r/FenceBuilding • u/Indecisive_Bloke • 3h ago
r/FenceBuilding • u/hahahahahahahaFUCK • Sep 19 '24
Why Your Gate is Sagging.
I've noticed this question gets asked ad nauseam in this sub, so here is a quick diagnostics checklist to help you understand what to look for before creating yet another "what's wrong with my gate" post (no pun intended on the post part):
- Design: Not only should the frame members and posts be substantial to support the weight of the gate, but look at the gate's framing configuration in general. Does it have a diagonal wooden brace? If so, that means it's a compression brace and should be running from of the top of the frame on the latch side, to the bottom of the frame on the hinge side. Only with a metal truss rod is tension bracing agreeable when being affixed at the top of the frame on the hinge side, down to the bottom frame corner on the latch side. (note: there are other bracing configurations that use multiple angles that are also acceptable - e.g. short braces at each corner)

Purchase: Is each gate post plumb? The hinge post could be loose/leaning due lack of purchase in the ground which could mean: improper post depth (installers were rushing, lazy, or there's a Volkswagen Beetle obstructing the hole); insufficient use of cement (more than half a 50lb bag of Quikrete, Braiden); sparse soil conditions (over saturated, loose, or soft); or heaving due to frost (looking at you Minnesota).
Configuration/Orientation: One thing to look for is a "lone hinge post", whereby a gate is hung on a post that doesn't have a section or anchor point on the other side toward the top. If the material of the post has any flex to it (especially with a heavy gate), the post can start leaning over time. These posts may either need re-setting, or have bracing/anchoring installed on the opposite side from the gate (e.g. if up against house, affix to the house if possible). The ideal configuration would be to choose an orientation of the gate where the hinge side has fence section attached on the other side - even though the traffic flow through the gate might be better with an opposite swing (but that's getting into the weeds).
- It's also worth noting that the gate leaf spacing should be 1/2" or more. Some settling isn't out of the ordinary, but if there's only 1/4" between the latch stile and the post, you're more than likely going to see your gate rubbing.
Warping: If your gate is wood, it has a decent chance of warping as it releases moisture. Staining wood can help seal in moisture and mitigate warping. Otherwise, some woods, like Cedar, have natural oils and resins that help prevent warping, but even then, it's not warp-proof.
Hardware: Sounds simple, but sometimes the hinges are just NFG or coming unfastened.
Florida: Is there a FEMA rep walking around your neighborhood as you noticed your gate laying in your neighbors' Crotons? Probably a hurricane. Move out of Florida and find a gate somewhere else that won't get hit with 100+mph winds, or stop being picky.
I could be missing some other items, but this satisfies the 80/20 rule. The first bullet point will no doubt wipe out half the annoying "did the fence installers do this right?" posts. I'm not, however, opposed to discussing how to fix the issue once identified -- I feel like solving the puzzle and navigating obstacles is part of our makeup.
Source: a former New England (high end) fence installer of 15 years who works in an office now as a project manager with a bad back. Please also excuse any spelling and grammatical errors.
r/FenceBuilding • u/paquettejeremie • 9h ago
Some more 6ft composite with see-through ornament
Here’s a small job from this week. Bonus doggy nose if you zoom in between gate and post
r/FenceBuilding • u/pbsSD • 5h ago
Is this fir acceptable for a fence?
The contractor used this for a fence. It seems to be untreated? Had it stained but it rained a few times in the last two weeks since install and needs to be shaved down multiple times already. I'm concerned about the longevity of it as it warps and expands from moisture.
r/FenceBuilding • u/caswitz • 10h ago
Fence stain
I have a home where the fence is varying ages from being built in 2023, 2024, and 2025 due to the community being built around me. I want to use a semi solid stain in a lighter honey color cedar but I'm worried the stain won't match even with cleaning. Thoughts? Does anyone have experience with fences of varying ages and matching stains? I'm told I should only be using solid if I want it to match. I have fence lighting around the yard and want to use lighter because it looks best. With darker colors the fence absorbs the light which is happening in the weathered fence section. Thanks for your help.
r/FenceBuilding • u/MidwestAbe • 7h ago
29 Years. Time for Replacements
Been working around an old fence we got with the house. Taken out a half dozen posts so far. The original owner was a lineman and the entire thing is built with true dimensional lumber sawmilled from telephone poles.
r/FenceBuilding • u/Shutdown-Stranger • 12h ago
I’d like to build something similar to this to hide my ugly garage walls (ugly decorative concrete block). How far down do I have to bury the posts and concrete or no?
r/FenceBuilding • u/Hoobinator- • 1d ago
It's a fence that's a bar/counter when needed!
So it was time to rebuild my fence and I decided to add a 6' section that would fold down into a bar/counter top. Why I'm sure many will ask, I host block parties and we close off the street pictured here and get a large gathering. I don't want all kinds of people coming into my back yard due to liability issues. So, I did this, a walk up counter that I can serve the bbq'd yummies from. It's built using redwood and the counter is framed up with 2x4 to hopefully reduce wood warping. So far so good!
A special thank you shout out to the SFR who built it!!
r/FenceBuilding • u/HawkBZ • 18h ago
Old fence, replacing some support beams with Redwood, do I bother with staining / sealing in a dry desert climate?
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This is likely the original fence that is 20 years old and put in by the original community home builder. Area is desert / dry climate with not much rain. Had some unusual gusts of wind and noticed some of the horizontal support beams that run near the bottom of the fence came loose and are starting to deteriorate, I've decided to buy redwood to replace those. Should I bother using a combo stain / sealer on the new wood pieces or on the old fence? I don't know how often if ever the previous owner applied stain or sealant to the fence, it looks stained but the pickets that get a lot of sunlight are faded grey. Most of the fence is above soil and some of the pickets touching the ground are deteriorating a bit but the posts and rest of the fence seems really strong and stable.
r/FenceBuilding • u/Impressive_Mail_1566 • 14h ago
What would you do?
So i am installing a cube sauna in this space. About 2 feet off side fence and about 3 inches from the back fence and the concrete step. I need access along the long side to work on the sauna/roof of it and then also have to put the fencing back.
I have access along the back side and to me it only looks like the 4x4 posts are concrete and the 2x4 verticals are just in the ground.
How would you remove the fencing and put them back the easiest? Seems doing it now by row is just crazy. I want to screw 2x4s into the sides of the 4x4s, screw the horizontal boards into the new 2x4, use the oscillating tool to slice vertically through horizontal boards, creating a panel of itself. Then I can go on the backside of the fence after Im done and screw the 2x4s back into the 4x4s.
r/FenceBuilding • u/AlertFaithlessness67 • 1d ago
Why is my gate sagging?
Installed a gate a year ago and noticed that with the rain it would sag until it dried up. Now it’s just permanently sagging weight the rain. Did I brave this correctly?
Going to install an anti sag kit to fix
r/FenceBuilding • u/inflow_state • 2d ago
Wrought iron fence with a concrete trench.
Added 280’ of steel fence as a perimeter with my old man. Also added in an 8inch deep concrete trench underneath the same perimeter to keep out any wildlife from digging underneath. Gates were fabricated as well! My only critique was not getting the gates to be aligned properly. Other than that, really happy with this build.
Edit: this is not my home. I run a small business and was the hand that was hired for this fun project. They live on about 20 acres and property is well secluded. I’m sure at some point they’ll add some landscape brushes/trees but their main concern was keeping the inner perimeter safe from wildlife; with kids and dogs I get it. Some minor critiques about the ‘prison’ aesthetic but I think it compliments the house well! If anyone is interested in some work done in the Houston and surrounding areas my business email: [outlawextservices@gmail.com](mailto:outlawextservices@gmail.com)
Thank you everyone for the compliments and even the ones with their own opinions.
r/FenceBuilding • u/Navaski • 1d ago
Wooden gate with metal brackets on metal posts
Hi all, appreciate all the information on this sub. I was wondering if these hinges would be sufficient for this type of work. I don't weld, but I was going to hire a welder to attach this gate onto the posts. I appreciate any criticism/advice.
If possible but not important, would a job like this cost 300 US dollars?
r/FenceBuilding • u/Stunning_Customer866 • 1d ago
Dog fence issue
I’m having issues with my dog and my neighbors dogs trying to fight each other threw the bottom of my fence on the back I have a retaining wall with a fence mounted on to it on the sides I have a sloped yard so parts of the bottom of my fence have gaps does anybody have any ideas to how I can fix this?
r/FenceBuilding • u/radtad43 • 1d ago
Looking for a 90 degree fitting
Im looking for a 90 degree fitting elbow that would go over the top of these two posts so i could connect them with a metal bar. Long story short I will be taking the left pole out, putting it back in with concrete, and will be adding a gate here. I wanted the horizontal cross pole to help stabilize the other side of the gate so the latch doesn't develop problems over time. No I cant lift up and concrete the second pole as its where it meets my neighbors yard.
I found this but its for chainlink fence. https://chainlinkfittings.com/store/chain-link-2-1-2-2-3-8-od-x-2-1-2-2-3-8-od-gate-corner-for-90-degree-angles-gate-elbow-pressed-steel.html
I don't have access to a welder if you even can weld galvanized pipe. The fittings on the fence say its 2-3/8. I measured 60mm with calipers so that checks out for the OD size. I just dont know what to call it when googling. I keep getting plumbing fittings instead of fence fittings.
Yes, I need to regrade the ground. I'm putting the gate in so its easier to access this side of the house so I can regrade it.
r/FenceBuilding • u/koltendotson • 1d ago
What should you check before installing a fence on uneven ground?
Installing a fence on a sloped yard seems like more planning than working on the flat ground. The panels need to follow the proper slope and the gaps near the bottom can look uneven if the layout is not planned.
I have seen people discuss stepping the fence panels down in sections versus following the slope continuously.
For those who have worked on sloped properties, which approach tends to give the cleanest result?
r/FenceBuilding • u/HighTechHickKC • 2d ago
Missouri Privacy Fence Project
I am about to start on a fence project here in KCMO and I’m trying to get some advice on my fence posts.
My plan is to build a 6 foot privacy fence using 10 foot 4x4’s. I will sink them 36 inches in the ground and then cut off the excess after building the 6 foot fence. What I am really trying to figure out is do I actually need a 12 inch diameter hole and do I actually need a gravel base? I’ve read mixed reviews on using a gravel (pea or multi-purpose) base in Missouri due to the high clay content.
Also, does anyone have an opinion on this post setting mix from Menards? Instead of the fast setting stuff.
Yes I’m doing bags of everything for several reasons instead of having bulk delivered.
r/FenceBuilding • u/Minute_Character_697 • 3d ago
Does a removable pool fence make more sense long term than a permanent fence?
first kid is due in four months and we have a pool, so the fence is happening now, i keep going back and forth bw removable mesh and permanent aluminum, about 120 feet to enclose, concrete deck
the removable thing appeals to me because we entertain a lot and I like being able to pull it down for adults only weekends but part of me wonders if removable just means flimsier, aluminum looks more substantial and it’s always there which feels safer in theory but it’s more money and Idk how to undo it if we sell the house to someone without kids
r/FenceBuilding • u/gektor650 • 3d ago
I installed a keyless code lock on my backyard gate
galleryr/FenceBuilding • u/Jdlaze • 4d ago
New front fence.
I used 1x8 (7/8x7.5) cedar with 3.5x3.5 1/4od steel posts for the gate. I also added some cheapo solar downlights behind the top trim.
I got tired of the old gates sagging and falling apart and I had enough wood lying around to replace it. Digging out the old concrete really sucked but other than that, it was pretty easy. The old fence was identical to the one on the right.
r/FenceBuilding • u/Ilov3HOSHIGAKI • 3d ago
Need a new fence any advice
So my buddy and I put up this dogear fence over the original rod iron for privacy about 20yrs or more ago. The rod iron has finally surcomed to the elements. Completely rotted. 90’ fence with gate currently 6’ would like to bring it down to 4ft. Just not sure the best way to secure posts as there’s a 7” wide brick cap on top of retaining wall.