How to Fix a Bowed Wooden Gate

Close the gate. Slide a piece of scrap lumber or wood block under the vertical frame of the latch to raise it to its original level. This practice helps align the latch, so the gate opens and closes properly without dragging on the ground.

Bore pilot holes through the inner stiles of the wood gate using a drill bit slightly smaller than the hook's shanks. Drill one hole just below the upper hinge and the other diagonally across the gate to the opposite corner.

Insert a screw hook into each pilot hole.

Clamp one end of the cable, thread it through the turnbuckle’s eye screw and extend it back through the clamp. Allow 2 to 3 inches of cable along the end to protrude from the clamp.

Use a screwdriver to tighten the clamp. Also turn the screws on the end to fully open the turnbuckle.

Attach the other eye screw of the turnbuckle to the hook along the other side of the wood gate. Clamp the free end of the cable, attach it to the hook on the latch side and extend the end of the cable through the clamp, forming a loop.

Grasp the cable’s free end and pull it as tight as possible, sliding the clamp to close the eye screw. Use a screwdriver to tighten the clamp.

Tighten the turnbuckle using an adjustable wrench to increase the tension on the cable and remove the slack. Continue to tighten the turnbuckle in a clockwise fashion until the bowed gate gradually straightens up and the latch is aligned to its proper position.

Clip off excess cable along the ends with pliers. Remove the lumber or block from underneath the straightened gate.