Farm Gates - Tips to Repair Damaged Ones

Farm gates are one of the most used and important features in farms as they provide entrance and exit points to the farm. Hence, you need to make sure your farm gates are always in good condition. This helps to maintain security on your backyard farm and improve aesthetics.

Gates can become a source of concern if they sag and drag, and sooner rather than later, one of your animals might be tempted to make a dash for it.

There are quick fixes for gates that have loose hinges as well as those that have fallen out flat. Repairing gate posts is a more extensive project and requires complete reinstallation. In today’s article, we will share with you some tips on how to repair your damaged farm gates.

1. Tightening hinges on a sagging wood gate

Sagging wood gates can, most often than not be repaired by simply tightening the hinges. Hinges supporting wood gates are held up by heavy-duty screws, but over time, they lose their grip and the gate begins to sag. To correct this, simply follow these steps:

Loosen and remove hinge fasteners from the gate post, then remove the gate completely.
Remove the hinges from the gate
Using a drill bit, drill holes through the gate post, using the holes on the hinges as a guide. Repeat the same process on the gate.
Fix one part of the hinge to the gate post using bolts or screws. Prop up the gate and fix the other side of the hinge to it as well, using screws or bolts.

2. Fixing gate latches

Latches are a very important part of gates as they ensure a gate stays firmly in place. A faulty latch means your gate will be wide open always.

To remedy this, you can nail a small block of wood on the gate post in a way that it can rotate freely. When you close your gate, you can just rotate it the wood to block the path of the gate door, thereby restricting movement.

Alternatively, you can secure to small poles on both sides of the latch hole on your gate post. Hence, when the metal latch is shut, it will be caught between the two poles, ensuring your gate remains shut.

Buying a proper latch and fixing it, however is the best solution.

3. Removing or resetting displaced gate posts

This method involves complete removal of your gate, along with its posts and then, reinstalling afresh. Take the following steps to remove, reset and correct your displaced gate posts:

Loosen and remove the hinges from the post, so you can detach your gate.
Using a digger or shovel, start digging the soil around the gate post in order to loosen it.
Once the soil is free enough, pull out the gate post. Repeat the same process for the other post.
For posts with concrete footings, use a sledgehammer to destroy the footings and pull the posts out.
Enlarge the hole from which you removed the post, so that it is three times wider than such post.
Place some gravel at the base of the hole.
Set the gate post (it could be a new one or the old one) in the hole and make sure it stands erect. You can brace it with wood.
Fill the hole with concrete and leave it to harden.
Remove the braces and fix hinges on the post, then install the gate as well.