I've got a small roof over my pool equipment, and the post that my gate is attached to isn't level, which is causing the gate to lean and drag on the deck. All the other posts are level, so I think it's a construction issue with this particular post. My plan is to cut the post flush with the cross beam, push it out a bit, and secure it with tie plates. However, someone suggested removing the hinge pins, filling the holes with epoxy, and redrilling new holes to ensure the gate hangs level. What are your thoughts or suggestions on how to tackle this?
3 Answers
I think starting with the hinge alignment is key. If the post is leaning, the hinges might get misaligned too. Once the hinges are straightened out, check for any sag in the gate itself and maybe add a new diagonal brace to keep it in shape. It could make a big difference! Good luck!
It sounds like the angled crosspiece may have been installed incorrectly if it’s preventing the gate from being level. It should run diagonally from the bottom of the post to the top on the latch side. If you can correct that, it might help a lot with the leaning issue. Also, make sure to check the alignment of your hinge pins as they might also be contributing to the problem. Once you take off the gate, you could add some cross-bracing to really make it stable!
You might want to just take the door off completely and give it a few whacks with a mini-sledgehammer to adjust it. Use a small piece of wood as a buffer to protect it while you’re tapping the bottom pins toward the frame and the top pins away from it. If you want a solid fix, consider completely removing the hardware and cutting the pins off, then adding a diagonal brace from the bottom hinge side up to the top latch side. That should give you a more stable setup!
I see what you're saying about the angle brace! The hinge pins need to be vertical to help it align properly too.