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My gate used to be a single very large gate, but a local handyman cut in half about 3 years ago and made it a double-sided gate with a latch in the middle and a ground rode on one side. Both sides have cross bracing.

One gate has held up pretty well (Right Gate). The other gate is sagging at the top inner side (Left Gate), which is causing the latch to be misaligned and also causing a gap at the bottom which the bankyard chickens like to escape through.

Reviewing the images below, does anyone have any recommendations on how to improve the Left Gate sagging issue? Should I remove/ re-add the cross bracing? I noticed there were some gaps between the horizontal beam and the cross braces; maybe a tighter fit would help? Should I implement the "X" pattern as seen on the Right Gate? I also noticed there are products out there; they're a bit price, does anyone recommend these?

I'm not much of a carpenter or handyman, but I could get some 2x4 wood and put my straight edge and jigsaw to work on cutting some cross braces. Any suggestions would be appreciated. If you could provide photos or sketches, that would be very helpful! Thanks!

My sagging gate is of a similar nature this posted question (How can I fix the issues I'm having with large double gates?).

Product links: EZ Brace - Anti Sag Gate Brace $50... or Gate Brace No Sag Gate Kit $40... or Rocky Mountain Goods Anti Sag Gate Kit - Extra Strength zinc plated steel $18

Images

  • Image1: Cross brace design of both gates (Left=sagging / Right=stable)

  • Image2: Ouside view of gates (Left / Right inverted view)

  • Image3: Center latch & Left ground rod with gap problem

  • Image4: Left side angle (sag) & Right side angle (stable)

Image 1

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Image 2

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Image 3

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Image 4

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  • Is the post sagging or the gate itself?
    – ratchet freak
    Commented Oct 3, 2018 at 8:40
  • @ratchetfreak, I have added the photos. I think it is the gate itself that is sagging. If you look at Photo 3, the Left Gate looks look that top is drooping down.
    – SherlockSpreadsheets
    Commented Oct 3, 2018 at 18:50
  • The best way to know if the gate is sagging is to use a level. However, I've got to say that the gate in image 3 looks twisted in addition to any sagging that may be happening. Frankly, to my eye, both gates look like they're sagging based on image 2.
    – FreeMan
    Commented Aug 20, 2021 at 13:49

3 Answers 3

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The left side gate is not made correctly.

The cross brace is supposed to prop up the swinging end of the gate. In other words, you want to go from the lower hinge (in this case the lower left) to the upper end of the horizontal brace (in this case the upper right).

The diagonal on the right is oriented correctly, the diagonal on the left is not.

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  • Thanks for noting the optimal bracing directions. Would you suggest I remove the braces from the Left Gate? Or should I add bracing, like is seen on the Right Gate (and ends up looking like an "X" instead of a slash "\" or "/"). If I add bracing it looks like I would need to make a cut on the Left Gate middle brace, right?
    – SherlockSpreadsheets
    Commented Oct 3, 2018 at 20:05
  • @SherlockSpreadsheets - You want a "|/||\|" appearance, no need for an "|X||X|" . I personally would remove the middle horizontal piece, it's not needed, but you could cut through it sure.
    – batsplatsterson
    Commented Oct 3, 2018 at 22:15
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Without the photos working from your description it is the frame of the gate not the post that is sagging. The 18$ kit is exactly what I use (I have similar pieces) to in stable the cable and turnbuckle. Tighten the turnbuckle and the sag can be reversed. If the sag is severe you might want to tighten a little and wiggle the gate opening several times then tighten some more, if you just crank it into position it may crack some wood where the original fasteners are, by going slowly and moving and wiggling the gate it allows the boards to move without compromise to the frame.

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  • The photos are added now. Thanks for the tips on the $18 kit, it's interesting I referenced the exact one you've got!
    – SherlockSpreadsheets
    Commented Oct 3, 2018 at 20:07
  • I agree, the $18 kit using the cable and turnbuckle is the way to go. Over time it is going to sag more as the wood dries out, that type allows you to make adjustments.
    – JRaef
    Commented Dec 11, 2018 at 22:51
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No part of this design makes any sense. The gate should be disassembled and burned and the builder should be kicked in the balls.

Just visualize the post planted in the ground securely with concrete. Then a 2x4 mounted to it vertically with hinges - obviously this will swing and not sag.

Now visualize fastening one side of another 2x4 horizontally to the top of the swinging 2x4. The "weight" of this horizontal piece distributed along that length will be enough to tear the fasteners right out of the boards and will add stress to the hinges while it is attached. This "weight" is actually a force that is directed downward AND towards to post.

To counter this force, you need a cross brace to transfer this force toward the mighty post. Therefore the cross should go from the far edge of the horizontal 2x4 to the lower hinge area of the vertical 2x4.

That's it. That's all the support we need to make the gate swing without sagging. The rest of the gate is just to close up the hole in the fence.

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  • 2
    While you are correct, this answer adds nothing but unnecessarily colorful and confusing language to an answer that was posted 3 years ago.
    – FreeMan
    Commented Aug 20, 2021 at 13:37

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