Fixing a broken gate? need help fixing...tips?

Question

Our front gate is broken i need some helpful tips or maybe even some websites that would help me know how to properly fix it.

The gate is old and the hinges are falling off i just need to know how to replace them properly,

Thanks so much!

Answer 1

With all due respect to you, and certainly answer 1; we have to assume the gate is wood? Yes?

Certainly if it is a wooden gate you could add a new wooden hinge plate/support, with a piece of treated lumber. You probably should replace the hinges, and determine the stability of what the gate attaches to.

Without knowing at all your budget, or the attachment you might have to an old gate; why not replace the entire structure?

In any case; if the gate is not wood, then all this is a moot point.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

I see you don't mention what it is made of.

If it is wood, the best thing to do is to replace the board that the hinges go into, so that they can have a solid anchor. If that's impossible, you can try sticking a thin board on back of it so the screws can anchor into that. Or, you can use putty in place of the missing wood, and try to glue the hinges on for a really lousy job.

If the gate is metal, you'll need to put new hinges on slightly higher or lower than the existing holes, unless you can weld the hinges on, or get a new gate.

If it's a chain link affair, then you just buy new parts for the ones that are falling apart.

Answer 3

Since your 'old gate hinges' are falling off, I'll assume they still work, and that the wood screws have pulled loose.

If that's the case, measure the distance between the hinge and the opposite side of the board onto which the hinge was origionally mounted. The old screw holes will have to be drilled through the board to accommodate your new machine screws, and the machine screws will have to replace every wood screw of your gate assembly; record their dimensions.

Take your hinges down to your local home store and show the guy this note. He, in turn, will determine if your hinges are worth recycling, and give you the largest diameter FLATHEAD MACHINE SCREWS that will fit through your hinges and be long enough to accommodate: One Fender Washer, One Washer, One Lock Washer, and One Lock-nut.

Have him show you how to assemble these, then ask him to demonstrate a screen door repair kit (you will most likely need one of these if you have kids in your neighborhood). It works sorta like sailboat rigging: you have a mast, a jib, and a cable attached to the top of the mast to hold the up the jib. That holder-upper-thingy is what you want. Install it in your gate, and you'll derive excellent karma for the rest of your days.

--Jim

Answer 4

it would really depend on if the surrounding wood is damaged or not.

if the wood is in good shape just take the old hinges off and put new ones on.

If the wood is bad. Take old hinges off, reinforce the wood with new pressure treated wood (so will not rot) and put new hinges on.

if its in really bad shape - it would be easier to just replace the entire thing.