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 Arlington, MA
Gate repair in Arlington typically runs $185-$460 for most hinge, post, and alignment work, with same-week scheduling available for most calls. We answer the phone around the clock at (877) 610-2993, and when your gate is stuck open at midnight or dragging on the driveway every morning, that matters more than any brochure could tell you. Our crews work Arlington’s streetcar-era side streets weekly, which means we know how a 100-year-old brick pillar behaves after a Massachusetts winter.
Why Arlington Homes Are Different
Arlington is a dense streetcar-era suburb built out primarily between the 1890s and 1930s, leaving a housing stock full of narrow-lot Victorian, Colonial Revival, and two-family homes where original ornamental wrought-iron and wooden gates were set in shallow footings that predate modern frost-depth standards. Massachusetts freeze-thaw cycles, with frost penetration reaching 36-48 inches, seasonally heave those old posts out of plumb, making post realignment and hinge reset the dominant gate repair need here in ways that would be less severe in a sunbelt suburb or a newer-built community.
On the dense residential side streets off Massachusetts Avenue through East Arlington, it’s common to find original early-1900s brick gate pillars that have settled independently from each other over 100 years, leaving gates that are simultaneously out of plumb and out of square. The abundance of two-family homes with shared driveways also means gate ownership and maintenance responsibility between neighbors is frequently contested, adding practical complexity to repair calls. Low-lying areas near Spy Pond see elevated seasonal ground moisture that accelerates rust on iron hardware and rot at the base of wooden gate posts.
Gate Repair in Arlington
Most gate repair calls in Arlington come down to the same thing: a post that moved, not a gate that broke. The housing stock here is full of original ornamental iron and wooden gates hanging from footings that predate modern frost-depth codes by decades. When we get a call from a side street off Massachusetts Avenue or from up near Park Avenue, we know before we arrive that we’re probably looking at frost heave, independent pillar settlement, or both. That’s why we bring welding gear, concrete, and post-extraction tools to every Arlington job, not just a bag of hinges.
We cover all of Arlington across both ZIP codes, 02474 and 02476, with crews already routing through town every week. The person who answers the phone will talk with you about what you’re seeing before we ever schedule a visit. And every job we do carries the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing, stamped plain on your invoice.
Electric Gate Repair
Electric gate repair in Arlington runs $240-$520 depending on whether the failure is the operator motor, the control board, the safety photocells, or the wiring running to the post. Arlington’s older lots mean buried conduit sometimes predates modern electrical code, and wire insulation gets brittle after 30 or 40 winters. We carry parts for Viking, Ghost Controls, DoorKing, and Elite operators, so most electric failures are repaired on the first visit.
Hinge and Post Repair
This is the dominant gate repair call in Arlington, and it’s not close. Frost penetration reaches 36 to 48 inches here, and most original gate posts sit on footings that are a fraction of that. Every spring, the ground thaws unevenly, the posts heave, and a gate that swung cleanly in October drags on the latch side by March. Hinge and post repair in Arlington runs $185-$450, including post excavation, new concrete below the frost line, and re-hanging the gate with realigned hinges. Fix the panel without the post and you’ll fix it twice.
Gate Realignment
Gate realignment in Arlington runs $170-$390. The work is often straightforward for a gate on a single-family lot with modern pipe posts. It’s less straightforward for an original wrought-iron swing gate hanging between two 1920s brick pillars that have settled independently for a century. You can’t align a hinge on a pillar that isn’t plumb. We bring the post geometry back first, and then the gate hangs straight. Show me the gate closing on its own and I’ll show you where it’s failing. Usually, it’s the post.
If your gate won’t close, sags on the hinge side, or drags across the driveway, call (877) 610-2993 and you’ll get a live person, not a voicemail. You can also read more about our general Gate Repair approach.
Why does my Arlington gate go out of alignment every spring?
Your gate’s posts are most likely set in shallow footings well above the 48-inch frost line. Arlington’s freeze-thaw cycles, which run 100 or more per winter, push those posts upward and sideways each thaw. The permanent fix is resetting the posts on footings below frost depth, not re-shimming the hinges. Call (877) 610-2993 for an exact quote, estimates are free.
Can you fix a sagging gate without replacing the whole panel?
Usually yes. A sagging gate is almost always a hinge or post problem, not a panel problem. We repair the post, re-hang the gate with new, correctly loaded hinges, and weld or reinforce the panel frame if it has fatigued. Replacing the whole gate is the last resort, not the first recommendation. Call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll tell you what your gate actually needs.
Gate Installation in Arlington
Gate installation in Arlington typically runs $1,800-$6,500 for a complete driveway gate with operator, depending on whether you need a swing or sliding setup and how much post work is involved. Most Arlington jobs take one to two days on site once materials arrive, and you’ll get a written price before we ever dig a hole. If you’re on a side street off Massachusetts Avenue with pillars that haven’t moved since the Coolidge administration, we plan around that.
Driveway Gate Installation
A driveway gate in Arlington usually means either a single swing gate across a narrow drive or a double gate on the wider shared driveways common in the two-family sections near Arlington Center. We’ll dig footings below the frost line, set posts in concrete, build the gate on site or order panels sized to your opening, and hang everything square. Expect $2,200-$6,500 for a complete install with operator, depending on gate size, material, and what’s wrong with the existing posts.
Pedestrian Gate Installation
Arlington’s older homes frequently have a separate pedestrian gate beside the driveway or along a fence line. These are usually wood or ornamental iron, and they fail most often at the hinge post, which frost heaves a little more every winter. A new pedestrian gate with proper footings runs $800-$2,400 in Arlington. We hang them so the latch engages cleanly in February, not just in July.
Swing Gate Installation
Swing gates remain the most common choice in Arlington because most driveways are flat enough and the houses were built when a swinging iron gate was simply what you had. Single swing installs run $1,800-$4,800. Double swing gates on shared two-family driveways run $3,500-$7,500. The real cost driver is the post work: if the existing posts are original to the house and have been in the ground since before the first freeze-depth code, we’re replacing the footings before we hang the new gate. There’s no shortcut on that.
Price is quoted and agreed in writing before any work starts, and it does not change at the door. For more details, see our Gate Installation page.
How deep should a gate post footing be in Arlington to avoid frost heave?
Footings in Arlington should be dug to 48 inches. Anything shallower and the post will heave within a few winters. If your existing posts are only 24 to 30 inches deep, which is common on pre-1930s homes, we recommend replacing the footings before hanging a new gate. Call (877) 610-2993 for a free measure and written estimate.
Can you retrofit a modern gate operator onto my 1920s brick pillars in East Arlington?
Yes, in most cases. The operator mounts fine to brick as long as the pillar is structurally sound. The real question is whether the two pillars are plumb and square to each other. If they’ve settled at different rates over the last century, we correct that first. Once the posts are right, we can mount a FAAC or LiftMaster operator that handles the gate properly. Call (877) 610-2993 to schedule a look.
Gate Motor & Opener in Arlington
If your gate motor in Arlington has stopped responding or is grinding when it moves, you want a fix that holds through the next Massachusetts winter, not one that fails the first time the temperature drops. Gate motor and opener work in Arlington tends to cluster around the same issues: motors that spent a season or two taking on moisture, control boards reacting badly to cold, and hardware that was never quite right for how the gate actually swings. We carry parts for the brands most common on older New England properties, and we test components under load, not just with a multimeter at rest.
Motor Repair
Most motor repairs we handle in Arlington come down to a handful of causes: water intrusion past a worn seal, a capacitor that gave up, a limit switch that drifted, or a gear that stripped because the gate itself was binding. We don’t replace the motor because one component failed. We open it up, find the actual problem, and fix that component. A motor repair like a bad capacitor, limit switch, or remote receiver typically runs $140-$360 including the part and the on-site labor. You get a working motor, usually same day, and you pay for a repair, not an entire new system.
Motor Installation
A new motor installation in Arlington means working with gates that are often plumb-challenged before we even mount the operator. Century-old posts on Roosevelt Avenue or Park Avenue Extension don’t give you a clean, square surface by default. We check the post alignment first, adjust if needed, then install the motor so it’s actually tracking straight from day one. A new slide or linear motor installation on an existing gate generally falls between $850 and $1,800, depending on the motor’s duty rating and whether we’re reworking the mount or wiring. A motor hung on a gate that’s out of square is going to fight itself every cycle, and that’s how you burn out a brand-new unit inside two years.
Slide Motor Service
Slide motors on the wider lots up in Arlington Heights and along the Winchester side of town face a different local problem: leaf litter and ice. When a slide gate’s track gets packed with debris or frozen runoff, the motor pulls against resistance it was never rated for. We clear the track, check the gear rack for wear, and set the force limits so the motor isn’t straining every time it cycles. If the track itself is bowed from frost heave, we’ll tell you that too, because a new motor on a bad track is wasted money.
Every quote is written, agreed, and locked before we start work. Learn more on our Gate Motor & Opener page.
Why do gate motors fail more in winter than summer in Arlington?
Arlington’s freeze-thaw swings stress solder joints and capacitors on gate control boards. A motor that’s been marginal all summer will often flat-out refuse once the temperature settles below 20°F. We test components under load and replace the weak parts before they strand you in January. Call (877) 610-2993 for same-day or next-day motor service.
Can you come to Arlington for an emergency if my gate motor dies at night?
Yes. Our phones are answered by a live person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we’ll dispatch to Arlington for a gate that’s stuck in a position that compromises your driveway or leaves your property unsecured. A gate motor failure isn’t something you should have to sleep on. Call (877) 610-2993 whenever it happens.
Gate Access Control in Arlington
Gate access control in Arlington means keypads, remotes, phone entry, card readers, and video intercoms wired to gates that are often older than the operators controlling them. We’ve been repairing and retrofitting gate systems since 2001. If you need a keypad installed on an original 1920s iron gate off Massachusetts Avenue, or a phone entry system added to a shared driveway gate in East Arlington, the person who answers the phone will talk through what you’re trying to accomplish before we schedule a visit.
Keypad Entry
Keypad entry gives you a code instead of a remote, which helps when multiple people need in: kids coming home from school, a dog walker, a contractor working on your porch. On Arlington’s older gates, though, the keypad is only as good as the post it’s mounted to. A brick pillar that’s settled half an inch out of plumb will cause the latch to miss every time, no matter how new the keypad is. A keypad entry retrofit on an existing Arlington gate typically runs $450-$850, parts and labor. We check the post first, then wire the keypad so it’s weatherproofed against Massachusetts freeze-thaw.
Phone Entry
Phone entry systems let a visitor call a number from the gate and you buzz them in from your cell phone, which is handy for Arlington’s two-family homes where two households share one driveway gate. We’ve installed phone entry on shared gates in East Arlington where the neighbors split the cost and each has their own access code. A phone entry system lands between $900-$1,400 depending on whether we’re running new conduit or tying into existing wiring. The wiring has to be run carefully so it doesn’t wick moisture up from the ground near Spy Pond, where seasonal water tables run high and will corrode connections that a dry-climate installer wouldn’t think about.
Remote Control
A remote control retrofitted onto a 1980s swing gate operator sounds simple until the operator’s safety logic won’t talk to the new receiver. We handle that. We service Viking, Ghost Controls, DoorKing, and Elite operators, and we keep receivers and transmitters in our trucks so we’re not ordering parts and making you wait two weeks. If the remote was working and suddenly isn’t after a freeze, the problem is usually the post heaving and throwing the gate out of alignment, not the remote. Smart access systems with app control typically start around $650 and go up based on how much of the old operator we have to replace to make the new system safe.
Every quote is written, agreed to, and signed before any work begins. No number changes at the door. For more on access control options, visit our Gate Access Control page.
My remote stopped working after a hard freeze. Is the remote broken?
Usually not. When an Arlington post heaves, the gate leaf moves out of alignment, and the receiver on the operator may not be getting a clean signal because the physical swing path has changed. The remote is probably fine. We relevel the post first, then test the operator and receiver. Fixing the operator without fixing the post means you’ll be calling us again next spring. Call (877) 610-2993 for a diagnosis.
Do old Arlington swing gates meet current automatic gate safety codes?
Most don’t. Gates hung in the 1920s and operators installed in the 1990s predate current UL 325 requirements for entrapment protection, photocells, and reversing edges. A keypad or phone entry retrofit on an old operator can expose you to a safety code violation. Sometimes the cheaper, safer answer is to replace the legacy operator with a new one that meets current code, and we’ll show you the numbers both ways before you decide. Call (877) 610-2993 for a free estimate.
Gate Parts & Welding in Arlington
A gate post in Arlington that has been heaved out of plumb by frost won’t fix itself, and welding a new hinge onto a settled brick pillar without correcting the post first is wasted work. We know that because we see it on side streets across Arlington every week. Gatewood Fence & Gate welds on site, keeps the gate in your driveway, and answers the phone with a live person around the clock. If your gate is sagging, seized, or missing pickets, we fabricate and weld what you need where it sits.
Hinge Replacement
On Arlington’s older ornamental iron and wooden gates, hinge pins are the first casualty of New England weather. We cut out the wasted hinge, weld in a heavier replacement, and set it so the gate swings true. If the hinge post has moved, we fix the post first. A hinge on a leaning post is just a hinge you’ll replace again. Hinge replacement on a single gate in Arlington runs $180-$320.
Post Replacement
The dominant repair need in Arlington. Most of the original gate posts in neighborhoods around Arlington Center and East Arlington were set in shallow footings decades before modern frost-depth standards. After 100-plus freeze-thaw cycles per winter, they lean. We dig, set new posts in deep frost-protected footings, and re-hang the existing gate when it’s worth saving. Post replacement with new footing runs $450-$900. Hal fixes what can be fixed before he replaces what can’t.
Custom Welding
Sometimes the right part doesn’t exist anymore. An original early-1900s gate on a side street off Massachusetts Avenue isn’t a stock item at a supply house. We fabricate replacement pickets, rebuild broken hinges, and weld cracked frames on site, matching the existing work as closely as the metal allows. Custom picket or hinge fabrication runs $120-$280 per piece. The gate stays in your driveway, not on a flatbed.
For more on our welding and parts work, see Gate Parts & Welding.
Why does my Arlington gate go out of square every spring, and can welding alone fix it?
Welding alone won’t fix it. The gate goes out of square because the posts move. Arlington’s freeze-thaw cycles push shallow century-old footings out of plumb every winter, and when the posts move, the gate twists. We correct the posts first, then weld the frame square. Skip the post work and you’ll be calling us again next spring. Call (877) 610-2993 for a straight answer on your gate.
Can you replace the hinge post on an original early-1900s brick pillar without rebuilding the whole pillar?
Yes, in most cases. We drill out the old anchor, epoxy-set a new steel hinge-post core into the brick, and re-hang the gate. The pillar stays. If the brick itself is crumbling or the pillar has shifted badly, we’ll tell you before we touch it. Estimates are free, call (877) 610-2993.
Brands We Service in Arlington
We stock parts and carry factory authorization for nine major brands: LiftMaster, FAAC, BFT, Linear, Viking, Ghost Controls, DoorKing, Elite, and Mighty Mule. That means most Arlington repairs are completed on the first visit, without waiting for a part to ship. For a full list of brands and models, see our brands page.
Pricing for Gate Repair in Arlington, MA
| Service | Typical Range in Arlington |
|---|---|
| Hinge realignment or latch adjustment | $170-$390 |
| Hinge and post repair (post reset below frost line) | $185-$450 |
| Electric operator repair | $240-$520 |
| Automatic gate repair (alignment + operator) | $260-$640 |
| Rust repair and on-site welding | $150-$380 |
| Single swing gate installation | $1,800-$4,800 |
| Double swing gate installation | $3,500-$7,500 |
| Sliding gate installation | $3,000-$8,000 |
| Pedestrian gate installation | $800-$2,400 |
| Motor repair (capacitor, switch, receiver) | $140-$360 |
| New motor installation | $850-$1,800 |
| Keypad entry retrofit | $450-$850 |
What pushes price up in Arlington is almost always the post work: century-old footings that need excavation and re-pouring below the 48-inch frost line, or brick pillars that have settled independently and need grinding, re-bedding, and new anchor cores. Every price is quoted and agreed in writing before any work starts, and the number does not change at the door. We also offer $40 off any repair over $200, no trip charge inside the county, and a permanent 10% discount for seniors and veterans.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Arlington
We take gate repair calls from every corner of Arlington, and most are scheduled within 24-48 hours because our crews are already working Arlington streets weekly.
- East Arlington, especially the side streets off Massachusetts Avenue near Spy Pond
- Arlington Center, around the Heights and along Pleasant Street
- Arlington Heights, up near Park Avenue and the Winchester line
- Brattle Square and the Jason Russell House area near Arlington Center
- Morningside, off Medford Street toward the Cambridge line
Service Area - Cities Near Arlington
We route through Arlington regularly from our Boston office, and we serve the surrounding towns without a trip charge inside the county. If you’re near Arlington, we also work in Belmont, MA, Winchester, MA, Medford, MA, Watertown, MA, and Lexington, MA. Of course, Arlington, MA itself is where we spend much of our time.
Serving Arlington, MA - Our Local Coverage Area
Gatewood Fence & Gate crews serve Arlington and the communities around it; dispatch is coordinated from our Boston office. The map shows the Arlington coverage area; if your address is on it, we can help.
Also serving nearby: Arlington, MA, Belmont, MA, Winchester, MA, Medford, MA, Watertown, MA, Lexington, MA.
FAQs About Gate Repair in Arlington
Most Arlington gate repairs are scheduled within 24-48 hours, with emergency response available around the clock for a gate that won’t close or leaves your property open to the street. We build our route through Arlington around the calls as they come in. Call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll tell you when we can be there.
Permit requirements in Arlington depend on whether you’re replacing an existing gate in kind or changing the footprint, height, or location. Most in-kind replacements don’t trigger a permit, but we check with Arlington’s building department when the job involves new footings or an operator on a previously manual gate. We’ll handle that conversation if it applies to your job.
Yes, we cover all of Arlington, including 02474 and 02476, from the Massachusetts Avenue corridor through Arlington Center, Arlington Heights, East Arlington, and the streets running toward the Minuteman Bikeway and Spy Pond. No gate in Arlington is too far for us to reach.
Call (877) 610-2993 for a free estimate on any gate repair, installation, motor, access control, or welding job in Arlington. A live person answers around the clock, and Hal will be there himself, or you can drive to the shop and look him in the eye. The name is on the shop, and the shop is down the road, that is the oldest accountability there is.
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 Arlington Customers Say
"He came out in the snow to get our gate closed after a delivery lorry clipped it, then came back in the spring to do the proper repair when the ground had thawed. Only charged for the second visit."
- Ingrid Solheim"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