Gate adjustment
Hinge tightening, screw replacement and latch realignment on an otherwise sound gate
$75
Gate repair · Calgary
Gates that open, close and latch — fixed this week.
Sagging gate realignment, hinge replacement, latch swap and anti-sag cable fitting — fixed before Calgary's freeze-thaw cycles turn a dragging gate into a collapsed one.
- ✓ Standard hardware supplied
- ✓ Anti-sag brace option
- ✓ Same-visit fence repair
- ✓ Hinge replacement
- ✓ 1–2 day booking
Pricing
Flat-rate pricing by repair type. Standard hinge and latch hardware is included in the labour price — no separate parts bill for common hardware.
Hardware replacement
New hinges, new latch and strike plate — hardware supplied, installed and tested
$85
Gate rebuild with brace
Anti-sag cable or diagonal brace fitted, frame squared and hardware replaced
$145
Fence combo visit
Gate repair combined with fence board replacement or post assessment
Get a quote
- Standard hinge and latch hardware is included in the listed price — no separate parts charge.
- Wide gates over 4 feet almost always need an anti-sag brace — we advise on this before starting.
- Post repair or replacement is a larger job and is quoted separately.
- Combining gate and fence board repair in one visit often saves money — send photos of both.
Why Calgary homeowners book this
Calgary frost heaves gate posts every spring
Ground freeze and thaw shifts posts out of plumb annually in Calgary. By May, many gates that were fine in October are sagging noticeably. A spring alignment done after heave settles — not before the final freeze — typically holds through the following year.
Hinge screw holes strip over time and lose their bite
Wood screw holes in fence posts and gate frames enlarge over repeated seasons of gate movement. The fix is not new screws the same size — it is longer screws with wood filler to give them fresh material to bite into. This holds reliably for several more years.
A dragging gate stresses the post and gets worse each season
A gate that drags on the ground or binds at the latch puts constant downward leverage on the hinge side of the post. Over a season or two this can pull the post out of plumb far enough that a post reset is the only fix. Catching it early is significantly cheaper.
What is included
- Assess sag direction and cause — post lean, hinge failure or gate frame rack
- Tighten or replace hinge screws with appropriately longer screws
- Repack stripped screw holes with wood filler and longer screws that grip fresh material
- Replace hinges if bent, cracked or beyond reliable use
- Install anti-sag cable or diagonal cross-brace on wide or racked gates
- Adjust or replace latch — spring, gravity, flip or slide-bolt style
- Check and adjust strike plate alignment so latch catches cleanly
- Test gate swing through the full range of motion
- Adjust gate height if dragging on the ground
- Recommend post repair separately if the post is significantly out of plumb
- Clean up hardware packaging and off-cuts
- Advise on seasonal preventive maintenance to extend the repair
How to book
Send photos
Text or upload photos of the full gate, the hinge side and the latch. Note what it is doing — sagging, dragging, not latching. We reply with a flat quote same day.
Confirm and pick a day
Accept the quote and choose a time. Most gate repair visits are booked within one to two business days.
We repair and you test
We complete the repair, test the full gate swing and latch function and walk you through what was done before leaving.
What's included — and what isn't
Included in every job
- Standard hinges and latch hardware — no extra parts charge
- Hinge screw hole repacking where stripped
- Latch and strike plate alignment
- Anti-sag cable or brace installation where needed
- Full gate swing and latch test before leaving
- Honest assessment of whether the post needs separate attention
Not in standard scope
- Gate post reset or replacement (separate quote)
- Automatic gate opener repair or installation
- New gate fabrication from scratch
- Concrete work around post bases
We advise honestly if a post reset is the right fix rather than patching over a structural issue.
Who books this service
Pet containment — gate not latching
A latch that does not catch is a pet escape risk. We realign the strike plate and replace the latch hardware so it closes and clicks every time.
Pre-sale fence and gate repair
A sagging or dragging gate is one of the first things buyers notice. A fast repair before listing removes an easy inspection flag and improves curb appeal.
Storm damage to gate
High Calgary winds can blow a gate open repeatedly until the hinges fail. We assess damage, replace failed hardware and add a brace if the gate frame has racked.
Post-winter frost heave
Calgary frost heave shifts gate posts every spring, pulling hinges out of alignment. We realign, replace stripped screws with longer ones and adjust until the gate swings true.
Latch broken or rusted through
Old spring latches corrode through in Calgary winters. We carry common latch styles — spring, flip, gravity and bolt — and swap them out in one visit.
Driveway or side gate alignment
Wide driveway gates sag faster than standard gates and need an anti-sag brace or cable to stay true. We fit and tension the brace in the same visit as the alignment.
What to have ready before we arrive
A few things noted before we arrive make the repair faster and help us bring the right hardware on the first visit.
Open and close the gate a few times
Note what it is doing — sagging, dragging on the ground, latch not catching or hinge pulling away from the post. The more detail you can provide, the more accurately we can quote and prepare before arriving.
Know if there are dogs or other animals to contain
If the gate needs to stay closed during the repair for pet safety, let us know when booking. We plan around it so containment is not compromised during the job.
Check if the post is visibly leaning
Stand back and look at the hinge post from the side. If it is visibly leaning away from the gate, the post may need to be reset rather than just the hardware replaced. We confirm on site, but flagging it early helps us set accurate expectations on the quote.
Tip: A photo taken from 10–15 feet away showing the full post and gate in one frame tells us more about lean and sag than a close-up of the hinge alone. Include one wide shot when you send photos.
★★★★★Google Review“Gate was dragging on the ground after the spring thaw. Steve fixed the hinge, added an anti-sag brace and the gate closes and latches perfectly. Same visit he also patched two fence boards. Efficient and exactly what he quoted.”
A gate that won't close is a pet safety and security issue
A sagging gate that does not latch lets pets out and signals to visitors that the fence line is not secure. The root cause is almost always one of three things: stripped hinge screws, a leaning post or a sprung gate frame. Identifying the right cause saves money on repeated fixes — we always diagnose before replacing parts.
Calgary's spring frost heave is the most common cause of gates going out of alignment year over year. The fix done in May after heave has settled typically holds through the following year. Doing it in fall before the final freeze often does not hold because the ground is still moving.
Get a quote →Good to know
- Standard hinge and latch hardware is included in the labour price — no separate parts invoice
- Wide gates over 4 feet almost always need an anti-sag brace to stay aligned
- Post repair or replacement is a larger job and is quoted separately after on-site assessment
- Fence board replacement is commonly combined in the same visit — send photos of both
- Pressure-treated or cedar replacement boards matched where possible
- Spring latches corrode faster than manual flip or slide latches in Calgary winters — we carry both
Frequently asked questions
Why is my gate sagging?
Gate sag has three main causes: stripped hinge screw holes that no longer grip the post, a gate frame that has racked out of square, or a post that has shifted out of plumb due to frost heave. Each fix is different — we identify the cause before starting repairs.
Can you fix a gate without replacing it?
In most cases yes. Stripped screw holes are repacked with wood filler and longer screws. Racked frames get an anti-sag cable or diagonal brace fitted. If the gate boards have rotted, replacement boards are fitted to the existing frame. Full gate replacement is rarely the first step.
What is an anti-sag brace or cable?
An anti-sag brace is a diagonal tension cable or rigid cross-brace fitted from the top-hinge corner to the bottom-latch corner of a gate. Tensioning it lifts the latch-side corner and squares the frame. It is the standard fix for gates over 4 feet wide that sag despite sound hinges.
What causes gate posts to lean in Calgary?
Calgary has significant frost heave in spring as the ground freezes and thaws. Posts not set below the frost line — typically 48 inches in Calgary — will move seasonally. Clay-heavy soils common in inner-city Calgary neighbourhoods are particularly prone to heave.
How long does a gate repair take?
A gate adjustment with screw replacement and latch realignment takes 30–45 minutes. Hardware replacement with new hinges and latch takes 45–60 minutes. Adding an anti-sag brace takes 60–90 minutes. Combining gate and fence board work adds time depending on scope.
Can you replace a gate latch the same day?
Yes. We carry common latch styles — spring latches, gravity latches, flip latches and slide bolts — on the van. Send a photo when you book so we can confirm the hardware type before arriving.
Do you fix driveway gates?
Yes for manual swing or sliding driveway gates. Automatic gate openers and motors are outside our scope — those need a gate automation specialist. We handle the frame, hinges, anti-sag brace and manual latch on any gate.
What if the post is leaning significantly?
A post leaning more than one to two inches out of plumb needs to be reset — that involves digging out the post base and resetting with concrete. We tell you honestly on site if the gate repair alone will not hold because the post is the root cause.
Can you combine gate and fence repair in one visit?
Yes — this is one of our most common bookings. Gate repair combined with fence board replacement saves a trip and is often quoted at a better combined rate. Send photos of both areas when you request a quote.
When is the best time of year to repair a gate in Calgary?
Late April through October is ideal — the ground has settled after spring heave and hardware can be torqued to final tension without freeze-thaw movement undoing the adjustment. Spring repairs done in May after heave settles typically hold well through the following year.
Ready to fix your gate?
Not satisfied with the work? I will come back and make it right.
Request gate repair quote or call (403) 973-5123