No matter how well you build a wooden fence gate, they all share a common problem over time — the tendency to sag over time. 

A sagging gate doesn’t just make your fence look old and unattractive — it’s also a hazard for children and pets.

Wide gates are no exception and possibly are more susceptible to sagging. For example, this fence gate is five and a half feet wide, and I’ve tried everything over the years. I replaced the hinges with larger hinges. I installed the steel braces in each corner. Still, it didn’t work. 


Steps to Correct a Sagging Fence Gate:

Instead of fighting gravity, prop the sagging gate up when it’s closed or open with a caster. The caster is made from a simple two-by-four pressure-treated block. Here’s how to build it:

  1. Cut a notch in the back of the two-by-four pressure-treated board to create a shoulder so it rests under the horizontal rail of the gate.
  2. Then, cut another notch in the bottom to hold the caster. Drill a hole through the notch for a carriage bolt to go through to secure the caster to the block.  
  3. Finally, secure the caster block to the horizontal rail with four two-inch long galvanized screws.
Cut the notch wide enough for the caster wheel to roll without any blockage. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
A chisel smooths the edges of the two-by-four so it rests neatly against the fence’s horizontal rail. (3 Echoes Content Studio)

Now when the gate is open or closed, the caster, not the hinges, completely supports it.

(3 Echoes Content Studio)

Watch the video, and check out more Simple Solutions.


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avatar for Joe Truini

Joe Truini

Radio Show Co-Host

Joe Truini is a contractor, author, and the host of “Simple Solutions” on Today’s Homeowner TV and the weekly Today’s Homeowner radio show. He has worked on both large commercial projects and residential remodeling, and has written for national publications such as This Old House and Popular Mechanics. He has also written eight books, including three best-selling shed-building books. Joe lives in Connecticut with his family and enjoys hiking, traveling, and baseball in his spare time.

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