Gates
Gate Repair & Installation in Santa Rosa
A gate is the one part of a fence with moving parts, which is why it is almost always the part that fails first. Gary repairs gates that have dropped and builds new ones to the opening they actually have.
Why gates drop
A gate is a heavy panel cantilevered off two or three hinges. All of its weight is trying to rotate it down and away from the post, and given time it wins — the gate drops at the latch side, starts dragging on the ground, and stops meeting the catch.
There are only a few real causes: the hinge post is moving, the gate frame has racked because it has no effective diagonal brace, or the hinges are undersized. Packing the latch or trimming the bottom edge treats the symptom, and the gate carries on dropping.
Built to the opening, not cut down to it
Gate openings are rarely square, especially between an old post and a house wall. A stock gate is square, so hanging one in an out-of-square opening leaves a tapering gap down the closing edge that gets wider toward the top.
Building to the opening means measuring the actual opening in several places and building to that, with the brace running the correct way so the gate carries its own weight back to the hinge post instead of sagging away from it.
Gates projects
Gary's own photographs from this category.
Fences & Gates
Redwood Gates & Entry Arbor
Matched double gates and a heavy timber entry arbor, built to the opening rather than cut down from a stock panel.
Fences & Gates
Horizontal Redwood Fence
Full-height horizontal redwood fencing built board by board on site, with tight consistent reveals down the whole run.
Fences & Gates
Wrought Iron Fence Welding & Repair
On-site welding to repair a decorative wrought iron fence, reset its posts and bring the damaged sections back into line.
Common questions
Does Gary build custom gates?
Yes — including matched double gates and heavy timber entry arbors, built to the opening rather than cut down from a stock panel.
My gate drags on the ground. Is that fixable?
Almost always, and usually without a new gate. Dragging means the gate has dropped at the latch side — the fix depends on whether the hinge post is moving, the frame has racked or the hinges are undersized. A photo of the gate closed, showing the gap along the latch edge, usually tells the story.
Can Gary add a gate where there is not one now?
Yes, if the fence run allows for a hinge post that can carry the weight. Text a photo of the run and the width you want.
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What's On Your Project List?
Repair, installation, fence, woodworking—or something that's a little harder to describe. Send Gary a message and tell him what you're working on.