Home > Blogs > Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366 > Dry Rot And Water Damage In Sacramento, Placer County, Cameron Park, Placerville, Fair Oaks, Folsom, El Dorado Hills

I know why your wood gate is sagging!

By Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366

Home Builder with Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 CSL#642819

November 08, 2012 04:45 PM

That diagonal board on the gate serves a purpose, and its direction is important.

We have all seen that diagonal board that is usually found on the back side of the gate, it helps to hold the gate’s latch side up. Without the board the gate will sag, distort, miss the catch, and become troublesome. Having the board installed in the wrong direction is not much help, and will soon sag also.

While working on an exterior lighting problem in Roseville, CA, I saw a gate that was not closing as it should, so I took a photo.

In the photo the arrow points to the board that is incorrectly installed. The gate has been worked on several times so it is no surprise that it is not built right. The blue line is the direction that the board should be. With the board installed in the correct direction, the weight of the gate is held against the hinge side of the gate, which is secured to the building.

So if your gate is starting to sag, check that this board is installed correctly first. Then either fix it or call someone who knows how to do it.

That is your gate design lesson for the day. J

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Rob Renk

Center Street Lending - McKinney, TX

AE | Fast Fix/Flip Loans for Residential Investors

Having no carpentery skill, I was surprised by your lesson. Now I know what to look for if I am having a problem with a wooden gate.

Nov 10, 2012 02:22 AM

EMILIA B COOPER, REALTOR® SFR.NCHSE.AHWD

LAROSA REALTY - Orlando, FL

Short Sales, Foreclosure & Bank Owned Real Estate

Tom thanks for so interesting information! I had no idea about it...

Nov 10, 2012 02:29 AM

Christine Donovan

Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA

Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Tom - I will try to keep this in mind should I come across a problematic gate, and then I kno who I will have to thank.

Nov 10, 2012 06:31 AM

Nan Jester

Exit Real Estate Gallery Jacksonville Beach, FL - Jacksonville Beach, FL

Realtor, Exit Real Estate Gallery

Wow! I can see how this would be important but I would have never thought of this had you not blogged it.

Nov 10, 2012 07:33 AM

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366

Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA

General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

It absolutely matters Cynthia. Good Luck with your gate.

No problem Kimo, I hope it helps someone to understand the sagging gate issue they may be having.

Any carpenter worth his salt should know this, but ....

Thanks for the comment Catherine.

Mechanical Engineer? You are smart Bob, how was the discription of the gate issue?

I had no idea that this was such a mystery Marte. :)

I wonder what will be next.

Nov 10, 2012 11:12 AM

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366

Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA

General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

If the gates are already built, it doesn't take a great deal of effort to correct the sag in the gate Joetta.

You are well on your way to being a carpenter Rob.

Now you can impress your friends Emilia. :)

Nov 10, 2012 11:16 AM

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366

Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA

General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

That would be sweet Christine!

Glad that you got something out of the post Nan. Hope it comes in handy some day.

Nov 10, 2012 11:33 AM

Dorte Engel

RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD

ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Tom,

Good catch! Maybe they originally intended the hinges for the other side.

Nov 11, 2012 12:50 AM

Thomas McCombs

Century 21 HomeStar - Akron, OH

Wow: It is amazing how often an easy fix solves the problem

Thanks for the tip!

Nov 11, 2012 01:16 AM

Mike Young

203kOnLine.com, covering the USA - Stallings, NC

FHA 203k Consultant 916-758-1809

Tom, I see this as you likely do, too many times. I met a guy who was building one and putting the brace on the wrong side, he wasn't going to change his mind though, saying he has built many of them... I think they all sag by now... LOL

Nov 11, 2012 02:04 AM

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366

Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA

General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I guess that could be a possibility Dorte.

This may not be the only solution, but it is a common one

Thomas.

Doing the same thing over and over probably wont change the results Mike. lol

Nov 11, 2012 10:01 PM

Sharon Parisi

United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX

Dallas Homes

Tom, you are brilliant! This is such an easy solution! I did not know this and I am going outside to check my gates right now!

Nov 11, 2012 10:20 PM

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366

Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA

General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I don't know about brilliant, but I do know some things Sharon.

Thanks for leaving a comment today.

Nov 12, 2012 12:22 PM

Gene Riemenschneider

Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA

Turning Houses into Homes

The direction issue is something I would have never figured out on my own. Don't know if it will ever come up for me, but I will never forget it.

Nov 13, 2012 05:33 AM

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366

Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA

General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

If you will never forget, I'm certain it will come up Gene. :)

Nov 13, 2012 03:57 PM

Elite Home Sales Team

Elite Home Sales Team OC - Corona del Mar, CA

A Tenacious and Skilled Real Estate Team

Thank you for the info. I would not know which way the board should have gone.

Mar 02, 2013 12:33 AM

Bill Reddington

Re/max By The Sea - Destin, FL

Destin Florida Real Estate

Great explanation. Think I am starting to sag but not sure a board will fix it.

Mar 02, 2013 12:43 AM

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366

Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA

General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Now you know Elite!

You made me stop and think Bill.

Apr 02, 2013 04:17 PM

Kaye Swain

Keller Williams Real Estate Roseville CA - Roseville, CA

Your Roseville Real Estate Agent

WOW! Found this looking for something else and I am going to save it, not to mention go check my current gate which NEVER closes right (though I think swelling is more its issue). Great info. Thank you.

Apr 17, 2015 12:05 AM