Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Old Gate

Grogan Timber Products
Aug 27
2 min read

Updated: Sep 24

Close-up of traditional wooden garden gate with rusty latch

Whether it’s been hanging on for years or only just starting to show its age, your wooden gate might be due an upgrade — even if it hasn’t fully fallen off its hinges (yet!).

At Grogan Timber Products, we’ve seen gates in every condition imaginable — and we know when it's time to replace instead of repair. Here are five tell-tale signs your timber gate has had its day.

1. It’s Warping, Sagging or Dragging on the Ground

Timber naturally expands and contracts with weather. Over time, even well-treated gates can start to:

Sag in the middle
Pull away from hinges
Drag on sloped or uneven ground

If you’re lifting your gate every time you open it, it’s likely no longer structurally sound. A properly fitted timber gate should swing freely and close cleanly.

2. It’s Visibly Rotted or Splitting

Irish weather is no friend to untreated or ageing timber. If your gate has:

Soft, crumbling sections
Deep cracks or visible water damage
Dark stains near the base

it’s likely letting moisture in and breaking down from the inside out. Replacing it with a pressure-treated wooden gate built for Irish conditions is the smart move.

3. The Gate No Longer Closes Properly (Or Stays Shut)

A gate that doesn’t close — or worse, won’t stay closed — defeats the point. Common signs:

Latches no longer line up
Locks are rusted or broken
Wind opens or rattles the gate easily

Whether for security, privacy, or simply keeping pets in, a replacement gate will give you back peace of mind.

4. You’ve Replaced Your Fence, Driveway, or Boundary Walls

Sometimes the gate itself isn’t broken — it just doesn’t suit the property anymore.

If you've upgraded your fencing, driveway, or pillars, your gate should match in:

Style
Height
Finish

We offer made-to-measure timber gates that can be stained or painted to suit your updated surroundings — for a seamless, modern look.

5. It No Longer Reflects the Value of Your Home

Your entrance is the first thing people see. If your gate looks tired or outdated, it can drag down the overall appearance of your home — especially if you're planning to sell.

A new wooden driveway gate can: