A gate that won't close properly is usually a hinge, alignment or post problem rather than an issue with the gate itself — worn hinges or a settling post let the gate drop or twist out of true over time.
Gates are supported at just two or three points (the hinges), so any wear or movement there has an outsized effect on how the whole gate hangs. Worn or rusted hinges let a gate sag on its hinge side, which is why a gate often drags on the ground or won't reach the latch — it's dropped slightly out of its original position, not necessarily grown or warped.
The post the gate is hung from matters just as much as the hinges. If a gate post has started to lean or move in the ground, no amount of hinge adjustment will fully fix the problem, since the whole reference point for the gate has shifted. This is more common with timber posts set in ground that gets waterlogged, or older posts nearing the end of their life.
In most cases a gate can be repaired — re-hung, hinges replaced, or the post reset — without needing a full replacement gate, which is usually the more expensive part of the job. This is a common repair across Preston and Lancashire gardens, particularly on older timber gates that have been in place for many years.
GreenFix provides gate repairs across Preston and Lancashire. From £65 (guide price only, confirmed after assessment).
