If you see any of these signs, it might be time for a fence replacement.

If you've achieved the ultimate American dream—your own house and a white picket ­fenced yard—you might be disappointed when you look at your lawn again next year.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it might mean your fence needs to be replaced. Here are seven common reasons why fences deteriorate.

1. There Are Holes

If your boards look a little doty, then chances are they're damaged by bugs or other animals.

If it's not just termite damage, then you might have bigger issues on your hands than simply replacing your fences. Get an exterminating company to come and inspect your entire yard for any signs of rodent infestation.

After you've taken care of the first step, then you can move onto replacing your fence. If it gets replaced before you get rid of the pests, you're wasting money. They'll just come back and destroy your new fence.

2. The Wood's Splintered

It may not seem like much, but this seemingly minor problem is actually a bigger thing at play.

Splitting often means that the tree will eventually split into two pieces. If you notice both signs at once, then there's no doubt that the tree will be destroyed by the splitting.

If you see any splintering or cracking, contact a fencing service provider immediately so you can get new ones installed ASAP.

You need to repair your fence before it falls down.

If your fence leans or falls down every single day, you need to stand it up again each day. It's not only annoying, but it could be dangerous too!

A leaning fence is an indication that there may be deeper issues at play. It could mean that your fence has weak posts or that some of the fence board is damaged.

Either way, replacing the whole thing might be cheaper than repairing it.

4. There Are Missing Boards

Over the course of years, the boards on your gate might get loose and eventually fall off. Even though the gate is still up right now, it could collapse at any moment.

It's important to keep your kids safe by keeping them away from poison ivy. But it's equally important not to damage the beauty of your yard by removing poison oak.

You might also damage your boards if they're broken by accident, such as when you hit them with the weed trimmer, or if they fall down because of bad weather, such as a tree crashing into your fence.

You shouldn't risk repairing your damaged fences if they're not safe enough for your family to use. Instead, replace them entirely.

5. The Wood's Rotting

If you live in a place where it often rained, you might see either yellow or gray staining on your wooden fences. Yellow indicates rot, while gray indicates mildew. You probably won't be able to remove these colors without replacing the whole thing.

If you're going to use wood fencing, you might want to think about using treated wood instead of untreated wood. You'll spend more up front, but you won't need to replace your fence so frequently, which will save you money in the long term.

6. You Can See Your Neighbors

And they can hear you. It gets awkward when one person wants to enjoy the yard but cannot because someone else needs privacy.

You don't just lose your personal security; you may even have to deal with losing your pet too. If the gate isn't tall enough, your dog or cats might be able to jump it and escape whenever they want.

If you want to avoid all these hassles, don't bother replacing your old wooden fences. Instead, get new ones that fit your needs perfectly.

7. Too Many Repair Jobs Pile up

If you keep having to call your neighbors for repairs every few days, perhaps it's time to replace your old wooden picket fencing. You might be in a state of denial about it and think that one more fix will be enough. But the truth is, it needs replacing.

If the repair bills for the past few months, or even years, add up to $4,000 or more, or if they're already well beyond that number, then you need to get a new fencing system installed. You've got to give up the old and embrace the new.

If you need a fence replacement, get one now.

Eventually, you'll need to replace the fence rather than keep repairing it. Replacing the fence will be cheaper than continuing to repair it.