How to Strengthen a Picket Gate

Supporting Structure

• 1

  Remove an old, rotted, damaged or crooked gate post and replace it with a new post made of pressure-treated lumber. If the post is weak, the gate may sag, drag, or not close properly. A 4-inch by 4-inch, 4 foot high post is adequate for most picket fences. A solid post is essential for a strong gate.

• 2

  Set the post into a hole that's 2 feet deep and 1 foot in diameter. Ensure the post is vertical by checking with a level placed against it.

• 3

  Nail a section of scrap board between the gate post and the fence or another supporting structure temporarily, to hold it in place. Verify that it remains vertical before proceeding.

• 4

  Pour concrete in the hole around the post. Pack it down, if necessary, so that there are no air bubbles in it. Allow it to dry overnight, then remove the supporting board from the gate post.

• 5

  Replace any weak or broken hinges with new ones of a similar size or larger -- to ensure the gate is solid and secure when you hang it.

Gate

• 6

  Lay the gate on the ground with the back side facing up. Check with a carpenter’s square to ensure the corners of the gate are square and even. If not, tap the supports with a hammer to shift them into place until the corners line up properly. Add a screw at each corner to help the gate hold its shape.

• 7

  Measure the gate from the bottom corner of the lowest cross brace on the hinge side to the top corner of the highest cross brace on the latch side. Cut a piece of 1-inch by 4-inch board to that length. Lay it on the diagonal you just measured, and mark the corners that stick out over the cross braces at the top and bottom and cut them off.

• 8

  Screw the diagonal brace to the bottom and top corners with two wood screws in each location. Also, add a screw into each horizontal cross brace that it touches. This will make the gate much stronger and eliminate any wobble or other problems it may have had.

• 9

  Set the gate in place next to the gate post. Support it with blocks of wood. Attach the hinges to the gate with the included screws. Remove the blocks supporting the gate to complete the project.