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Outdoor & exterior

How to fix a sagging gate

A gate that drags on the ground or won't latch has usually dropped at the latch side. Loose hinge screws and a frame that has racked out of square are the usual causes, and both are fixable in an afternoon.

Updated · 6 min read

  • DifficultyEasy
  • Time30–90 minutes
  • If you need helpHandyman

A gate hangs from one side, so all its weight pulls on the hinges and the hinge post. Over time, screws loosen, wood shrinks, and the frame slowly tips out of square. The latch side drops, the bottom starts dragging, and the latch no longer lines up.

Most sagging gates come back with one of three fixes: tighten or upgrade the hinge screws, add an anti-sag kit to pull the frame square, or, if the post is leaning, deal with the post. The first two are easy weekend jobs. The third is real work.

Plan on 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on which fix you need.

What you'll need

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Most of these are in a basic home toolkit.

Find the cause

  1. Lift the latch side. Grab the gate near the latch and lift gently. If the hinges shift or screws move, the hinges are loose.
  2. Check the frame. Look at the gate itself. If its corners are no longer square, or joints have opened up, the frame has racked.
  3. Check the post. Hold a level against the hinge post on two sides. Push on the top of the post. If it leans or rocks, the post is the problem.
  4. Probe for rot. Push a flathead screwdriver into the wood around the hinge screws and at the base of the post. This Old House's rule for decks applies here: if it sinks in more than about 1/4 inch, or the wood is spongy or crumbles, it is likely rotten.

Fix 1: tighten or upgrade the hinges

  1. Support the gate. Prop the latch side so it sits level and the gate's weight is off the hinges.
  2. Tighten every screw. Check both the gate side and the post side of each hinge.
  3. Fix stripped holes. If a screw spins, remove it, glue a wooden dowel or slivers of wood into the hole, let it dry, trim it flush, and drive the screw back in. This is the same fix This Old House recommends for loose door hinges.
  4. Go longer. Swap short screws for longer exterior screws that bite deeper into solid wood. Pick a length that will not poke out the far side of the post or gate.
  5. Upgrade weak hinges. If the hinges are bent or look small for the gate, replace them with heavier gate hinges. Install them while the gate is propped level.

Fix 2: square the frame with an anti-sag kit

If the hinges are solid but the gate has racked, an anti-sag kit pulls the low corner back up. These kits are a steel cable or rod with a turnbuckle in the middle and a bracket at each end.

  1. Prop the gate square. Set a block under the latch-side corner so the gate is level and square.
  2. Mount the brackets. Screw the brackets to the corners named in the kit's instructions, running diagonally across the gate. Different kits are set up differently, so follow the directions in the package.
  3. Connect the cable and turnbuckle. Hook the cable to both brackets with the turnbuckle opened up.
  4. Tighten slowly. Turn the turnbuckle a little at a time until the cable is tight and the gate holds its shape. Remove the prop and check that the latch lines up.
  5. Adjust later. As the wood dries or settles, give the turnbuckle another turn when the gate starts to drop again.

Fix 3: a leaning or rotten post is a bigger job

If the hinge post leans, rocks or is rotten at the base, no hinge or kit will hold the gate up for long. A post problem usually means resetting the post in new footing or replacing it. That involves digging, heavy lifting, and sometimes concrete. It is doable for a handy person with a helper, but many people hire this part out. Call 811 before digging.

When to call a pro

Get help if:

  • The hinge post leans, moves when you push it, or is soft at the base.
  • The gate frame is rotted, split or falling apart.
  • The gate is metal and welds or joints have broken.
  • It is a large, heavy or driveway gate, or one with an automatic opener.
  • It is a pool gate. Pool gates often need to self-close and self-latch under local rules, so have it fixed promptly and correctly.

Renters, check with the landlord before changing hardware on a shared fence. Rules for fences vary by city, county and homeowners association. A handyman can rehang most gates, and a fence contractor can reset posts. Not sure? Try the fix-or-call quiz.

Keep it from happening again

  • Do not let kids swing on the gate or hang heavy items from it.
  • Check hinge screws and the turnbuckle once or twice a year. Add it to your fall maintenance checklist.
  • Keep soil, mulch and sprinkler spray away from the bottom of wood posts.
  • Seal or stain a wood gate as the finish maker recommends to slow rot.

Common questions

What is an anti-sag gate kit?

It is a cable or rod with a turnbuckle in the middle and brackets for two corners of the gate. Tightening the turnbuckle pulls the low corner back up and holds the frame square. Follow the kit's instructions for which corners to attach it to.

Why does my gate keep sagging after I fix it?

Either the hinge screws are pulling out of soft or rotting wood, or the hinge post itself is leaning. Check the post with a level. If the post moves or leans, the gate will keep dropping until the post is fixed.

Can I fix a leaning gate post myself?

Sometimes, but it usually means digging out and resetting or replacing the post, which is heavy work. Call 811 before you dig so buried lines can be marked, and consider hiring a fence pro or handyman.

Sources

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