Wooden Fence Gate Talk

roof-lover

Hey guys,
Some advice to tell your customers as you are collecting the check.

Tell your customers up front that you did a great job on the gate, used the best workmanship, materials available but that over time the gate will eventually sag and you will have to lift the gate to latch and unlatch it.

I am saying this because i have never seen a wooden gate built that this didn't eventually happen to.

And i can imagine a newer wooden fence company getting called back
time after time for this and the homeowner thinking you did a bad job.

If you tell them this up front(as you're collecting the check) along with your other info of prevenative maintanence- i think it will help.

Now if i am way off here. Please teach me.

TimelessQuality

yep, and that concrete's gonna crack!

__________________
-Steve

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." ~ Albert Einstein

s. donato

i usually tell people if it happens in one year call me and i will come buy to repair for free but after one year its billed hourly to repair it. it happens its part using wooden gates.

but i will like to add that i don't get many calls so maybe i am doing something right. most i do add a turnbuckle to when i make the gate and leave it at the very end of the tread so there is plenty of room to adjust over a few years. like i said so far so good.

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John Hyatt

I have never had a call back for a gate. I put an x frame in the middle, glue/screw all the tight joints fasten the face with adhesive use com roller bearing hendges. All you got to do is do it right. J.

DecksEtc

I've never had a call back on a gate either.

Perhaps you're bracing it wrong?

Also, JMHO, but "sneaking" that disclaimer in as you're collecting the cheque is underhanded. If your gates do sag, then you really should have that conversation before you sign a contract AND have it written into your contract.

If I were your customer and you did that to me, I guarantee you the cheque wouldn't clear.

roof-lover

I've never installed a wooden fence or gate.
But i am a roofer and need to get in peoples back yards.
I come across a lot of gates.
I am shocked when i don't have to lift the gate to open it.

tcleve4911

I got your message Roof Lover

It's called " realistic expectation"

We do that all the time.

Sheetrock will crack
Wood floors will change color in the sun
You WILL have to paint your exterior trim periodically
ETC ETC ETC

Like previous... just don't deliver it as your stuffing the check into your wallet...

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Back in Maine
Dubbin' Around
Doin' good stuff ......

obxdeck

My gates don't sag either. Lapped corners, screws and cross bar keep the call backs to a minimum. I do replace rusted hinges but only when they are trying to be cheap and not use stainless. (coastal)

curapa

I just visited a home I in which I installed a fence a couple of years ago to install a storm door. The gate was just fine and that was from before I refined my gate building methods.

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www.ParkerFenceandDeck.com

DecksEtc

Exactly. Build it right and it will last and not sag.

100% of the sagging gates that I have seen do so for one of 2 reasons:

1. No cross bracing.

2. Backwards cross bracing.