Gate difficult to open

Causes

Hinges dropped

Hinges too small or insufficient in number

Hinges seized or rusted 

Timber gate has swollen and is sticking

Timber gate frame deteriorating – rotting/corroded fixing

Support posts pulled out of plumb, ground settlement

Posts not vertical

Common

Listed under: timber and wood-based, timber, Section, gates, durability, corrosion, rust, rot, fixings and hardware, fixings, hardware

Cause

Hinges dropped

Repair

  • check first that the post and the gate themselves are in good condition. The post should be vertical, sound and securely set in the ground (or fixed against a building). The gate should be rigid – a diagonal support across the back of the gate may be required if it is not. Hinge fixings should be tight or able to be tightened

  • remove and refix the hinges, or replace them if they are bent, badly corroded or too small. Replace corroded screws – new screws will usually need to be a bigger size to allow them to be tightened. Pack timber under the gate to hold it up while removing the top hinge. Clean the timber behind the hinge and, if the gate is painted, apply primer to the timber to give it protection. After the primer is dry, mark the new location for the hinge to ensure it will be level, then screw the hinge to the post first. Screw into new holes where possible. After checking again that the fence is level, screw the hinge to the gate. Repeat the process with the bottom hinge

  • Tee hinges in galvanized steel are widely available in many sizes, but stainless steel hinges (with stainless steel screws) are likely to give better durability, especially in coastal and geothermal areas

  • self-closing gate hinges made of polymer or anodised aluminium are also available, usually for use with steel or aluminium gates

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Cause

Hinges too small or insufficient in number

Repair

  • remove and replace hinges as above, but with larger hinges appropriate to the size of the gate

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Cause

Hinges seized or rusted 

Repair

  • apply a proprietary penetrating lubricant such as WD-40

  • if rust is severe, remove and replace the hinges with new hinges as detailed above

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Cause

Timber gate has swollen and is sticking

Repair

  • take the gate off its hinges and plane the edges to give more clearance – there should be 5–10 mm clearance around each edge. Rehang the gate ensuring it is level and there is sufficient space around it

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Cause

Timber gate frame deteriorating – rotting/corroded fixing

Repair

  • repair or replace the gate using H3.2-treated timber and hot-dip galvanised or stainless steel hinges and fixings as described above

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Cause

Support posts pulled out of plumb, ground settlement

Repair

  • re-set posts if out-of-square. Increase depth of hole – hole depth should be minimum 100 mm deep for each 200 mm of post above ground. Re-install posts as in the drawing
  • where posts are fixed against a building, ensure they are fixed firmly. Timber posts on brick veneer walls should be secured against the wall with dyna bolts, for example

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Cause

Posts not vertical

Repair

  • as repair above

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