Gate repair: how to fix a sagging garden gate

Why gates sag

A timber gate is a heavy panel hanging off one side, and gravity is always pulling the far end down. Over time the hinge screws loosen in softening timber, the joints in the frame open up, and the latch side drops until it drags on the path or no longer lines up with the keep.

Weather speeds things up. Wet winters swell the timber and dry summers shrink it, which works fixings loose. A gate that is used many times a day for bins, bikes or a dog wears faster than one that rarely opens.

Hinges, bracing and re-hanging

The first check is the hinges. Small or short hinges on a tall gate are a common cause of sagging, and longer, heavier T hinges or band hinges spread the load across more of the frame. Loose screws are replaced with longer ones into fresh timber, or bolts are used through the gate where needed.

The brace is the second check. A diagonal brace should run from the bottom of the hinge side up to the top of the latch side, so it holds the far corner up. A brace fitted the other way round does almost nothing. Once the frame is squared and braced, the gate is re-hung with an even gap at the bottom and on the latch side.

Latches and bolts that no longer line up

A latch that will not catch is usually a symptom, not the problem itself. Once a gate has dropped, the latch bar sits lower than the keep. Moving the keep down can be a quick fix, but if the gate is still sagging it will be out again before long. Sorting the hang first and then setting the latch and any drop bolt to suit is the lasting repair.

• Check the gate is square and braced before adjusting the latch
• Set the keep so the latch drops in without lifting the gate
• Make sure drop bolts meet a hole or keep in the ground
• Add a gate stop so the latch is not taking every slam

Rotten or leaning gate posts

Push the hinge post firmly by hand. If it moves, no amount of work on the gate will hold. Posts usually rot at ground level, where the timber stays wet, and a heavy gate swinging on a weakened post levers it over a little more every day. The fence post replacement guide explains how a failed post is taken out and a new one set firmly in the ground.

The latch post matters too. If it leans away, the gap between gate and post widens and the latch misses. Both posts need to be upright and solid for the gate to work properly.

Repair or new gate?

Repair is worth it when the timber is sound and the problem is hinges, bracing or a single post. A new gate is the better fix when the boards are soft, the frame is split at the joints, or the gate has twisted so badly it will not sit flat. A screwdriver pushed into the bottom rail is a quick test: if it sinks in easily, the timber is past saving.

If the fence on either side is also tired, it is worth reading the fence panel replacement cost guide so the whole boundary can be planned in one go rather than piece by piece.

Fitting a new garden gate

A new gate is measured to the opening with an allowance for clearance at the bottom and on the latch side, so it does not bind when the timber swells in winter. It is hung on hinges sized for its weight, braced the right way, and the latch, bolt and stop are fitted so it closes cleanly. Where the posts are being replaced too, they are set first and left firm before the gate goes on.

Gate repairs and new gates are part of the fencing work CRF Services Ltd takes on around Rochester and Medway, and they are a common addition to a handyman visit alongside other small outdoor jobs.

Which side do hinges go on a gate?

Hinges go on the side of the opening with the stronger post, usually the one that is better set in the ground or fixed to a wall. The other side takes the latch. Think too about which way you want the gate to swing: most garden gates open into the garden, away from the pavement or path, so they never block a public footway. Hinges are fixed on the face the gate opens towards.

On a gate with a Z or diagonal brace, the hinge side is fixed by the brace. The bottom of the brace must sit on the hinge side. If a gate has been hung the other way round, the brace is working against it, and it will sag however good the hinges are.

Bracing a gate properly

Bracing gates is about turning the frame into a triangle that cannot fold. The diagonal runs from low on the hinge side to high on the latch side, so the weight of the free end is pushed back towards the bottom hinge. Where a gate has no brace, one can be cut and fitted to the frame. On a wide gate, a second brace or a steel corner bracket adds stiffness. Metal anti sag kits with a tensioned cable do the same job from the opposite diagonal, pulling the latch corner up.

Sagging gate repair, step by step

A sagging gate repair usually follows the same order: check the posts are firm, take the gate off, square the frame and tighten or reglue the joints, fit or correct the brace, then rehang it on hinges that suit its weight. Finally the latch, keep and drop bolt are reset so the gate closes on its own weight without being lifted.

Need it sorted? Book a gate repair

Gate repairs are booked through the fencing service, and a dropped gate is often sorted on the same visit as a fence repair in the same run. Send a photo of the gate, both posts and the gap at the bottom through the contact page for a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Handyman ServicesLandscaping