Fix a Sagging Gate Before It Drags a Groove

A gate that drags has almost always sagged on its diagonal — the latch side drops because nothing holds it up. The fix is bracing and tightening, not a new gate.

How to fix it

1. Tighten all the hinge screws. If they spin, upgrade to longer screws that reach solid wood in the post (and check the post itself isn't rotted or leaning).
2. Install a simple anti-sag kit: a cable with a turnbuckle running from the top of the hinge side to the bottom of the latch side. Tighten the turnbuckle until the gate lifts square.
3. For a wooden gate, a diagonal board running the same direction does the same job.

Check that the latch lines up again once it's lifted. A gate you don't have to lift-and-slam is a gate that stops getting damaged.