A garden gate that suddenly scrapes the path is not always a hinge problem. The gate may have dropped on worn hinges, the hinge post may have moved, the timber frame may have racked out of square, or wet weather may have swollen the boards. The right repair depends on which part has moved. Planing the bottom edge can hide the symptom while leaving a loose post untouched.
First test: has the gate moved or has the post moved?
Close the gate slowly and watch the gaps. If the gap is narrow at the latch-side top and wide at the bottom, the gate may have sagged. If the entire hinge post leans, adjusting the gate alone will not give a lasting result. Use a spirit level on both posts and inspect the ground around them for movement, rot or a failed concrete footing.
| Symptom | More likely cause |
|---|---|
| Gate drops toward latch | hinge wear, loose hinge screws or racked frame |
| Both gaps changed and post leans | post movement or rot |
| Gate rubs only after prolonged rain | timber swelling or ground change |
| Latch no longer meets keep | gate sag, post movement or hinge shift |
| Frame is diamond-shaped | insufficient/failed diagonal bracing |
| Bottom rail soft or crumbling | timber decay; repair may be short-lived |
Check the hinges before cutting timber
Look for loose screws, elongated holes, bent hinge straps and excessive play in pins. If screws have pulled from sound timber, a proper repair may restore the fixing. If the timber around the hinge is rotten, simply fitting larger screws transfers the load into weak material.
Gate hinges also need to be sized for the gate’s width and weight. A heavy close-boarded gate on small hinges can repeatedly sag even after adjustment.
Why diagonal bracing matters
A rectangular gate wants to distort under its own weight. Diagonal bracing helps transfer the load back toward the hinge side. On a traditional timber gate, the orientation and connection of the brace matter. If a brace has loosened, split or been installed poorly, the latch side can gradually drop.
The hinge post is the foundation
A perfect gate cannot stay aligned on a moving post. Posts can loosen because of shallow footings, saturated ground, decay at ground level or repeated wind loading. A post that moves when the gate is pushed needs attention before hinges and latch are finely adjusted.
When planing the bottom is reasonable
A small clearance adjustment can be sensible when the gate is structurally sound and seasonal timber swelling causes light rubbing. It is not a good first response when the latch side has visibly dropped or the post is loose. Removing too much timber in wet weather can also leave an excessive gap once the gate dries.
Latch problems often reveal the movement
A latch that suddenly sits 10 mm below its keep is useful evidence. Before relocating the keep, check whether the gate itself has sagged. Moving the latch every season can produce a row of old screw holes without fixing the underlying geometry.
Repair or replace?
- Usually repair: sound frame, small hinge wear, loose hardware, minor seasonal rubbing, adjustable latch.
- Consider partial rebuild: one sound gate with a failed or rotten post.
- Consider replacement: widespread rot, split frame joints, badly distorted gate or repeated failure after sensible repairs.
- Investigate drainage: posts or lower rails repeatedly deteriorate in permanently wet ground.
The autumn home maintenance checklist is a useful time to inspect gates before winter winds and prolonged wet conditions make a small movement worse.
What can a handyman do?
A handyman can often rehang a sound gate, replace suitable hinges and latches, add or repair bracing, correct minor clearance issues and replace a straightforward timber post. Larger masonry piers, complex metal gates, automated gates or boundary structures with significant structural issues may need a specialist.
Before booking, send photos of the whole gate, both posts, hinges, latch and the bottom clearance. That helps distinguish a quick adjustment from a post replacement and makes the quote more realistic. Current pricing patterns for general work are covered in the UK handyman cost guide.
A five-minute diagnosis
- Open the gate halfway and gently lift the latch side. Excess movement suggests hinge or fixing wear.
- Check both posts with a level.
- Look at the diagonal gaps around the closed gate.
- Inspect the bottom 150–200 mm of posts and rails for softness or decay.
- Watch where the latch meets the keep before changing anything.
- Note whether rubbing changes with wet and dry weather.
FAQ
Can a sagging gate be fixed without replacing it?
Often yes, if the timber frame and posts are sound. Hinge adjustment, better fixings or restoring the bracing may be enough.
Why does my gate only rub after rain?
Timber can take on moisture and swell, while wet ground can also move. Check structural alignment before planing the gate.
Should the gate post move at all?
A small amount of flex can occur in timber, but obvious movement at ground level is a sign that the footing or post condition should be investigated.