The gate latch no longer lines up. The hinge post feels solid and doesn't visibly move, but measuring the gate diagonals shows the wooden frame has shifted out of square. Tightening hinge screws only lifts one corner temporarily. I'm considering a diagonal brace or an adjustable anti-sag cable, though I don't want to pull it out of shape in the opposite direction. Which reinforcement works best once the frame has already racked?
Fixing a gate that sags because the post is solid but the frame is racked
- home-improvement
- fixing
- gate
- sags
38
4 replies
If the frame is racked, I'd fix the frame first and not lean on the latch to mask it. A diagonal brace or anti-sag cable can help, but only...
If the frame is racked, I'd fix the frame first and not lean on the latch to mask it. A diagonal brace or anti-sag cable can help, but only after you get the geometry back where it belongs.
I vote cable if the gate is already built and you want the easiest correction. A solid diagonal brace works too, but it's less forgiving if the wood keeps moving.
Cable is quicker, brace is prettier, both are trying to do the same job. If the gate is heavy, I'd also check whether the hinges themselves...
One thing I'd avoid is pulling it hard the other direction until the latch lines up. Then you just store the twist in the wood and it comes back later.