Wind vs. the wooden fence gate

June 10, 2022 5:04 AM

We have a wooden fence with a standard gate that opens inward. Currently, there is a two way handle that can be turned to lift the latch to get in or out of the patio. We aren’t great about always closing the gate, leaving it open to bring groceries in etc. Wind slams the gate back and forth and over time, bends the metal latch out of alignment. This is loud and bends the latch so it can’t be easily secured without some force to straighten it out.

The banging noise from the wind slamming the gate back and forth is super annoying. Having to bend the latch back into position is not easy to do either.

I am thinking that a door stop, to prop the gate open most of the time, would be a great solution, but I am having trouble finding an exterior rated door stop. I might just cut down a piece of wood into a triangle, but having don’t love that idea as they are prone to falling over and you have to bend down to adjust them every time you use them (can’t just use your feet to position it).

Looking for suggestions for a better solution to either prop the gate open during the day, or keep it the gate easily latched shut in spite of the efforts of the wind and our general forgetfulness / handsfull-ness. We will not remember to shut the gate carefully each time, that is not a viable solution to this situation.

posted by walkinginsunshine to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

Can you change the latch to one that latches automatically when the gate closes? Seems like a different kind of latch (and maybe a spring to pull the door shut) would be the easiest way to solve the problem, but it's hard to suggest specifics without knowing more about the fence and your existing latch. A simple gravity latch would work in most circumstances, I think - it should close either when someone pushes the gate closed OR the first time the wind blows the gate closed.
posted by mskyle at 5:11 AM on June 10, 2022

but I am having trouble finding an exterior rated door stop

My vote is also for if the latch isn't meeting your needs, change the latch. However may I suggest to you: a big ass brick. If you're not going to fix the problem then at least don't overthink it.
posted by phunniemee at 5:15 AM on June 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: For clarity, our existing latch will auto-latch, but the force of the wind slamming the fence has bent the latch over time to be un-useable
posted by walkinginsunshine at 5:24 AM on June 10, 2022

A spring loaded hinge will keep the gate shut. And some weather stripping will cushion the slap and deaden the sound.
posted by at at 5:29 AM on June 10, 2022 [5 favorites]

So, replacing the latch with a heavier-duty one and adding an auto-close spring could help. (Also make sure the gate hinges are strong enough and properly aligned - if you have to wiggle the gate to get the latch to latch, it's not going to work correctly, obviously.)

If you want to go the doorstop route and the gate can be opened ALL the way another thing you can do is add a simple hook and an eye screw so that you can hook the gate to the fence in the open position.

Or yeah, a brick or a rock.
posted by mskyle at 5:57 AM on June 10, 2022 [3 favorites]

I'd use a cane bolt to keep the gate open.
posted by Mitheral at 6:54 AM on June 10, 2022

Kick-down door stop, outdoor-rated or not, should do it but I am also on Team Replace Latch.
posted by sageleaf at 7:00 AM on June 10, 2022

we use a cinder block.
posted by kindall at 1:07 PM on June 10, 2022