Fence And Gate Repair

Fence & Gate Repair

I have repaired many fences and gates, and I’d like to offer some pointers  if your fence an/or gate needs some TLC,

2 gates that I recently repaired had different challenges, one of them would not lock due to shifting over time, the 2nd one, was very difficult to close,

The tools you’ll need are, some drills (impact and regular)….for your impact drill  you’ll need some driver sockets, and a few different size drill bits if new holes are necessary….a pry par, hammer and skill set saw may also be needed…if the existing bolts or screws can not be re-used, have some of these also, as for screws….GRK is my go to brand,

Observe the gate or fence to determine what’s causing the issue, e.g.  with gates, you may need to remove the hinges, latches or fence boards, in my case, as mentioned above, the permanent pin no longer reached the latch, therefore the gate could not latch/lock….with my impact drill, I removed the latch, moved it over, lined it up properly, drilled new holes and drove the bolts through the new holes, wallah!, the latch pin now reached the latch and worked properly,

With the 2nd gate, it shifted to point where it rubbed so tightly, it became difficult to open and close…..in many cases, by removing the hinge bolts, either on the gate side or the post side, one can reduce the space between the post and the gate and add that space to the latch side…..in my case, I didn’t have any space between the hinge side of the gate and the post….so, in order to create space, I pried the last board off the gate, with my pry bar and hammer, cut the (2) 2×4 top and bottom rails on the gate by 1-1/2″ and screwd the removed board back on,

Now,

I was able to reduce the space on the hinge side and add that to the latch side, repositioned  the latch and, wallah!, the gate opened  and closed like a rock star!,

I’ve posted a picture of the tools needed/mentioned above…..Incidentally, these tools are overall great tools to have around the house, for many of your DIY projects, who knows, maybe you’ll find your newfound passion!