Your front gate is the entrance to your home, but you can’t afford to wait for it to completely fall off its hinges before you take it in for repairs.
Like anything else you use every day, gate maintenance is a necessary procedure you will go through, especially when dealing with large moving parts and the type of turbulent weather you face every day in Florida. Gate repairs can cost anywhere from $100 to $400 depending on the severity.
Here are five ways to tell if you need to consider repairing your gate.
1. Gate is Sagging or Misaligned
In the case of a double gate, you might notice that each side isn’t aligned with one another. This can often happen when the hinges are worn.
Not only does this make your gate look out of sorts, but you could experience difficulties latching them shut.
Besides worn hinges, your gate could be sagging due to sinking posts or other structural issues, which are common in Florida. These could cause more problems in the future, such as a double gate colliding with itself, or pulling connecting structures down with it.
2. Visible Damage
When dealing with turbulent weather, you’ll likely have visible damage on your gate. Depending on the type of gate you have, a little weathering is to be expecting, but rusty hinges or sensors can cause a host of other issues down the line.
If there’s any distinctively noticeable or new visible damage, be sure to have it inspected just in case.
3. Doesn’t Lock or Stay Closed
This next one applies to both automatic and manually opened gates. If your gate doesn’t lock or stay closed, then that’s an issue.
If an automatic gate isn’t closing or locking, then anyone could enter your property. Additionally, it will likely have issues reopening.
4. Slow Operation or it Won’t Open
In the case of automatic gates, the biggest issue you’ll encounter is when they’re slow to operate or won’t open at all. Since they’re supposed to open automatically, a malfunction could severely disrupt anyone entering or leaving.
As for manual gates, a stiff hinge or scraping metal could be a sign for a checkup.
5. You’re Out of Replacement Parts
Home maintenance is important, but sometimes you won’t have the necessary parts on hand. Maybe you’ve already used up your spares, or they’re hard to come by.
Either way, don’t be afraid to use that as an excuse to call in for gate repair and have a second opinion on your maintenance.
Gate Repair in Your Area
Malfunctioning gates can cause extensive damage to your person and your vehicle.
If a sensor is broken, a gate could close on a car, not stopping until it has caused exterior damage. A loose gate could swing open and hit a child.
Routine maintenance is key to keeping your gateway safely accessible for your guests.
If you’re in need of gate repair in Clearwater or Tampa, FL, reach out to us to set up an appointment or get a free quote on your repairs.
