Wood gate repair and replacement
We fix wooden gates that sag, drag, stick or will not latch, replace worn hardware and the posts gates hang on, and replace gates that are past saving.
Illustrative photoGates wear out before fences do
A gate is used every day and moves every time, so it wears out faster than the fence around it. The fix depends on why it is failing: the gate itself, its hardware, or the post it hangs from.
We diagnose the cause first. Re-tightening hinges on a rotted post only holds for a few weeks.
Common gate problems
- The latch side has dropped and the gate drags on the ground
- The latch no longer lines up
- The gate swings open or will not stay closed
- Hinge screws pulling out of the wood
- The hinge post is leaning or rotted at the base
- Wide double gates sagging in the middle
Gate, hardware or post?
Every sagging gate has one of three causes, and each needs a different repair.
The gate frame
Joints have loosened, the frame has racked out of square, or the brace is missing or runs the wrong way. The frame is squared and braced, or rebuilt.
The hardware
Hinges too small for the gate, screws stripped in soft wood, or a worn latch. Heavier hardware is fitted into solid wood.
The hinge post
The post leans or is rotted at the base, so the whole gate tilts with it. The post is replaced and sized for the gate.
Repairs we do
Rehang and square
Re-squaring the frame, re-setting hinges into solid wood and adjusting the latch.
Bracing
Adding or correcting a diagonal brace, or fitting an anti-sag cable kit where that suits the gate.
Hinges, latches and locks
Heavier hinges, new latches, drop rods for double gates, padlock hasps and lockable latches.
Hinge post replacement
Setting a new post sized for the weight of the gate.
Gate rebuild
Rebuilding the frame and re-using sound boards where possible.
Replacement gate
A new gate built for the same opening when the old one cannot be saved.
Getting the alignment right
- The brace must run from the bottom of the hinge side up to the top of the latch side, so it pushes the latch corner up. A brace installed the other way does almost nothing.
- Clearance at the bottom and latch side is set so the gate still closes when the wood swells in winter.
- Long strap hinges spread the load better than small butt hinges on any gate wider than a narrow walkway.
- The latch is set last, after the gate hangs level, so it lines up through the seasons.
Repair or replace the gate?
- Repair when the frame is solid and the problem is hardware, bracing or a loose hinge.
- Replace the post when the gate is fine but its post is leaning or rotted.
- Replace the gate when the frame is rotted, badly racked or was built too light for its width.
Replacement gates
A replacement is built to the measured opening and hung on sound posts, usually matching the fence. If you want a different style while you are at it, see the design options on our custom gates page.
Photos that help
- The whole gate, closed, from the front
- The hinge side and the latch side, close up
- The base of both posts at ground level
- The gap at the bottom and where it drags, if it does
What affects the price of a gate repair
We do not publish fixed prices because every job differs. These are the main factors:
- Gate width and height, single or double
- Whether the hinge or latch post needs replacing
- Hardware chosen
- Building new versus repairing
- Matching an existing fence style
Limits
- We work on wooden gates. Metal and automated driveway gates need a specialist.
- Pool enclosure gates must meet specific safety rules, including self-closing and self-latching hardware. Tell us if your gate is part of one.
How a gate repair runs
Submit a quote request
Tell us what the gate is doing: sagging, dragging or not latching.
Diagnosis
We work out whether the gate, the hardware or the post is the cause.
Written estimate
A repair where it will last; a rebuild or new gate where it will not.
Repair and check
The fix is made, or a new gate built to the opening. Swing, clearance and latch are tested before we leave.
Gate repair questions
Why does a wooden gate sag?
Its own weight pulls the latch side down over time. It happens faster when the gate has no diagonal brace, or one installed the wrong way; when hinge screws loosen in wet wood; when the hinges are too small; or when the hinge post leans or rots.
Can a sagging gate be fixed, or does it need replacing?
Most can be fixed by squaring the frame, bracing it correctly and re-setting the hardware. If the frame is rotted, or the hinge post has failed, the gate or the post has to be replaced.
Why does my gate stick in winter and swing freely in summer?
Wood takes on moisture in the wet months and swells, and posts can shift slightly in soft winter ground. Leaving a proper clearance gap and sealing the end grain of the boards reduces this. A gate that binds all year has a different problem, usually sag.
Is it worth fixing an old gate?
If the frame is solid, yes: new hardware and correct bracing often make it work like new. If the frame is soft or the joints have failed, a replacement costs less over time than repeated repairs.
Related services
Where we offer this
Gate repair is available across our Metro Vancouver service area, including Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Surrey, Vancouver, Port Moody, Delta, Richmond, Langley and North Vancouver.
Get a free estimate for gate repair
New build or repair, send a short description and a few photos. We reply with next steps and, where photos are enough, a realistic price range.