A gate that won't latch is usually being blamed on the latch. In practice the latch is the last thing at fault — it is simply the component that shows you something else has moved.
What's causing it
Seasonal timber movement
Softwood gates swell in a wet winter and bind, then close perfectly again in summer.
Post lean
Even a few millimetres of post movement takes the keep out of alignment with the latch.
Hinge wear
Worn pins let the leaf drop, so the latch arrives below the keep.
Ground level or fixture change
New paving, a settled slab, or a raised threshold reduces the swing clearance.
Fix options
Re-align the keep and adjust hinges
Misalignment is small
Quickest fix, and with adjustable hinges it can be redone as timber moves.
Ease and re-treat the binding edge
Winter swelling only
The edge is planed back with clearance for movement and the bare timber re-treated so it doesn't drink water.
Reset the post
The post has moved or twisted
New base, correctly sized for the swinging load; everything else then lines up again.
Upgrade the ironmongery
Latching is unreliable or security matters
A long-throw lock or a heavier latch with a proper keep, fitted to timber that can carry it.
Self-diagnosis: check these first
- 1
Note whether the problem is seasonal — binding only in winter points to swelling, not damage.
- 2
Close the gate slowly and watch where it makes contact first.
- 3
Check the latch keep against the latch height: has the gate dropped, or has the post twisted?
- 4
Test both posts for movement at the base.
Preventing it happening again
- Treat the gate's top and bottom edges, not just the faces — that's where water enters
- Use adjustable hinges so seasonal alignment can be corrected
- Allow clearance at the threshold for frost and resurfacing
Get this fixed properly
Free site visit across London and Hertfordshire, a written specification and a fixed price before anything starts.
Frequently asked
Should I plane the gate to fit?
Only after checking the post — planing a gate to suit a leaning post makes the eventual repair worse.
Why does it only stick in winter?
Timber absorbs moisture and swells. A small clearance and a good finish largely solve it.
Can you fit a lock to an existing gate?
Yes, provided the stile is substantial enough to take it; we'll say if it isn't.
Do you carry spare ironmongery?
We fit standard-pattern hinges, latches and locks and can match most existing hardware.