If your post is rocking around inside of its concrete footing, a good solution is a steel wedge. These can be driven between the post and concrete footing to straighten a leaning or wobbly post.
One method: Purchase a 4x4 post bracket designed to be driven into the ground with a sledge-hammer, these brackets will hold a post quite sturdily, though I would not recommend it for anything too 'heavy duty'.
Support braces can be added to reinforce wobbly fence posts. Install metal or wooden braces diagonally from the top of the post to the bottom, creating an "X" shape. Secure the braces with screws or nails.
To set a post in gravel or soil, tamp down a 2-3 inch (5-8 cm) layer of gravel and insert the post. Then, add and tamp gravel or soil into the hole until it's filled. To set a post in concrete, tamp down a 4-6 inch (10-15 cm) layer of gravel and insert the post. Brace it with stakes, then shovel concrete into the hole.
We recommend a post spike with bolts for the sturdiest fixing method, which also makes the fence post easier to remove if damaged. If you are using a fence spike where the post is fixed with screws, ensure that you use screws that are suitable for outdoor use.
Add Temporary Support
Pound your stake into the ground about 4 feet from where the fencepost sags. Attach the support boards between the stake and fence. Use your level to ensure the fence is upright, and then secure it in place temporarily with screws. You can use the 2x4 board to tamp the dirt around each post.
A wobbly fence post can compromise the strength and integrity of your entire fence, and could lead to serious accidents.
While expanding foam can secure posts for lightweight fences, such as vinyl or wire mesh, it's better to go with concrete for structural posts, such as posts for porches, decks, or large and heavy gates. Expanding foam is not as strong as concrete when supporting load-bearing posts.
Stabilize Your Fence Post
You'll first want to dig a few inches of soil out from around the post's perimeter. From there, you can fill the hole with gravel and top the gravel with a rapid-set cement mix. Finally, pound the fence post back into place using a mallet.
As a fencing contractor will advise you, fence posts do not need to be set in concrete. Even if you aim for something long-lasting, setting in concrete is a bit too permanent. And if you are installing wooden posts, concrete is the worst alternative. Keep in mind that with time, wooden posts will rot.
On the process of how to brace a fence post, use large pressure treated wood for the poles. You can either drill a pin into the corner pole or cut a notch to hold the support securely. Both methods can be effective depending on your setup.
On average, the cost to repair a leaning fence can range from $150 to $600, depending on the factors we've talked about above. Minor repairs (such as resetting a single post or minor adjustments) could cost as little as $150 to $250.
Use heavy duty slotted posts. Heavy duty posts are thicker and therefore stronger than standard slotted posts. In areas of high winds, we recommend heavy duty posts to help support the fence panels and keep them upright.
If your post is rocking around inside of its concrete footing, a good solution is a steel wedge. These can be driven between the post and concrete footing to straighten a leaning or wobbly post.
Backfilling with Gravel and Soil. Fill the first few inches of the hole with gravel. This aids in drainage, keeping wood posts dry and preventing rot. After the gravel, backfill the hole with the dug-up soil, tamping down every few inches to eliminate air pockets and ensure soil compaction.
The entire point of using fence post spikes is the fact they make fencing easier and more accessible. However, unless your spike is set in the ground at an even level, the finished boundary fence will not be level and, therefore, not secure.
So, a six-foot-high finished post ideally needs to be buried three feet into the ground. You may be able to get away with two feet depending on the weight of your fence, soil conditions and local climate.
For lightweight fences, or in locations not subject to high winds, expanded foam is quicker and easier to use. If structural strength is an issue, concrete is still the better choice.
A fence that uses fence post anchor spikes is just as stable as a fence with posts set in concrete, with the added benefit of minimising the rotting of the fence posts.
Dig at least a foot below what you consider to be your frost line. Widen the hole at the bottom to create a bell shape. Pour the cement footing all over again. Re-install new support posts and connect them to the beam so the deck has the right slope away from the house.