Gate repair: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering gate repair

Gate repairs are a fast, high-satisfaction call when the first visit fixes the real cause, which is usually the hinge post. Win the job by checking the post and the frame first, then quoting the repair with clear parts.

What customers ask

  • Why does my gate keep dragging?
  • Can you fix it today, or do I need to wait?
  • Will the new hinges last longer?
  • Do I need a new post?
  • Can you make the gate latch on its own?
  • How much of the fence will you have to remove?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask when the gate started to drag or latch poorly, whether it was hit, and whether the ground around the post has changed.
  • On site, check the post at the ground line, the frame's square and the hinge hardware before you pick up a tool.
  • In the quote, list the post work, the frame repair and the hardware separately, so the customer sees the cause and the fix.
  • Show a photo of the damaged hinge, post or frame on the gate itself, so the repair is clear without a lot of explanation.
  • Test the swing, the latch and the closing action with the customer before you leave, and show them the result.
  • Give a short maintenance note on lubrication and the latch check, written in plain words.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of gate repairs, showing the hinge, the post and the square of the frame
  • Gate types you repair, including wood, vinyl, aluminum and steel
  • Hardware you install, such as heavy hinges, self-closing devices and self-latching latches
  • Your service area and whether you also install new gates and automatic gate systems

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a yearly hinge and latch check, explained as routine care
  • Suggest a self-closing or self-latching upgrade if the gate is near a pool or used by children
  • Mention an automatic gate operator as information if the customer has a heavy gate or a long drive

Licenses and permits

Whether gate repair needs a contractor license varies by place and by job size, and post resets and structural frame work are commonly done under a contractor license in many areas. Confirm what applies where you work with your state or local licensing agency and local building department, and keep your insurance current.

Questions

What do I do when the customer wants new hinges on a rotted post?

Tell the customer that the new hinges will pull out of the rotted post, and quote the post reset or replacement first. Put the recommendation and the decision in writing.

Should I warranty a gate repair?

Warranty the parts and the labor for the post, the hinges and the frame you repaired, and state that wood movement and weather change the swing over time. Put the terms in writing.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

More decks, fences and outdoor structures guides for pros

Start here

About this guide

Get gate repair requests

Customers pick you by name. Signup is free, and you pay only for leads you accept.

Join as a pro
Sign up free