Gate installation and repair
The gate is the part of the fence you use every day, and usually the first part to sag. Here's what makes a gate work.
A fence can be solid for decades while its gate drags, sticks or swings open in the wind. Gates carry their weight on one post, they get slammed, and here they also have to open through snow. Building them right from the start saves a lot of frustration.
Types of gates
- Walk gates. Usually 3 to 4 feet wide for people, mowers and wheelbarrows.
- Double drive gates. Two leaves that open for a vehicle, trailer or RV into the backyard.
- Sliding and rolling gates. Useful where there's no room to swing or where snow would block a swinging gate.
- Ranch and pipe gates. Steel tube or pipe gates for pastures, driveways and corrals.
Why do gates sag?
- An undersized hinge post. The post on the hinge side carries the whole gate. It should be heavier and set deeper than line posts.
- No diagonal brace. Wood gates need a brace running from the bottom hinge corner up to the latch side, or a steel frame.
- Frost movement. If the hinge or latch post heaves, the gate goes out of line every winter.
- Hardware that's too light. Wide or heavy gates need heavy-duty hinges and a drop rod to hold them closed in the wind.
Snow and swing direction
A gate that swings out over a driveway or walkway may be blocked by plowed snow for weeks. Think about which way it opens, and leave clearance above the ground for drifts.
Dogs, kids and pools
Self-closing hinges and latches that close automatically help keep pets and kids in. Fencing around a pool or hot tub may have extra safety rules, so ask your contractor or the local building office.
The contractor prices the fence after walking the line, checking the ground, gates and access, and talking through what you want. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has seen the property is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can a sagging gate be fixed, or does it need replacing?
Many can be fixed with a brace kit, new hinges or a reset hinge post. A gate that's rotted or racked badly is often better replaced.
How wide should a driveway gate be for a trailer?
Wide enough to swing the trailer in comfortably, which depends on your driveway approach. Measure the trailer and talk it through with the contractor.
Related services
- Wood and privacy fences
- Vinyl and chain link fences
- Ranch and wildlife fencing
- Fence repair and replacement
More background: Bozeman fence guide.
Fence down after a windstorm, or ready to fence the yard?
Call now and a local fence contractor will look at the job and quote it directly.