals and other intruders. Therefore, whenever you spot gaps in your fence, you should fill them up as soon as possible.
Causes Of Gaps In Vinyl Fences
There are many factors that may cause gaps in your vinyl fences. Here are some of them:
Ground Movement
This can be caused by soil settlement, frost heave, and freeze-thaw cycles. The ground may move away from the fence posts as they settle into the soil. It is essential that you check for any shifting of your yard before installing a vinyl fence. If there is any noticeable movement in your yard, it will not be possible to install a vinyl fence without causing damage to your home or property.
If you have an existing wooden or metal fence, this will help determine if there has been any ground movement since it was installed. It is also vital that you get professional advice from an engineer or surveyor if you are unsure whether installing a vinyl fence on your property would be safe.
Uneven Settling of Concrete Footings
If you have a foundation that’s sinking, you’re going to want to check the following things:
- Put the concrete footings in the right place. If they’re not, they’ll shift or crack when there’s pressure on them from other parts of your house. This can cause gaps in vinyl fencing over time as well as allow moisture and bugs into your home.
- Concrete footings should be level. The footings should be level with each other and where they should be (considering local topography). If one part of your house is unevenly elevated above another due to poor planning or construction, this could cause an uneven settling of concrete footings.
- Ensure there aren’t any cracks forming in or around your foundation because this can lead to water penetration into walls and mold growth inside walls which can lead to expensive repairs down the road as well as damage to wooden parts like floorboards near foundations where there may be no way for air circulation without proper ventilation so consider installing vents or fans depending on how serious these issues might become down the line if left unchecked today.
Water Pooling
This can be a significant cause of gaps. If you have a small pool of water sitting at the bottom of your fence, this can eventually seep into the ground and cause some damage to your vinyl fence. The area around the base or footer is usually where you’ll find the most water collecting, so make sure that it’s adequately drained, either by using a sump pump or other means.
If vegetation grows around your fence, cut it back as far as possible to help with drainage issues.
Your Vinyl Fence May Be Sinking
If you’ve ever installed a vinyl fence, you may have noticed it sinking over time. This is because the ground underneath the fence shifts and compresses over time, and this causes your fence to settle into the ground, forming gaps between its slats or even breaking them altogether.
Steps to Filling Gaps Under Your Vinyl Fence
You’ve just installed or replaced your vinyl fence, and your yard looks great. But there’s one problem: the gap between the fence and the ground is unsightly. You want to fill it. Don’t worry—it’s an easy fix that doesn’t take much time or money. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1
To fill a gap under your vinyl fence, you must first determine if it is wide enough to warrant filling. If you have a small crack between two boards, or even if there is just a very little gap at the bottom of the fence, then it may not be worth doing anything about. However, if you have a large gap between two sections of your fence that are more than an inch apart and can easily see the light coming through from below, you may need to do something about this issue.
After determining whether or not your fence needs to be filled in order for it to look its best again, consider doing some research before starting on any project like this one, this will help ensure that what ends up happening comes out looking great!
Step 2
Start by cutting two pieces of foam that are the same size as your gap. Then, use a knife or any other sharp object to cut holes in each piece to attach them to the fence with nails or screws.
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Next, attach one end of each piece of foam and secure it down with a nail or screw from underneath. Be extremely careful not to puncture through the top layer so you don’t have any leaks. Repeat this procedure on the other side, but make sure that both pieces are parallel before attaching them completely. You can test this by reattaching one end.
Step 3
- Use a rubber mallet to tap the fence into place. The best way to fill gaps between your vinyl fence and the ground is by using a rubber mallet and tapping it firmly into place. Using this method, you can make sure that there are no gaps between where your vinyl fencing meets the ground or any other surface for that matter.
- Make sure the fence is straight and level with each pass of tapping it back in place if possible! Don’t forget this step! If you do not keep track of whether or not each pass has been completed successfully before moving on to another segment of fencing, then you may end up with something like this:
Step 4
After filling the gap with foam sealant, apply a thin layer of caulk over it. Smooth out the caulk with any putty knife to ensure there are no air bubbles in between. Let the caulk dry overnight, and your project is complete!
Conclusion
There are many things to consider when you are trying to fill the gap under vinyl fences. Vinyl fences are durable, but they do have their limitations and can be damaged by certain elements of nature. The best way to actually fix these gaps is by using the steps provided above. Now that you know how to do it give it a try.
