Fencing & Gates · Problem & repair
A gate that drops, sticks or will not latch
A gate is the hardest-working element on any boundary. It carries its own weight on two points, gets slammed, and has to stay square while everything around it moves.
When it stops latching, the fault is nearly always in the hinge post or the frame, not the latch you keep adjusting.
How to tell this is your problem
- The latch edge dropping below the keep
- The gate scraping an arc into the ground
- The hinge post leaning towards the opening
- Visible sag across the gate frame diagonal
- A gate that only latches when lifted
Repair or replace?
Repair. Very few gates need replacing - the leaf usually outlasts the post that is carrying it.
Repair options, cheapest first
- 01
Re-set or upsize the hinge post
A deeper, wider footing - or a concrete or steel hinge post - removes the root cause on heavy gates.
- 02
Re-brace the frame
Fitting or renewing the diagonal brace so it runs from the bottom hinge corner upwards puts the leaf back into compression and lifts the latch edge.
- 03
Upgrade hinges and fixings
Heavy-duty adjustable hinges allow fine correction and carry the load properly on wide or solid gates.
- 04
Adjust the swing path
Trimming the bottom rail or easing the ground clears the arc where levels have changed.
Why it happens
Hinge post movement
The hinge post takes the entire cantilevered weight. An undersized or shallow footing leans, which drops the far edge disproportionately.
Frame racking
A gate frame without an effective diagonal brace loses square over time and sags at the latch corner.
Worn or undersized hinges
Hinges that are too light for the leaf wear at the pin and let the gate drop.
Ground movement
Heave, settlement or a new surface laid at a slightly different level can put the ground in the swing path.
Cost and time on site
Indicative cost
Most gate adjustments are a short visit. New posts or a new leaf are quoted individually.
Typical duration
Typically a half day; new hinge posts need concrete to cure before rehanging.
Every quote is priced after seeing the site. Gate repairs are quick and cheap compared with a new set - book a look.
Dropping or sticking gate: common questions
- Which way should a gate brace run?
- From the bottom of the hinge side up towards the latch side, so the brace works in compression. Fitted the other way it does very little.
- Why does my gate only stick in winter?
- Timber swells with moisture and ground can heave when saturated. A small clearance allowance at hanging prevents seasonal binding.
- Can a dropped gate be lifted with adjustable hinges?
- It buys some correction, but if the hinge post itself is leaning the adjustment is temporary. Fix the post first.
- Do wide driveway gates need special posts?
- Yes. The leverage on a wide gate is considerable, so hinge posts need substantially deeper and wider footings than a fence post.
Services that fix this
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