Sagging & dragging gates
The latch side drops and the gate scrapes the ground. The fix is re-hanging the gate with heavy-duty hardware, reinforcing or replacing the posts, and adding an anti-sag kit to pull the frame square.
Sagging · Hinges · Latches · Posts · Storm damage
Gate Repair in Covington, LA
Northbound Fences repairs sagging, dragging and broken gates across Covington and the Northshore. The crew re-hangs gates on heavy-duty hardware, replaces broken hinges and latches, and resets rotted or leaning gate posts on wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain link and farm gates.
Last updated: September 2026
Northbound Fences is a licensed and insured Louisiana fence and gate contractor based in Covington, founded by Eric Bankston in 2005 and serving St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes.
Can Northbound Fences fix a gate that sags, drags or will not latch?
Short answer
Yes. Northbound Fences fixes sagging and dragging gates by resetting or replacing the gate posts, installing heavy-duty hinges and anti-sag kits, and replacing broken latches and fasteners. Most gates can be repaired rather than replaced, and the estimate is free.
A gate that has to be lifted to close, a latch that no longer catches, or a gap that lets the dog slip out: these are the most common gate complaints. They almost always trace back to one of a few causes, and the fix depends on which one it is.
Tightening a hinge screw or bolting a brace across a sagging gate might buy a few weeks. If the hinge post is leaning in soft ground, the gate will drop again. The crew starts with the posts and works outward, so the repair lasts instead of needing another visit after the next rainy stretch.
Northbound Fences repairs every kind of gate it builds: walk-through and garden gates, side-yard gates, pool enclosure gates, single and double driveway gates, and pipe, wire and wood farm gates. If the fence around the gate is damaged too, fence repair can be done on the same visit.
Symptoms & fixes
Which gate problems does Northbound Fences repair?
Northbound Fences sorts gate repairs into five problems. Match your symptom to the card to see what the fix usually involves.
Broken hinges & hardware
Rusted, bent or snapped hinges, latches, bolts and screws are replaced with commercial-grade outdoor hardware. Heavy gates get ball-bearing hinges, and gates that must stay shut get spring-loaded, self-closing hinges.
Rotted or leaning gate posts
A gate post carries the entire weight of the gate. When one rots at the ground line or leans in wet soil, the crew excavates it and sets a new post so the gate can hang true again.
Storm & impact damage
Wind-slammed gates, fallen limbs and the occasional bumper. Damaged frames, pickets and panels are repaired or rebuilt to match the existing gate style.
Every gate type & material
Walk-through, garden, side-yard, pool, driveway and farm gates in wood, vinyl, aluminum and chain link. Pipe, wire and wood pasture gates on farm fences too.
The repair
How does Northbound Fences repair a failing gate?
Northbound Fences repairs gates from the ground up, because a gate is only as straight as the posts it hangs on.
Find the real cause
The crew checks the hinge post, latch post, hinges, latch and gate frame to see why the gate stopped working, not just where it drags.
Fix the posts first
Rotted or leaning gate posts are excavated and replaced, or reinforced, because no hinge can hold a gate square on a moving post.
Rebuild the hardware
Broken or rusted hinges, latches, bolts and screws are replaced with outdoor-rated hardware sized to the weight of the gate.
Square, re-hang and test
The frame is pulled back into square with an anti-sag kit or new bracing, re-hung, adjusted and tested until it latches on its own.
Louisiana conditions
Why do gates wear out faster on the Northshore?
Northbound Fences sees gates in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes fail from the same four local pressures. Knowing them helps a repaired gate last.
- Saturated ground
Clay soil holds water for days after heavy rain, and sandy soil can wash out around a post. Either way the hinge post loosens first, because it carries the most load.
- Humidity and swelling
Wood gates swell in wet months and shrink in dry spells. A gate hung with no clearance for that movement binds against the latch post by midsummer.
- Rust on light hardware
Constant moisture corrodes hardware that was not made for outdoor use. Rusted hinges stiffen, then crack, and a rusted latch stops catching.
- Storm wind
An unlatched gate in a tropical storm swings hard against its stops and can bend hinges or split a post. Latch gates before a storm and follow the hurricane season fence prep checklist.
When should you replace a gate instead of repairing it?
Northbound Fences recommends replacing a gate when the frame itself has rotted through, when a metal frame is badly bent, or when a gate keeps sagging because it is simply too heavy for its size and hardware. Repeated repairs on a gate like that cost more over time than a new one.
Replacement is also the right call when your needs change: a wider opening for a trailer or mower, a self-closing gate around a new pool, or a material that matches a new fence. Gate installation covers swing, sliding and cantilever options, and the crew will tell you honestly during the free estimate which route makes sense.
Recent work
What kinds of fences and gates does the Northbound crew work on?
Northbound Fences works on residential yards and working farms across the Northshore. A few recent projects:
FAQ
What do people ask about gate repair in Covington?
Tell the crew what your gate is doing at (985) 630-4452 and get a straight answer.
Why is my gate sagging?
Most sagging gates have one of three problems: the hinge post is leaning or rotting, the hinges or screws have worked loose, or the gate frame itself has racked out of square. In wet Louisiana soil the post is often the real culprit. Northbound Fences checks all three before deciding how to fix it.
Can a sagging gate be fixed without replacing it?
Often, yes. Northbound Fences re-hangs sagging gates with heavy-duty hardware, reinforces or replaces weak posts and adds anti-sag kits that pull the frame back into square. If the gate frame is rotted through or badly bent, replacing the gate is usually the better value.
What hinges work best for a heavy gate?
Heavy gates need commercial-grade hardware rated for outdoor use. For heavy wood and wide driveway gates, Northbound Fences often uses ball-bearing hinges, which turn smoothly under load. Spring-loaded, self-closing hinges keep side-yard and pool gates shut.
Do you repair gates Northbound Fences did not install?
Yes. The crew repairs all gate types, including walk-through, garden, side-yard, pool, driveway and farm gates, in wood, vinyl, aluminum and chain link, whoever originally built them.
When should I replace a gate instead of repairing it?
Replacement makes sense when the frame is rotted or bent, when the gate is too heavy for its posts and has sagged repeatedly, or when you want a different style, such as a wider opening for a trailer. See gate installation for new gate options.
Can you fix a gate damaged by a storm or a vehicle?
Yes. Northbound Fences repairs storm and impact damage and matches the existing gate style. For storm damage, the crew can provide documentation for your insurance claim, and fence repair covers any damage to the fence around it.
More from Northbound
Other Services You May Need
Gate Installation
Driveway, walk-through, pool and farm gates hung to swing true.
- Swing, sliding and cantilever
- Matched to your fence material
- Heavy-duty hinges and latches
Fence Repair
Storm, fallen-tree, rot, leaning-post and animal damage fixed.
- Insurance claims accepted
- Rotted posts replaced
- Sections matched to existing
Fence Installation
New wood, vinyl, chain link, aluminum and picket fences built to your lot.
- Privacy, picket and shadow box
- Most homes finished in 1–3 days
- Permits pulled when required
Free estimates
Get your gate swinging and latching again
Tell Northbound Fences where the fence or gate goes and what it needs to hold in. The crew measures on site and gives you a written quote with no pressure and no obligation.
or call (985) 630-4452