Free on-site gate assessment - hinges, posts, and your LiftMaster or Nice gate operator checked before anything is quoted
The assessment is free and the quote is the invoice.
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AfterGate Repair in Candler-McAfee, GA
Gate repair in Candler-McAfee typically runs $85 to $240 for hinge and post work, and most jobs are finished the same day we arrive. This stretch of DeKalb County was built out fast between the late 1940s and early 1970s, and the gates hung back then are still standing on original galvanized posts now fighting 50-plus years of red clay movement and summer humidity above 70%. Call (877) 610-2993 and a live person answers, not a phone tree.
Why Candler-McAfee Homes Are Different
Candler-McAfee is a densely built, historically working-class DeKalb County community where the dominant gate stock is aging chain-link swing gates installed during the 1950s through 1970s construction boom, many still on their original galvanized posts. The expansive red clay underneath this part of the 30032 ZIP shrinks and swells with every wet-dry season, and a post set only 18 to 24 inches deep in 1964 never had a chance. It leans, the gate rack out of square, the hinges bind, the latch stops catching, and then somebody forces it. That sequence is behind most of what we repair here.
The housing stock around Candler Road, Glenwood, and the blocks off Columbia Drive is mostly post-WWII ranch homes and bungalows with narrow side-yard driveways. Vehicles squeeze past gates every day, sometimes clipping them. A gate that caught a bumper now has a cracked hinge weld or a twisted top rail, and it gets worse every time it opens. Add DeKalb County’s roughly 50 inches of annual rain feeding rust into galvanized chain-link posts, and you get posts thinned from the inside where nobody sees it until the gate drops.
Gate Repair in Candler-McAfee
Gate repair in Candler-McAfee means fixing the gate where it stands, not hauling it off or swapping parts that don’t need swapping. Most of the swing gates in this part of DeKalb County were hung between the late 1950s and mid-1970s, and their problems trace back to the same root causes: shallow footings in expansive clay, decades of humidity on ferrous hardware, and tight driveways where bumpers find gates. We weld on site, re-set posts properly, and stand behind every repair with a written 90-Day Done Right Promise. This is the work we do most often. You can read more about our approach on the Gate Repair page.
Hinge and Post Repair
This is the bread-and-butter call in Candler-McAfee. Most swing gates around here still hang on their original galvanized hinge posts, and after decades of DeKalb County humidity and seasonal clay movement, those posts pull out of their shallow footings. We re-plumb the post, pour a proper concrete collar, replace the hinges, and hang the gate so it clears the ground the way it did when it was new. A typical hinge and post repair here runs $85 to $180, depending on how far the post has moved.
Gate Realignment
When a Candler-McAfee gate binds on the latch side or scrapes the driveway, the root cause is rarely the gate itself. It’s the post leaning, the frame racking, or the ground heaving underneath. We square the frame, re-hang the gate, and set the latch so it actually catches. On the tight side-yard driveways off the 30032 corridor, vehicle bumps are constant, and we’ve seen top rails bowed downward by an inch and a half from repeated contact. A realignment usually runs $75 to $160.
Weld and Rust Repair
Candler-McAfee’s summer humidity sits above 70% for months, and that does a number on ferrous gate hardware. Rust eats through chain-link fabric, through hinge barrels, through the bottom rail where it meets the post or the ground. We weld on-site, which means your gate stays in your driveway while we cut out the bad section and burn in a clean patch. No trailer, no haul-off. Weld and rust repair typically runs $95 to $220, depending on how much material has to be replaced and whether we’re also reinforcing a post that has started to thin from the inside.
Electric Gate Repair
Fewer Candler-McAfee homes have automatic openers than you’d find over in Decatur, but the ones that do tend to be older FAAC, BFT, and Viking units installed years ago on gates that have since shifted. We troubleshoot the operator, the safety edges, and the control board, and we’ll tell you straight whether a retrofit makes sense or whether you’d be better off repairing the manual hardware and leaving the automation off. Electric gate repair in Candler-McAfee usually runs $140 to $350, and we always quote the price before we start any work.
How much does gate repair cost in Candler-McAfee?
A simple hinge replacement runs $75 to $120. A post re-set with a new concrete collar runs $140 to $240. Gate realignment runs $75 to $160. Weld and rust repair runs $95 to $220. Electric opener troubleshooting and repair runs $140 to $350. Every price is quoted up front, in writing, before any work begins, and that number does not change at the door. Call (877) 610-2993 for an exact quote on your gate.
Why does my Candler-McAfee gate sag again a few months after I replaced the hinges?
Because the hinges were never the root problem. In Candler-McAfee’s tight post-WWII lots, most original gates hang on posts set only 18 to 24 inches into expansive Georgia red clay. That clay moves with every wet and dry season, and the post leans. New hinges on a leaning post fail again in six months. We re-plumb the post and set a proper concrete collar before we hang the gate. Call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll show you what’s actually moving.
Gate Installation in Candler-McAfee
A new driveway gate in Candler-McAfee typically runs $1,400 to $4,800 installed, depending on whether you need a single swing gate, a double gate, or a sliding gate with an operator. Most installations we schedule in this part of DeKalb County take one full day on site. The price you agree to before we start is the price on the invoice, and we don’t do “subject to change” at the door. You can see the full picture on our Gate Installation page.
Driveway Gate Installation
Most Candler-McAfee homes we visit have narrow side-yard driveways on post-WWII ranch lots, and that changes the math on a driveway gate. We size the gate to the actual opening, not the other way around, and we account for the clay movement that will shift your posts over time. A single-swing driveway gate in Candler-McAfee typically runs $1,400 to $3,200 installed, including hardware and post setting.
Pedestrian Gate Installation
A pedestrian gate beside a long driveway gives you a way in and out without opening the whole vehicle entrance. In Candler-McAfee, we often pair a pedestrian gate with the existing chain-link fence line, matching the galvanized finish so it doesn’t look like an add-on. These jobs usually run $600 to $1,500 depending on width and hardware.
Sliding Gate Installation
If your Candler-McAfee driveway slopes or you have limited swing clearance, a sliding gate makes sense. Sliding gates ride on a track and don’t need the big arc of open space a swing gate demands. On lots where a vehicle has clipped a swing gate one too many times, we often recommend switching to a slide. Installed sliding gates here typically run $2,200 to $4,800, with the track and operator making up a good chunk of that cost.
Is it cheaper to retrofit my 1960s swing gate with an automatic opener or just repair the manual hinges?
In most Candler-McAfee cases, repairing the manual hinge and post setup is far cheaper than adding an opener. A retrofit opener installation typically starts around $1,200 to $2,500 once you factor in the operator, safety edges, power run, and mounting brackets, plus the inevitable post reinforcement. A full hinge and post repair runs under $250. If the gate itself is still square and solid, a manual repair keeps it working. Call (877) 610-2993 for a straight recommendation on your gate.
Do I need entrapment protection on a new automatic gate in Candler-McAfee?
Yes, and this is not optional. Any automatic gate in Candler-McAfee, whether solar or wired, must meet current UL 325 safety standards, which means entrapment protection like photo eye sensors, reversing edges, and proper force settings. We install every automatic gate with the required safety edges and sensors, and we test them before we leave. Call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll walk you through what your setup needs.
Gate Motor & Opener in Candler-McAfee
Gate motor repair in Candler-McAfee typically runs $240 to $560 for most operator faults, with full motor and opener replacement landing between $1,100 and $2,800 depending on gate length and whether new posts are needed. Those numbers come from the jobs we actually do here, not a spreadsheet in another state. The specific headache in this area is aging chain-link and tubular steel gates on footings too shallow for Georgia clay, heaving out of plumb and overloading whatever motor tries to move them. More detail lives on our Gate Motor & Opener page.
Motor Installation
Putting a motor on a gate in Candler-McAfee is not a bolt-on job. The post has to be dead plumb and the gate frame square, otherwise the operator fights the gate on every cycle until it burns out early or strips its gears. Before we install any motor or opener, we check the hinge post, the footing depth, and the alignment of the gate frame itself. On a typical Candler-McAfee chain-link gate from the 1960s, that usually means re-plumbing the hinge post before the motor ever goes on.
Motor Repair
Most motor repair calls in Candler-McAfee share a common story: the gate worked fine for years, then started faulting, then stopped entirely. We trace the problem, fix the actual cause, and do not replace parts that are still good. A stripped gear on a LiftMaster or Linear operator is often caused by a gate that has racked out of square and started pushing back against the motor. We can rebuild the gear train in the driveway on most brands, including Viking and Ghost Controls. Typical motor repairs for Candler-McAfee homes run $180 to $460.
Slide Motors
Slide gates are common on Candler-McAfee properties with wider entrances or side yards too tight for a swing arc. Slide motors handle a lot of work, but they are sensitive to track alignment and wheel wear. When the clay heaves under the concrete track, the gate rides slightly high or low, the rack mesh goes wrong, and the motor strains. A slide gate motor replacement runs $1,100 to $2,600, with the spread driven by operator type, gate weight, and whether the track needs re-bedding.
Why does my gate opener keep losing alignment on my Candler-McAfee driveway?
In nearly every case we see on Candler-McAfee driveways, the problem is the hinge post moving in the expanding clay, not the operator itself. A post on a 1960s footing 18 to 24 inches deep tilts a fraction of an inch each wet-dry season, enough to throw the gate frame out of square. The operator then fights the gate, strips its own gears or faults on the force sensor. Call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll check the post first, because that’s usually where the real problem lives.
Can I put a gate motor on my old chain-link swing gate without replacing the whole gate?
Yes, in most cases on Candler-McAfee chain-link gates. The gate frame itself, even after 50 or 60 years, is typically still straight enough to automate once the hinge post is corrected and the hinges are replaced. We weld repairs on site, which means we can straighten or reinforce the frame in the driveway instead of hauling the gate off. Call (877) 610-2993 for an honest assessment of your gate.
Gate Access Control in Candler-McAfee
Gate access control in Candler-McAfee usually means retrofitting keypads, phone entry, or card readers onto gates that were built when Eisenhower was president. Most of the swing gates in this part of DeKalb County went in between the 1950s and early 1970s, and their original chain-link panels and tubular steel frames are still hanging on. The real cost on these older gates isn’t the electronics, it’s getting the gate to swing true again so the keypad and operator aren’t fighting a sagging frame. The full breakdown is on our Gate Access Control page.
Keypad Entry
A keypad entry system in Candler-McAfee runs $450 to $1,200 installed, depending on whether we’re adding it to an existing operator or wiring it fresh. On the older chain-link gates around here, we re-plumb the hinge post and correct the sag first, then mount and program the keypad. Codes are set and changed by you, right at the panel.
Phone Entry
Phone entry systems let a visitor call from the gate and you open it from your phone or a house handset. In Candler-McAfee, where many homes are rentals or multi-generational, phone entry costs $800 to $1,800 installed. The price moves based on whether we’re wiring it to a landline, a cellular network, or your internet. On 1960s gates with corroded posts, we handle the gate alignment first so the operator isn’t overloading the minute someone uses the phone entry.
Card Reader
Card readers make sense for Candler-McAfee homes with frequent visitors, home businesses, or anyone who doesn’t want to hand out codes. A card reader installation runs $500 to $1,400 depending on whether it’s standalone or tied into an access control panel. We program the cards on site and walk you through adding and removing them. If the gate itself is the problem and not the reader, we’ll tell you that first and fix what actually needs fixing.
Why does my old Candler-McAfee chain-link gate keep tripping the safety sensor even after I reset the keypad?
Because the problem is almost never the keypad or the sensor. The hinge post has shifted in the red clay, the gate is binding, and the operator’s obstruction sensor is doing its job under constant load. A keypad reset clears the fault for a few cycles, then the mechanical bind trips it again. We see this on 1950s through 1970s chain-link gates constantly. Call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll trace the real cause.
What’s the cheapest way to get secure access on a narrow side-yard gate in Candler-McAfee?
A basic keypad entry system on an existing gate runs $450 to $700 if the gate is already swinging true. That’s the cheapest secure access that doesn’t rely on keys getting copied or handed to the wrong person. On narrow side-yard gates, which are common on the post-war ranches and bungalows throughout Candler-McAfee, a keypad or card reader usually makes more sense than a remote. Call (877) 610-2993 for a free estimate.
Gate Parts & Welding in Candler-McAfee
In Candler-McAfee, most gates standing today were hung before the first Bush administration, and the red clay under them has been quietly working against those original posts ever since. When a hinge tears loose or a post starts leaning toward the alley, you need somebody who understands why it happened, not just somebody who can patch it for a season. We weld on site, in your driveway, and the gate never leaves your property. Hal has done on-site welds in side yards you’d struggle to push a wheelbarrow through. See more on our Gate Parts & Welding page.
Hinge Replacement
Hinge replacement in Candler-McAfee usually means unbolting old, rust-torqued hardware from a galvanized post that hasn’t moved in 60 years, then drilling and re-tapping in fresh plate. The humidity here rusts hinge bolts inside the sleeve, which is why we often have to cut them out rather than back them out. We set the new hinges with anti-seize so the next hinge swap takes 20 minutes instead of an hour. A standard chain-link gate hinge replacement here runs $180 to $320.
Post Replacement
In Candler-McAfee, post replacement is less about a broken post and more about a post working its way out of the clay. The original footings from the 1950s and 60s were often only 18 to 24 inches deep, and the red Georgia clay moves enough through wet-dry cycles to heave them. When we replace a post here, we over-dig, pour a deeper footing than the original, and re-plumb the post before the frame gets re-hung. Post replacement runs $340 to $620, depending on whether the old footing needs to be broken out and re-poured, which it usually does in this clay.
Rail Repair
Rail repair on older chain-link and tubular steel gates in Candler-McAfee means finding the spot where the frame has sagged enough to snag the ground. Depending on severity, we can cut and sleeve the rail in place or weld in a new section and re-tension the chain-link fabric. Either way, the repair happens in your driveway. Rail repair and re-welding a cracked frame section typically sits between $150 and $400.
Custom Welding
Some Candler-McAfee driveways aren’t a standard width, and no catalog gate ever fit them straight. Custom welding covers the odd angles: a hinged extension on a too-short gate leaf, a diagonal brace added to a racking frame, a drop-rod relocation because the new concrete slab changed the grade. Custom welding is quoted by the hour at $90, with a one-hour minimum, and a half-hour of that is usually measuring and jigging, not burning rod.
How much does a typical gate hinge replacement cost in Candler-McAfee?
A standard chain-link gate hinge replacement in Candler-McAfee costs between $180 and $320. If the post itself has moved and needs re-setting, that’s a separate line item that runs $340 to $620, and we’ll show you both numbers before any work begins. Call (877) 610-2993 for a free estimate on your particular gate.
What kind of warranty do you give on welding and parts work in Candler-McAfee?
Every job, including welding and parts replacement, carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If something we fixed isn’t right within 90 days, one call brings Hal back to make it right, no runaround. The promise is stamped on the invoice, not buried in fine print. Call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll put it in writing before we start.
Brands We Service in Candler-McAfee
We service FAAC, BFT, Linear, and Viking operators on gates throughout Candler-McAfee, plus LiftMaster, Ghost Controls, DoorKing, Elite, and Mighty Mule. Common replacement parts are stocked locally, so most repairs don’t wait on a shipment. See the full list on our brands page.
Pricing for Gate Repair in Candler-McAfee, GA
| Service | Typical range in Candler-McAfee |
|---|---|
| Hinge replacement | $180 - $320 |
| Hinge and post repair | $85 - $180 |
| Gate realignment | $75 - $160 |
| Weld and rust repair | $95 - $220 |
| Electric opener troubleshooting | $140 - $350 |
| Post replacement with new footing | $340 - $620 |
| Rail repair / frame re-weld | $150 - $400 |
| Custom welding (per hour) | $90 |
| Motor repair (swing gate) | $180 - $460 |
| Full opener replacement | $890 - $1,800 |
| Slide gate motor replacement | $1,100 - $2,600 |
| Keypad entry system | $450 - $1,200 |
What pushes the price up in Candler-McAfee is almost always the post and the footing, not the gate itself. The original 1960s footings were shallow, and the red clay has been working them loose for decades. Every price is quoted and agreed before any work starts, and that number is the number on the invoice.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Candler-McAfee
We work up and down Candler Road, through the streets off Glenwood, around McAfee Road, and into the older neighborhoods near I-20 and Columbia Drive. Typical response inside the 30032 ZIP is same-day for urgent repairs once you call.
- Candler Road corridor
- Glenwood Road area
- McAfee Road neighborhoods
- Subdivisions near I-20 and Columbia Drive
- Blocks off Snapfinger Road
Service Area - Cities Near Candler-McAfee
Gatewood Fence & Gate serves Candler-McAfee and the surrounding DeKalb County communities. If you’re in a neighboring town, you’re still in our service area: Belvedere Park, GA, Decatur, GA, Panthersville, GA, Scottdale, GA, and Gresham Park, GA. Same live-person answer, same upfront pricing, same 90-Day Done Right Promise.
Serving Candler-McAfee, GA - Our Local Coverage Area
Gatewood Fence & Gate crews serve Candler-McAfee and the communities around it; dispatch is coordinated from our Atlanta office. The map shows the Candler-McAfee coverage area; if your address is on it, we can help.
Also serving nearby: Belvedere Park, GA, Candler-McAfee, GA, Decatur, GA, Panthersville, GA, Scottdale, GA, Gresham Park, GA.
FAQs About Gate Repair in Candler-McAfee
We’re normally at a door in Candler-McAfee within a few hours of your call, same day for a gate that’s hanging by one hinge or blocking your driveway. Call (877) 610-2993 and a live person, not a queue, will tell you when to expect us.
Yes, we cover the full 30032 ZIP across Candler-McAfee, from the residential blocks off Columbia Drive to the older homes along Candler Road and the side streets near Glenwood. There’s no trip charge anywhere inside the county, so you’re not paying extra for being at one edge of the neighborhood or the other.
Most gate repairs and replacements on existing footings don’t require a permit in DeKalb County, but if we’re pouring new concrete or running electrical for an automatic opener, permitting may apply. We’ll tell you before any work starts what your specific job needs, and we handle the paperwork on our end. Call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll check your address while you’re on the phone.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local gate repair pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Candler-McAfee Customers Say
"The fence is excellent and it was fairly priced. He is not quick to answer email, so if you need him, ring. He always picks up the phone."
- Rodney Falkenrath"Safety photo eyes on our old gate had been bypassed by whoever serviced it last, which he was genuinely annoyed about on my behalf. Fitted proper sealed ones and wired them the way they should be."
- Otis Redmond"He builds the gates himself in his own shop. You can go and look at it. That is not something you can say about the outfits that just order a panel in."
- Doreen Whitfield