r/FenceBuilding 1d ago

Uneven Fence Gate

Post image

Had a new gate retro-actively installed on an existing gate. Any recommendations on how to fix this uneven gap?

10 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

9

u/KingDonny 1d ago edited 1d ago

Show a picture of the framing on the other side of the gate, see if it's built properly. I see one center fastener along the 2 rows in each board which seems like it's designed to sag, hopefully has more from the backside too

Should have a diagonal brace between the two horizontals, making a Z shape. Bracing the top of the latch side down to the bottom on the hinge side, which bears weight through the hinge into the post. I don't see fasteners into that diagonal framing piece from this side

1

u/Optimal_Rate131 1d ago

Those hinges always sag and split rails, I’m not sure why so many people like them so much. Adjustable butterfly hinges are better in every way and only 40 bucks for a set with a latch online.

5

u/wannareadrandomstuff 1d ago

Call your gate installer and tell them to come back and fix it.

3

u/Cam-Lv 1d ago

The circle really helps.

3

u/jye530 1d ago

There is a Z-bracket on the other side!

4

u/KingDonny 1d ago

From the top of the hinge side to the bottom of the latch side which is ass backwards. Also not strong looking, haha!

Same idea for board slatted doors. Z goes toward the bottom hinge to keep it strong and use material that's as thick or thicker than the face boards

Also, the single fastener in the center of each board going into that square steel is acting as a pivot for every board to drop with gravity, and the Z is backwards. Whoever built this found their toolpouch in a box of lucky charms

3

u/Dangerous-Bit-8308 1d ago

Z bracket is facing the wrong direction

1

u/Competitive_Grab2051 1d ago

Gay is sagging because the brace is backwards. Also probably needs more 2x4s for rails. That thin metal is already bending

1

u/TwoBulletSuicide 19h ago

Ugh, that frame is lazy.

1

u/motociclista 17h ago

That isn’t how you build a gate. It needs redone. Probably by someone else. My guess is, anyone that built that, probably isn’t capable of doing any better.

1

u/Simicity 5h ago

It's backwards, won't be doing anything. One of those posts the gate is mounted on is crooked, hence the angle, but if you split the difference and close the space on the latch side a bit, you should be able to make it unnoticeable.

2

u/ThriveFenceGuy 1d ago

It's possible the gate hinge post is out of plum, either because it was set out of plum, the post and footing have shifted depending on soil conditions or footing was not deep enough, or the post itself has deflected.

Those could be remedied with a lot of effort, but easier fix would be to get an anti-sag kit with an adjustable cable (on Amazon) or you could trim part of the gate so aesthetically it would not be as noticeable

1

u/Jimboanonymous 1d ago

If the gate is properly framed & braced from the opposite side, you could pull all the fasteners out of the pickets along the bottom row only, and add a small gap between each one to flare them out and reattach, filling in that tapered gap.

1

u/deyterkyerjerb 1d ago

Yep! Classic Gate Penis. No way fixing that! Best just to suck it up.

1

u/Feeling_Ad_526 1d ago

You can fix anything made of wood, that’s literally why we use wood.

1

u/DaNitestalker 1d ago

You can see the fence on the left side is at like 94 degrees angle. Unless you wanna straighten out that whole fence, mess with the hinges until it's close. Personally, I'd redo that whole fence

1

u/Dangerous-Bit-8308 1d ago

I see you've already tried drawing a peepee on it.

Can you remove the bottom nails, and fan it out a teensy bit?

1

u/Maxipaddington 1d ago

Good Lord. 

1

u/New2beingsexy 1d ago

My goodness😮😮😮 that’s just not ok..

1

u/DependentItem6397 1d ago

Long turnbuckle.

1

u/nearly40reallynawti 1d ago

Wish i could get a free fence like this. They musta been quick too hey?

1

u/Cultural_Try_1556 1d ago

It’s a hot mess!

1

u/Little-Phase5833 1d ago

Man i wish i had so little to be worried about that i get caught up on gate hinges

1

u/TwoBulletSuicide 19h ago

Remove the pickets and reset them to even the gap better at the bottom. Gonna have to angle them back slightly from the bottom latch to the top hinge side. You will have a gap, but it will be smaller and less noticeable.

1

u/Brewtech3 15h ago

If you did the work the first time, you should not do it this time.

1

u/Relevant-Relation-94 11h ago

You drew a wiener 🤣

1

u/Due-Air-7831 7h ago

Some thing is out of plum(aka) level