I have a privacy fence in my backyard that includes a large double gate. It was built maybe a year and half ago. The whole span is about a 11' 4" opening. The gates to meet in the middle with double hinges on each gate and a rod at the bottom of both going in the ground. There is one latch in the center (a small one I might add). The latch and rods do not adequately keep the gates from rocking during high winds (Oklahoma winds!!!) so both the bars rocked loose in the ground allowing the gates to swing even more and not stay latched. As mowing season began, I figured out I could not even open the gates because they had sagged so badly and buried the bottoms into the ground.

I had the bottoms trimmed off and the hinges raised everything back up too. This lead to a wider gap between the gates and now the latch really doesn't reach across well. Tried again yesterday and moved the latch in as much as was left to move. Unfortunately the gates are wide open this morning after a storm last night.

How should this be repaired?

I have a privacy fence in my backyard that includes a large double gate. It was built maybe a year and half ago. The whole span is about a 11' 4" opening. The gates to meet in the middle with double hinges on each gate and a rod at the bottom of both going in the ground. There is one latch in the center (a small one I might add). The latch and rods do not adequately keep the gates from rocking during high winds (Oklahoma winds!!!) so both the bars rocked loose in the ground allowing the gates to swing even more and not stay latched. As mowing season began, I figured out I could not even open the gates because they had sagged so badly and buried the bottoms into the ground.

I had the bottoms trimmed off and the hinges raised everything back up too. This lead to a wider gap between the gates and now the latch really doesn't reach across well. Tried again yesterday and moved the latch in as much as was left to move. Unfortunately the gates are wide open this morning after a storm last night.

How should this be repaired?

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I paid a contractor to build a privacy fence in my backyard . . . that of which included a large double gate. It was built maybe a year and half ago. The whole span is about a 11' 4" opening. He basically built the gates to meet in the middle. There are double hinges on each gate and a rod at the bottom of both going in the ground. There is one latch in the center (a small one I might add). The latch and rods do not adequately keep the gates from rocking during high winds (Oklahoma winds!!!) so both the bars rocked loose in the ground allowing the gates to swing even more and not stay latched. As mowing season began, I figured out I could not even open the gates because they had sagged so badly and buried the bottoms into the ground.

After a rather tacky conversation with him, he came and trimmed off the bottoms (that look crappy now) and said the hinges had sagged so he raised everything back up too. This lead to a wider gap between the gates and now the latch really doesn't reach across well. So, he came again yesterday and moved the latch in as much as was left to move. Well, surprise, surprise--the gates are wide open this morning after a storm last night. It didn't hold up 24 hours!!!

I know he should come back AGAIN and make it right but I am frankly sick of calling him. To get him back over here yesterday took 2 - 3 weeks. He is as sick of me as I am of him. He's putting bandaids over a huge gash. I am ready to fix it myself.

I am sure pics would help so I will add a few shortly. Does anyone want to point me in the direction of repair?

I have a privacy fence in my backyard that includes a large double gate. It was built maybe a year and half ago. The whole span is about a 11' 4" opening. The gates to meet in the middle with double hinges on each gate and a rod at the bottom of both going in the ground. There is one latch in the center (a small one I might add). The latch and rods do not adequately keep the gates from rocking during high winds (Oklahoma winds!!!) so both the bars rocked loose in the ground allowing the gates to swing even more and not stay latched. As mowing season began, I figured out I could not even open the gates because they had sagged so badly and buried the bottoms into the ground.

I had the bottoms trimmed off and the hinges raised everything back up too. This lead to a wider gap between the gates and now the latch really doesn't reach across well. Tried again yesterday and moved the latch in as much as was left to move. Unfortunately the gates are wide open this morning after a storm last night.

How should this be repaired?

I paid a contractor to build a privacy fence in my backyard . . . that of which included a large double gate. It was built maybe a year and half ago. The whole span is about a 11' 4" opening. He basically built the gates to meet in the middle. There are double hinges on each gate and a rod at the bottom of both going in the ground. There is one latch in the center (a small one I might add). The latch and rods do not adequately keep the gates from rocking during high winds (Oklahoma winds!!!) so both the bars rocked loose in the ground allowing the gates to swing even more and not stay latched. As mowing season began, I figured out I could not even open the gates because they had sagged so badly and buried the bottoms into the ground.

After a rather tacky conversation with him, he came and trimmed off the bottoms (that look crappy now) and said the hinges had sagged so he raised everything back up too. This lead to a wider gap between the gates and now the latch really doesn't reach across well. So, he came again yesterday and moved the latch in as much as was left to move. Well, surprise, surprise--the gates are wide open this morning after a storm last night. It didn't hold up 24 hours!!!

I know he should come back AGAIN and make it right but I am frankly sick of calling him. To get him back over here yesterday took 2 - 3 weeks. He is as sick of me as I am of him. He's putting bandaids over a huge gash. I am ready to fix it myself.

I am sure pics would help so I will add a few shortly. Does anyone want to point me in the direction of repair?

I paid a contractor to build a privacy fence in my backyard . . . that of which included a large double gate. It was built maybe a year and half ago. The whole span is about a 11' 4" opening. He basically built the gates to meet in the middle. There are double hinges on each gate and a rod at the bottom of both going in the ground. There is one latch in the center (a small one I might add). The latch and rods do not adequately keep the gates from rocking during high winds (Oklahoma winds!!!) so both the bars rocked loose in the ground allowing the gates to swing even more and not stay latched. As mowing season began, I figured out I could not even open the gates because they had sagged so badly and buried the bottoms into the ground.

After a rather tacky conversation with him, he came and trimmed off the bottoms (that look crappy now) and said the hinges had sagged so he raised everything back up too. This lead to a wider gap between the gates and now the latch really doesn't reach across well. So, he came again yesterday and moved the latch in as much as was left to move. Well, surprise, surprise--the gates are wide open this morning after a storm last night. It didn't hold up 24 hours!!!

I know he should come back AGAIN and make it right but I am frankly sick of calling him. To get him back over here yesterday took 2 - 3 weeks. He is as sick of me as I am of him. He's putting bandaids over a huge gash. I am ready to fix it myself.

I am sure pics would help so I will add a few shortly. Does anyone want to point me in the direction of repair?