Sagging or Broken Gate: Repair It or Replace It?

A gate that drags, will not latch, or leans is one of the most common calls we get. Most of the time it is a repair, not a replacement. Here is how we decide.

Repair it when

• The hinge is the problem. Worn pins, a hinge pulled out of the post, or a weld that cracked. We re-weld or replace the hinge and re-hang the gate. Typical cost: $250 to $350.
• The post moved. Clay soil around Houston swells and shrinks, and posts lean over the years. We can reset or sleeve the post and re-hang.
• The frame twisted a little. A gate that got hit by a car or a mower can often be straightened and re-braced.
• The opener died but the gate is fine. Openers are replaceable; the gate does not care.
• Rust in one spot. We cut out the bad section and weld in new steel.

Replace it when

• The bottom rail is rusted through along most of its length
• The frame is thin-wall tube that has already been patched more than once
• The gate was never sized right for the opening and has been fighting the posts since day one
• You want an opener and the current gate is too flimsy to automate

What a repair visit looks like

We come out, look at the hinges, posts and frame, and give you a number on the spot. Most repairs are done the same visit with the welder on the truck. If it needs shop time, we tell you before we start.

The hidden cause of most sagging gates

Undersized hinges. A 12 foot steel gate weighs a lot, and a hinge rated for a garden gate will bend within a couple of years. When we repair, we upsize the hinge so you are not calling again next summer.

Yard gates, side gates, pool gates

Same story. A wood side gate that drags can often be replaced with a steel-framed gate in the existing opening for a few hundred dollars more than a repair, and it will never sag again.

Get it looked at

Text a photo of the gate and the hinge side to (281) 507-9324. We can usually tell you repair or replace from the picture, and we will put a price on it before we come out.