Straighten a sagging fence gate
About 90 minutes
Gravity always wins unless the gate is triangulated. Add the diagonal.
Printable steps & toolsWatch it done
How to Fix a Sagging Fence Gate · Ask This Old House
Watch it done → Practice now
Do these 3 things next
- Hold a level on the hinge post to see whether the post or the gate is the problem.
- Tighten hinge hardware with longer screws before buying a kit.
- Fit the anti-sag cable corner-to-corner, hinge-top to latch-bottom.
Say it while you work: Áfaagua — to try, to strive
Steps
- Prop the gate level in its opening with a scrap of wood.
- Run a diagonal brace from the bottom hinge corner up to the top latch corner — compression, not tension.
- Or install an anti-sag cable kit running the opposite diagonal with a turnbuckle.
- Tighten until the gate swings free and the latch lines up, then check the hinge post for lean.
When to call a professional
Any job
Nothing here says you can't do it. These are simply the moments where a professional is the cheaper answer.
- The same problem comes back after a correct repair.
- The next step needs a tool or permit you don't have.
- You'd be working alone on something that could pin or fall.
- You've lost confidence — that feeling is information, not failure.
General guidance only. Local codes and conditions vary. If work involves electrical, gas, structural, HVAC or plumbing systems — or if anything feels beyond your comfort — stop and hire a licensed professional.
Bumada Bridge
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Áfaagua — to try, to strive
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