Wooden fence gates tend to sag over time due to exposure to the elements. There are several ways to repair and reinforce a sagging gate, but the easiest is by installing an Anti-Sag Gate Kit available at home centers and hardware stores.
To install an Anti-Sag Gate Kit:
- Attach Corner Brackets: Attach the metal corner brackets to the top of the hinge side of the gate and the bottom of the latch side using screws.
- Attach Turnbuckle: Unscrew the turnbuckle, and attach it to the top metal corner bracket.
- Attach Cable: Attach the steel cable to the turnbuckle and bottom corner bracket using the cable clamps provided.
- Tighten Turnbuckle: Turn the turnbuckle to tighten up the cable and remove the sag from the gate.
Watch this video to find out more.
Further Information
- DIY Gate Support Hardware
- How to Reinforce a Fence Gate to Keep It from Sagging
- Keeping a Dog from Digging Under a Fence Gate
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Danny Lipford: Mike asks, “How do I keep a wooden gate from sagging?”
You know, I think sooner or later every wooden gate’s going to sag a little bit, because it has a lot going against it with the weather as well as gravity.
Lot of ways to correct that problem, but I’ll tell you the easiest I found is to drop by the home center and pick up a simple, little hardware kit called an Anti-Sag Gate Kit.
Basically, it’s a couple of little corner pieces — one attaches to the upper part of the hinge side, and the other to the lower side — with a steel cable that runs between it. A turnbuckle and a few little clamps, and you’re able to actually adjust the gate and raise it back up to its original level.
And then it should stabilize it that way, because over the years, if it does start sagging at all, then you’re able just to tighten the turnbuckle up a little bit more.
And it works on a small gate like this, as well as one as large as six-foot tall!
My fence gate is twisting and out of alignment, how do I DIY this problem
I have a sagging fence gate; however, the gate swings inward and the hinges are blocking the top left 2×4 of the gate preventing me from placing the corner bracket. Is there anything I can to to fix the sag, given the issue with the hinge?
What happens when only one wood gate pice is broken??
Do u have to rebuild the whole thing??
If I’m not mistaken the gate shown has the cross brace installed in the wrong direction and so is likely heavily contributing to the gate sagging. The wooden cross brace is a compression type support and so should go from bottom hinge to top on the opening side. The anti-sag gate kit is tension and should go the opposite way.
I created a 6 foot gate from a 6 Foor section of my fence. I have 3 hinges on it and I put a gate wheel at the bottom of the side where the latch is. When I open the gate it tend to be floppy for lack of a better description. It doesn’t sage be cause of the support wheel. How can I stiffen it so it will be more rigid?
What if gate hinge is on top corner?? Can I install anti-sag brace over hinge???
I always use these cable and turnbuckle kits, and they work great to pull the gate up and keep it from sagging, but they always seem to twist the bottom of the gate in. How do you keep it from twisting like that?
Hi, Rob,
Danny says, “Hi, Rob, I agree with you they do a great job to make the gates function but they will twist them. What I’ve started doing is putting the second one on the other two corners to balance it out and provide more strength.
Good luck!”
I have a 6′ gate and the top is leaning forward. These kits seem to deal with sagging issues where the latch side is leaning, but will the kits also help with the leaning issue? If they do, I would think that they would have to be installed backwards (bottom hinge side to top latch side) to help “pull” the gate straight. I cant find any info on this, but does it sound accurate?
I am trying to replace old pickets in my privacy gate old pickets were 3and7/8 inches wide I can only buy pickets 3and1/2 or 5and 1/2 . I dont mind mixture if no spaces are left in between pickets. How many will it take to close opening which totals with hinges included of 55and 1/4 the gate opening is 39 and 3/4 the hinge side is 10and 1/2 clasp side is 3and 7/8
Hi, F!
We recommend sharing this project’s specs with your local home center to ensure you purchase enough materials.
Good luck with this project!
I am looking for the instructions for the anti-sag kit. I have one installed but I can’t figure out how to adjust the turnbuckle. There is a hook that attaches to the bracket and eye hook that the cable runs through. If I tighten the eye hook then the cable twist and then untwists as soon as i let go. If I tighten the hook side the cable the eye hook side turns out for every turn in on the bracket side.
Hi, James!
We recommend contacting the manufacturer for product-specific questions.
Here’s where you can do that: https://www.stanleytools.com/support
Good luck!
Hold the cable with some locking pliers, or something like that, while you tighten the turnbuckle. What is happening is that when you try to tighten the turnbuckle, you are twisting the wire instead of having the end of the turnbuckle screw in as you tighten it.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the Today’s Homeowner community, Dennis!
TH community members helping other TH community members — we love it. 🙂
Good morning, I have a gate that seems to have expanded due to the rain here in the south, and now it has caused my gate door to not latch. How do I fix this issue? Thanks for your time.
Your ‘Bang On’ – I was thinking the sane thing when i saw the photo ..
I like how you said that wooden fence gates tend to sag over time due to exposure to the elements. My mom told me that is the second time in the week that her front gate falls for no reason and she does not know how to fix it. I will help her to contact a gate repair company so that they can either repair it or replace it.
I tried everything.The anti sag kit doesn’t work so l invested in stronger cable a better turnbuckle up to 150lb working load limit ,screw eyes.It still catches at the side on top on latch side.Is the wooden gate to large?Measures 4feet 6 inches 6 feet tall.I need your help.Thanks
Hi, Joyce,
The gate itself may be out-of-square or the fence on the latch side may not be plumb, or perfectly vertical.
The anti-sag kit can’t correct those issues; it only helps to support the weight of the gate so the hinges don’t sag.
Check and correct these issues, then re-try.
Good luck!