As the most used part of a wooden perimeter, it is not uncommon for a gate to be the first thing to show any signs of wear and tear. In fact, sagging is one of the most common forms of damage that a wooden gate will show when it has been used for many years and it can be characterised by a droop in the centre of the gates. Here at Cheshire Metalcraft, we want to ensure that our readers are able to get the most out of their timber gates which is why we have put together a guide to help you rectify this type of situation…
Hinges
Most of the time a gate will begin to sag because the hinges need replacing. After all, a wooden gate is a heavy barrier and this means that the mechanisms used to keep it in place must be able to support it’s weight. In fact, it may be wise to invest in some durable hinges during the replacement that will be able to withstand the test of time.
Braces
With this said, a wooden gate that has no extra support will almost inevitably begin to sag regardless of the strength of the hinges or the unity of the posts. In fact, if your wooden gate is crafted from solid pieces of wood then you should think about adding a wood brace, in either a ‘Z’ or ‘X’ formation across the back, as this will reinforce its strength considerably.
Tension Rod
Similarly to a wooden braces, a tension rod uses a cable in order to keep the gate straight and prevent unnecessary sagging. In the middle there is something called a turnbuckle that allows you to increase the tension of the cable and generally the rules state that the more tension there is, the stronger the gate will be.
A gate is not invincible which means that it will succumb to the effects of mother nature and wear and tear without the implementation of human maintenance. After all, there are dozens of ways to care for your wooden gates in order to keep them in a safe working condition, including methods to prevent sagging. To find out more information about caring for your wooden gates, get in contact with the best gates in Manchester today and speak to a member of the Cheshire Metalcraft team!