Tried to fix a sagging gate last weekend. Made it worse.

We bought a house in Portland 3 years ago. The backyard gate has been dragging since day one. Last Saturday I finally decided to fix it. Watched two YouTube videos on gate hinges. Grabbed a level and my impact driver. Tightened up the top hinge and loosened the bottom one. Now the gate won't latch at all. My wife just shook her head and went inside. I think I need to start from scratch with new hardware. Has anyone installed a self closing hinge on a heavy wooden gate without messing up the alignment?

2 comments

2 Comments

smith.blair26d ago

Self closing hinges are honestly overrated on wooden gates anyway (they just bind up when the wood swells in the rain). You're better off sticking with basic strap hinges and a gravity latch, that way you can tweak things without needing a physics degree.

holly_foster26d ago

Is it really that big of a deal though? I mean, a few minutes with a screwdriver or a little sandpaper and the self closing hinge works fine again. Wood swells, you adjust. It's not like you need a physics degree to tighten a screw or two. I get that gravity latches are simple and cheap, but self closers aren't exactly rocket science either. Feels like people make a bigger deal out of this than it actually is.