The Keys To Fence Gate Bracing | Prevent Sagging With Proper Bracing

Wooden fence gate braces can seem confusing, but they're really pretty simple. Remember these two simple keys when building your next cedar gate to help prevent sag and increase longevity.
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[@noahdevine915]

Great video mark, most people brace their gates incorrectly and the opposite direction. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge

[@SWiFence]

I'm sure you have seen all the crazy stuff folks try to brace a gate. The principle is simple if you know what to do.

[@ZeromuS_]

Perfect video, super simple and straightforward. Maki go a small gate for my garden and was curious about the brace, direction and angle. 3 minutes later and I'm ready to go for a simple project! Thank you!!

[@SWiFence]

Fantastic!

[@regthebackyardjackofalltrades]

Thanks I’m building my gate right now and just found out from you that less than 55 degrees for a compression angle is the best. I’m also going to get the turnbuckle assembly and that latch. Thanks for sharing

[@SWiFence]

You got this!

[@ricardohoffmann4285]

Very good video. I would like to add only this: braces should be build in one piece. Always. Unfortunately, that brace shown is cut in half, adding two more joints prone to flex/sagging. But, since it is not a heavy gate, this one is OK. Nice video.

[@mikearchibald744]

The video shows a brace like that but says that its wrong.

[@Davo32310]

That brace is one piece, the center piece is cut out where it meets the brace

[@shemicdee780]

Can you comment on where the angled cut meets the corner at both ends I can’t see where the bottom end meets. Please discuss advantage of where you placed to. For example on the top section of the brace, it is only touching the lateral board. Hope this request makes sense. Ty

[@NYCAppl3]

Such a simple solution for a common problem! Question: my door/ fence sits on an uneven/ sloped foundation. Will this cable hack work in a situation like mine?

[@SWiFence]

So your gate & gate post are actually tilted? The more tilted it is, the less effective it's going to be, but it *should* work anyway, unless you're extremely lopsided.

[@NYCAppl3]

@@SWiFence thku so much for responding to my post. It's not on an extreme slope. The area in this area of our neighborhood where all of our backyards are located is a smidgen higher than where our fence/ gates sit. Based on your feedback, I think I'll be okay 😊

[@jacobmcqueen9846]

Pro fencer from ohio here.. That latch is upside down. It needs to be taken apart and flipped, and the spring moved to the other hole.(less than 5 min ) Reason: those springs rust and break sometimes, and the latch won't work upside down with a broken spring.

[@jakehalpin8651]

Exactly spend all that time making the gate nice and don’t flip the latch.lol

[@SWiFence]

I cringed when I saw that. You are 100% right!

[@akven0m]

That's why I prefer "Max Latch Deluxe". It's very similar but has no spring and can't be installed upside-down. Over time, wood gates try to twist. I'm sure you've seen a gate where the bottom is slightly kicked out and no longer flush with the fence. The latch you're using can be modified to prevent or even correct this problem. You'll need 2 per gate, one high and one lower, both connected together with a black tension bar (cut to length) using small screws with nylon insert lock nuts. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. The 2 latches will work as one unit giving the gate 2 latche points. When that gate shuts it's like a vault door.

[@akven0m]

We've had neighbors of previous installs request this latch system from us.

[@dominicv9225]

Great video. How would I brace a gate with a circular window insert?

[@wyattgreeson5706]

Frame out around it and add bracing underneath

[@CodyAlexander]

Great video in terms of concise explanation and visual demonstration!

[@SWiFence]

Much appreciated!

[@RichardKinch]

With the brace you are just engineering trusses, and should understand it that way. All you need is the tension cable, not the compression wood pieces; if you have both they are in competition and only one or the other will matter, so just use one to start with. The turnbuckle lets you tune the tension over the years as the wood warps, so you can maintain the latch alignment which is bearing on the hinges. The upper truss triangle does not bear on the hinges, so it doesn't need a brace.

[@nehuge]

Which of these concepts helps with gate twist? (using your example, left side of screen latch side top left sticks out away. Bottom left corner is flush with rest of gate)

[@rgknowlton1]

How do you feel about preloading the hinges to fight gate sag?

[@CVMGAM]

I always see the compression brace being placed against the bottom stud, instead of the side stud. The bottom stud has no support, while the side side has the post to offer even more support.

[@dmczern]

I agree, great video. However, I get a little lost at 1:35 when you talk about adding vertical bracing if you have a longer gate. Could you please, or anyone, explain that to me with more detail? Thanks, I'm trying to repair a sagging gate that is wider than it is tall.

[@SWiFence]

You're basically adding a vertical strip down the center of the gate to divide your gate up into two halves, then you brace each half as if it were it's own gate. The point is you don't want to exceed that 45-degree angle or your brace becomes pretty useless. Dividing the gate into two sections (or more if it's really long) allows you to brace at the correct angle.

[@tylerreynolds1261]

@@SWiFence does it reach a point on the angle 📐 where it gets too low.( meaning below the 45 degree and at for example 30 degrees, does it weaken the brace ?)

[@design8studio]

Hugely helpful video about this topic. Thank you.

[@SWiFence]

You're very welcome!

[@ljjl6458]

Wow, thank you so very much. I know now how to fix my gate exactly God bless thank you❤

[@wyattgreeson5706]

Does anyone half lap there gates? Best way or too time consuming?

[@rgknowlton1]

I've done that. Half lap, glue, and screw the four corners. Might be a little too labor intensive for pros but good choice for self-builders.

[@kimshanna]

I thought it was important for the brace to go from the top corner to the opposite bottom corner in one piece and it looks like your brace is in two pieces. Does this matter?

[@SWiFence]

If done right this doesn't matter at all. This is sometimes actually necessary to keep the brace angle correct.

[@tomyang5991]

Great video! What kind of wood is used to build the frame of fence gate?

[@SWiFence]

Cedar. 👍🏻

[@oldmanslickville1918]

The top angle of the compression brace is cut at what angle?

[@jakebrown9829]

Thanks for the tips!

[@SWiFence]

You bet!

[@rogerbettencourt9654]

Most excellent advice my good sir. You have a dang good day.

[@SWiFence]

You too have a good dang day!

[@solafarms2295]

I’ve never seen that style of latch put in that way we do it where pushing down opens it not lifting up. Is the way you do it how it’s designed?

[@SWiFence]

Those latches are designed to be reversible, so it's all about customer-preference. One thing to keep in mind is that depending on the orientation, if the spring ever fails the latch will default open or shut. That's generally a good reason to install them the other way around like you're used to.

[@monk1100]

Hi, do the braces need to be in the right angke cirnes or could i set them awayvfrom the internal corners. Thanks

[@SWiFence]

They need to be as pictured in the video. 👍🏻

[@garrymatthews2800]

I have 2 .1 metre cattle panels that want to sag when used as gates how do I fix it

[@prayertool]

Very well done. Thank you

[@mminlamesa1032]

Great info and wonderfully explained

[@SWiFence]

Thank you!

[@mminlamesa1032]

@@SWiFence I was building a pair of driveway gates, 6' wide and 4' high. I used 2 10" Headloc in each corner and metal corner braces in each inside 90. Seemed like they won't rack but when I followed your instruction and installed a compression brace on each, they were rock solid. Really, thank you very much.

[@ashergrimm7393]

So if my wooden brace exceeds 45 degrees, then I should use the tension cable, yes? Will that be enough all on its own for a short (3’ x 55.5”) wide gate?

[@SWiFence]

Break your brace into 2 columns. The tension cable will not be enough for such a wide gate.

[@joshmiller2206]

Hey so my question is this my customers bought an 8 ft long wooden gate. I put a wheel on the bottom and now the top is sagging left to right at the farthest point away from the hands at the top how do I fix. I was assuming maybe a cable from top to bottom to keep it from doing that

[@SWiFence]

You can fix this with a cable, and also if there is only one brace on it or two so that way it doesn't break the 45 degree rule.

[@jxtdenco6984]

How do you lock a latch like that from the non hinge side? My gate will open like yours into the front yard but we will need to be able to lock it from the back yard side.

[@SWiFence]

This latch can be locked from either side. www.swifence.com/post-latch-black.html

[@willowallen2236]

Omg! The latch of my dreams! 😊

[@mattd9162]

What's the best wood for rails and gate construction, douglas fir or cedar? 2x4 or 2x6? (two 6 ft gates double drive) ty!

[@SWiFence]

Definitely cedar! 2x4's should work just fine. 👍🏻

[@aroncarvajal7080]

So how do you keep a fence from sagging?

[@mattd9162]

Love the channel, great info, very much appreciated. Whats the widest gate I can make using the postmaster posts? I need to be able to get a vehicle through it. Thank you

[@SWiFence]

Thanks for watching! I would not go bigger than a six foot leaf so you could make it a double drive and have a 12 ‘ opening.

[@mattd9162]

@@SWiFence Thank you! Should I use Cane Bolts into a steel pipe in the ground or something to secure them?

[@SWiFence]

Yes you can if your ground is good you can smash the end of a piece of 3/4” emt conduit and pound that into the ground to receive the cane bolt or you can do an upside down pier block and drill a hole in the block to receive the cane bolt.

[@thebuff7271]

I got a wheel kit that attaches to bottom of gate...the gate sits on the wheel

[@merlinlepper]

Hi, great video, thanks! I have a question as to where the brace terminates. In your build, I see the bottom of the brace material terminates at the very corner of your framing. I've seen a variation where the brace is cut to a tip and the middle of the brace terminates in the corner. Do you have any advice on this? Is there a right/wrong way to do this? Thanks! :)

[@merlinlepper]

My 'Leafs/leaves(?)' are square in dimension, and have figured out that if I build it like yours, I'll have a steeper and more desirable angle. :) I think I've just answered my own question!! Let me know your thoughts otherwise. Cheers!

[@SWiFence]

You've got it. 👍🏻 You can do either but a steeper angle is better.

[@djexclusivee]

If its a small door like 48h by 32w do you think it matters?

[@SWiFence]

The wider the gate the more crucial it is, but everything will sag over time.

[@alarce5384]

Excellent

[@SWiFence]

Thanks!

[@woodyforest7308]

What angle40 or so

[@christinamartinez8132]

So interesting. I subbed. ❤

[@SWiFence]

Woot woot!

[@peterbarlow8912]

The edge uprights are pieced not through! That means your braces don’t make a triangle

[@ace7luck6]

Great tips two thumbs up!!!👍👍

[@SWiFence]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@squidusn71]

This is very informative. Thank you!

[@SWiFence]

You are so welcome!

[@stonegoutlawmemphisstreeto4962]

👌😎

[@johnwalsh1648]

Could sure do without the macho music

[@SWiFence]

“You can make some of the people happy some of the time but you can’t make all of the people happy all of the time”. Thanks for watching.

[@raymondshadrick9507]

Yes it is a great video ,but when you try to contact them they will not respond!! What good are these videos, to get paid for videos is all I can say!!!!

[@SWiFence]

Easy now, Raymond, be nice. 🙂 It gets a little hectic around here and we can't always answer the phones at the drop of a hat. If you leave a message (307-578-8040) or email us ([e-mail]) we'll get back with you. 👍🏻

[@Kuj]

@@SWiFencewe expect 24/7 support for the couple bucks you made from this video 😂

[@tbw2aa]

What determines the size of the turnbuckle and cable?