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 Seattle, WA
Gate repair in Seattle usually runs $185 to $520 for hinge, post, and realignment work, and most jobs wrap up in a single visit. The persistent marine moisture here means a cedar post can look perfectly solid above ground while the soil line below has turned to sponge. Hal Gatewood has been fixing gates since 2001, and his name is on the shop. Call (877) 610-2993 and you’ll get a live person, not a voicemail.
Why Seattle Homes Are Different
Seattle’s climate does things to gates that flat, dry cities never see. The city gets roughly 150 overcast or rainy days a year, and the air off Puget Sound carries salt. That combination means the soil around gate posts stays saturated from October through June, so western red cedar rots from the soil line up while the boards above still look sound. A homeowner sees a solid gate and doesn’t realize the post inside the ground is sponge.
Then the terrain gets involved. Seattle’s residential lots in Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, and Phinney Ridge are aggressively hilly. A swing gate on a hillside can have a six-to-twelve-inch grade drop across its swing arc. Without a rake-cut bottom rail and anti-sag cable, that gate digs into the slope within a season. Flat-city contractors don’t stock that hardware, and they don’t quote it because they don’t know Seattle’s lots.
The housing stock adds another layer. Seattle’s core neighborhoods are dense with Craftsman bungalows and early-20th-century wood-frame homes on narrow, sloped lots. Many of those gates went in during the 1990s and 2000s building boom, which puts those posts at 25 to 30 years old now. Meanwhile, newer infill townhomes in South Lake Union and Georgetown lean on steel or aluminum driveway gates with keypads and intercoms, which drives a whole separate set of electrical and access-control repair calls.
Gate Repair in Seattle
When a gate stops closing in Seattle, the problem is rarely what it looks like from the street. Hinge and latch repair here typically runs $185 to $340 including hardware and labor. Post replacement or footing repair runs $280 to $520. We know the neighborhoods, the weather, and the way a cedar post rots from the soil line up while the boards above still look fine. If your gate is dragging, sagging, or refusing to open, call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll give you a real number.
Hinge & Post Repair
Below-grade post rot is the number one gate failure we see in Seattle, and it’s almost always worse than it looks. The persistent ground saturation from October through June keeps the soil around cedar posts perpetually wet, so a post can be solid above ground and spongy at the soil line. We pull the post, inspect the footing, and either set a new post with proper drainage or repair the existing footing. On Seattle gates, we routinely swap mild-steel hinges for hot-dip galvanized or stainless barrels because the marine air corrodes standard hardware years faster than inland. A typical post replacement or footing repair runs $280 to $520, and you approve the price before any work starts.
Gate Realignment
Seattle’s hilly lots do a number on swing gates. In neighborhoods like Queen Anne and Phinney Ridge, a gate can have a six-to-twelve-inch grade drop across its swing arc, and within a season it’s dragging or digging into the slope. We correct the hinge post lean, re-align the gate on its pins, and where the lot demands it, add grade-compensating hardware or cut a rake-bottom rail so the gate clears the grade through its full arc. A gate sags in the hinge post, not in the middle, and that’s where we start. Realignment work in Seattle runs $185 to $340 depending on how far the post has moved.
Automatic Gate Repair
Automatic gate operators in Seattle get hit by two forces at once: chronic moisture and salt-laden air off Puget Sound. We service FAAC, Linear, and Viking operators as well as LiftMaster and most other major brands, and we keep local parts stock so a repair doesn’t mean waiting two weeks on a shipping delay. The most common call we get is a gate that works fine on the remote but won’t reverse on the safety photocells, or an operator that trips its breaker every time it rains. We trace the circuit, replace corroded terminals, and re-seal the housing so the next Seattle winter doesn’t repeat the failure. A diagnostic visit and minor board or limit-switch repair runs $215 to $425.
For a deeper look at what we fix and how we price it, see our Gate Repair page.
Why does my cedar gate post look fine above ground but wobble at the base in Seattle?
Seattle’s soil stays saturated from October through June, and western red cedar rots from the soil line down while the wood above still looks sound. The post loses structural integrity below grade, where the hinge load concentrates, so the visible part stays intact while the base turns spongy. We fix it by pulling the post, replacing the rotted section or the whole post, and setting it with drainage so it doesn’t rot out again in five years.
Can you convert a swing gate to a slide gate on a tight Seattle lot?
Yes, and we do it regularly on Seattle lots with shared driveways, narrow setbacks, or steep slopes that make a swing gate impractical. A cantilever slide gate needs only a linear track along the fence line, no ground track to clog with Seattle mud and leaves, and it handles slope changes far better than a wheel gate. Call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll walk the site with you.
Gate Installation in Seattle
A new driveway or pedestrian gate in Seattle typically runs $1,800 to $6,500 installed, depending on material, size, and whether you’re adding automation. Most installations take one to two days once the gate and hardware are on hand. On sloped Seattle lots, we quote a rake-cut bottom rail and anti-sag cable on every job, because the alternative is a gate that shaves soil every time it opens. Call (877) 610-2993 for a written quote that doesn’t shift when the crew shows up.
Driveway Gate Installation
A driveway gate in Seattle runs $2,800 to $6,500 for a standard single or double swing setup in steel or aluminum, with automation adding $1,200 to $2,800 depending on the operator. On sloped lots like those in Phinney Ridge or Capitol Hill, the grade drop across the swing arc is the first thing we measure. Seattle’s saturated clay soils also mean we pour deeper, wider footings than a flat-city contractor would bother with. A gate that swings clear of the ground for its entire arc is the bare minimum, not an upgrade.
Pedestrian Gate Installation
Pedestrian gates in Seattle typically run $700 to $2,200, with the top end covering custom cedar or steel gates with stainless hardware and a keypad or intercom if you want controlled entry. In neighborhoods like Ballard, these gates often sit in tight side yards where clearance is limited, so we build to the actual swing arc and hinge offset, not a catalog drawing. Cedar is the most common material here, but we’re clear with customers about what happens to a cedar post below grade in Seattle’s wet clay. We set posts on galvanized steel brackets or use hot-dip galvanized steel posts so the structural element isn’t sitting in standing water.
Sliding Gate Installation
Sliding gates in Seattle run $2,200 to $5,800 installed, depending on the track system and whether it’s a cantilever or V-track design. On narrower lots near South Lake Union or Georgetown where there’s no room for a swing arc, a sliding gate is often the only option that doesn’t require re-grading the driveway. We lean toward cantilever systems for Seattle because they ride above the ground instead of through a track that collects fir needles, leaves, and standing water for six months of the year. The salt air off Puget Sound also means we spec galvanized or stainless hardware on every sliding gate we hang.
For full material options and what each gate type costs, see our Gate Installation page.
Why do swing gates on Seattle hillsides drag on the ground so quickly after installation?
They drag because a lot of Seattle hillside gates are installed with a straight bottom rail and standard hinges, assuming the ground is flat. Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, and Phinney Ridge lots can drop six to twelve inches across a gate’s swing arc. Without a rake-cut bottom rail and anti-sag cable, the gate binds against the slope within a season. We quote both as standard on every hillside install.
What type of gate post performs best in Seattle’s saturated clay soils?
A hot-dip galvanized steel post set in a concrete footing that extends below the frost line, with drainage so water doesn’t pool against the base, performs best in Seattle. Cedar posts set directly in concrete are the worst option here, because the concrete traps water against the wood and accelerates the rot. We over-dig footings to account for the constant moisture movement in Seattle’s clay soils.
Gate Motor & Opener in Seattle
Gate motor and opener repair in Seattle typically costs $180 to $340 for a standard service call, and most jobs can be scheduled within a day or two. If your gate is stuck halfway open on a slope in Queen Anne or refusing to close in Ballard, you need someone who understands what Puget Sound moisture does to gate hardware. We carry parts for FAAC, BFT, Linear, and Viking, and we quote the job in writing before any work starts. Call (877) 610-2993.
Motor Installation
A new gate motor installation in Seattle runs $850 to $1,900 for most residential swing gates, including the operator, mounting hardware, and labor. Slide gate installations run higher, typically $1,200 to $2,600, because the track and rack-and-pinion setup takes more time and material. On sloped Seattle lots, we factor in the grade so your gate doesn’t bind on the low side six months after installation. The price we quote is the price you pay, in writing.
Motor Repair
Most gate motor repairs in Seattle are $180 to $340, depending on whether it’s a limit switch, capacitor, control board, or gear assembly. Before we swap anything, we test the gate’s mechanical load. A motor that’s straining is often a gate that’s sagging, and fixing only the motor means you’ll call us again next year. Hal would rather fix the root cause than sell you a part you didn’t need. A full operator replacement with new safety edges can run $1,100 to $2,600, and we’ll tell you plainly if that’s where things are headed.
Linear Motor Replacement
Linear motors on Seattle driveway gates are common, and they’re reliable until moisture gets into the arm or the limit cams. A typical linear motor replacement runs $550 to $1,100 installed, depending on the operator model and whether we’re reusing the existing mount. We service Linear, Viking, and Ghost Controls units regularly across Seattle’s hillier sections. If your linear arm is chattering or reversing mid-travel, call before the gearbox takes more damage.
For operator diagnostics, battery backup, and intercom integration details, see our Gate Motor & Opener page.
Do you offer a warranty on gate motor work in Seattle?
Every gate motor repair and installation carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If something isn’t right, one call brings Hal back, no runaround and no service fee. That applies to every job we do in Seattle, no exceptions. The promise is stamped on every invoice, plain, because that’s how we’ve done it since 2001.
Is gate motor repair in Seattle more expensive than nearby cities?
No. Seattle pricing is the same as our pricing in White Center, Mercer Island, Bellevue, or Kirkland. The cost difference you might see between companies is usually parts quality and whether the quote includes fixing the underlying gate problem, not just the motor. Call (877) 610-2993 for an exact quote, and bring a written estimate from another company if you want a free second opinion.
Gate Access Control in Seattle
Gate access control repair and installation in Seattle usually costs between $285 and $1,400 depending on whether we’re replacing a corroded keypad board or running wire for a full video intercom on a shared driveway. Most keypad and card reader repairs are done in one visit, and we stock boards and weather boots for the brands Seattle homes actually have. If your keypad stopped responding after a heavy rain, that’s the call we make every other week from November through April. Call (877) 610-2993.
Keypad Entry
A keypad on a Seattle gate lives outdoors in weather that never fully dries from October through June. The keypads that survive here have weather boots and gaskets that are actually intact. The ones that fail usually have a crust of salt and corrosion on the circuit board from years of Puget Sound marine air. We replace keypad boards, swap corroded wiring terminals, and set keypads back to the operator’s frequency in one visit. A keypad replacement runs $180 to $420 on most Seattle homes. On steep Seattle driveways, we also check the strike plate, because a shifting post will pull the strike out of alignment and make a new keypad look like it’s broken.
Phone Entry Conversion
Older phone entry systems in Seattle townhomes and shared driveways often ran on a landline that no longer exists. We convert those systems to cellular or VoIP so the gate still calls your cell phone when a visitor presses the button. For Seattle townhome communities with shared driveways, phone entry keeps pedestrian access working without issuing remotes to every resident. A phone entry conversion or repair in Seattle runs $350 to $900 depending on the existing wiring and the panel type.
Card Reader Repair
Card readers in Seattle’s newer infill construction, especially in South Lake Union and Georgetown, are usually tied to a larger access system. We don’t just swap the reader. We check the wiring at the strike, the power supply, and the door controller, because a corroded terminal at the strike will make a new $400 reader act exactly like the old broken one. Card reader troubleshooting and replacement in Seattle runs $300 to $750, with the higher end for Wiegand readers that need new wire pulled.
For full access control options including video intercoms and shared driveway systems, see our Gate Access Control page.
Why does my gate keypad work in summer but fail every winter in Seattle?
Seattle’s winter ground saturation causes the gate post to shift and the strike plate to pull out of alignment, so the keypad sends a valid signal but the lock physically won’t release. Moisture also condenses inside the keypad housing during cold, wet months, shorting the keypad’s connector at the board. We waterproof the board, replace the gasket, and reset the post if the strike has moved.
Can my gate’s phone entry system work without a landline in a Seattle townhome?
Yes. We convert the entry panel to cellular or VoIP, so it dials the same phone number it always did, but through a network instead of a dead copper line. Seattle townhomes built in the last 15 years often have this exact problem, and the fix is usually a small cellular radio installed inside the entry panel housing. We configure it on site and test it with your actual phone.
Gate Parts & Welding in Seattle
When a gate hinge tears loose in Seattle, the problem usually started months before you heard the scrape. We stock the parts here so you’re not waiting on a shipment from somewhere else, and most hinge and latch jobs finish the same day we show up. Hinge replacement on a wood gate in Seattle runs $145 to $280, while a welded steel gate hinge runs $250 to $425 because of the added labor. If your gate won’t close, sags into the slope, or the post wiggles at the soil line, call (877) 610-2993.
Post Replacement
The near-constant ground saturation from October through June means Seattle gate posts rot where you can’t see them, below the soil line. We dig out the old post, set a properly rated replacement, and weld or fasten the gate back true. In Ballard and Phinney Ridge, where hillside lots put a six-to-twelve-inch grade drop across the gate swing, we also quote a rake-cut bottom rail and anti-sag cable so the gate doesn’t dig into the slope six months later. Post replacement in Seattle typically runs $320 to $550 per post.
Custom Welding
Some steel gate frames in Seattle date back to the 1990s and early 2000s, and welding on that steel demands knowing how to correct for years of salt-air pitting. Hal welds on site, which means the gate never leaves your driveway and you can watch him work. Custom welding work like crack repair, corner rebuilding, or adding a receiver for a keypad bracket runs $225 to $500, quoted and agreed before the welder ever lights up. We grind each weld clean, apply a zinc-rich primer immediately, and finish with a marine-grade coating rated for salt exposure, because raw weld seams are the first place Seattle’s salt air eats through.
Rail Repair
Wood rails split along the grain after years of wet-dry cycling. When the bottom rail cracks, the whole frame twists and the latch stops lining up. We sister in a pressure-treated rail, rebuild the corner joint with the right fasteners, and leave the gate squarer than it has been in years. Most Seattle rail repairs run $180 to $300, and if the damage got into the frame we’ll tell you before we touch anything.
For what we keep in local parts stock and how on-site welding works, see our Gate Parts & Welding page.
Is same-day emergency gate repair available in Seattle?
Same-day repair is available in Seattle with our 24/7 live answering. That number reaches Hal or one of his crew, not a voicemail. A gate that won’t close is a real problem in Seattle neighborhoods with alley access and steep driveways, and a gate that won’t open traps you at the worst possible time. Emergency hinge, latch, and weld work is quoted the same way as every other job, upfront and in writing.
What warranty do I get on gate parts and welding in Seattle?
Every job carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If something we repaired fails within 90 days, you call and we come back and make it right, no runaround and no service fee. Seattle’s weather doesn’t care about your warranty start date, and neither do we. The promise is on every invoice, stamped plain.
Brands We Service in Seattle
We service FAAC, BFT, Linear, and Viking operators, along with LiftMaster, Ghost Controls, DoorKing, Elite, and Mighty Mule. We keep common control boards, limit switches, remote receivers, and hardware in local Seattle stock so a repair doesn’t mean waiting on a shipping delay. See our brands for the full list.
Pricing for Gate Repair in Seattle, WA
| Service | Typical range in Seattle |
|---|---|
| Hinge or latch repair (wood gate) | $145 - $340 |
| Hinge replacement (welded steel gate) | $250 - $425 |
| Gate realignment | $185 - $340 |
| Post replacement or footing repair | $280 - $550 |
| Rail repair | $180 - $300 |
| Automatic gate diagnosis and minor repair | $215 - $425 |
| Full operator replacement with safety edges | $1,100 - $2,600 |
| Pedestrian gate installation | $700 - $2,200 |
| Single swing driveway gate installation | $1,800 - $5,200 |
| Sliding gate installation | $2,200 - $5,800 |
| Swing gate motor installation | $850 - $1,900 |
| Keypad replacement | $180 - $420 |
What pushes a Seattle price up more than anything is the slope of the lot, the need for galvanized or stainless hardware near Puget Sound, and whether the existing post footings can be reused or need re-pouring. Every quote is written down and agreed before any work starts, and that’s the number on your invoice. Call (877) 610-2993 for a free estimate.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Seattle
We work all over Seattle, from the steep streets of Queen Anne to the flat industrial edges of Georgetown. The ZIP codes we cover include 98114, 98115, 98116, and 98117, but if you’re inside the city limits, we’ll come out regardless of ZIP. Typical response time for gate repair in Seattle is same-day or next-morning. A live person answers the phone 24/7, and the person who shows up is the person we said would show up.
- Ballard (98107)
- Queen Anne (98109)
- Capitol Hill (98102)
- Phinney Ridge (98103)
- South Lake Union and Georgetown
Service Area - Cities Near Seattle
Gatewood Fence & Gate works throughout Seattle, WA and the surrounding communities. You’ll find us fixing gates in White Center, WA and Mercer Island, WA, across the bridge in Bellevue, WA, up the lake in Kirkland, WA, and north in Shoreline, WA. Same pricing everywhere we go, no trip charge inside the county.
Serving Seattle, WA - Our Local Coverage Area
Gatewood Fence & Gate crews serve Seattle and the communities around it; dispatch is coordinated from our Seattle office. The map shows the Seattle coverage area; if your address is on it, we can help.
Also serving nearby: Seattle, WA, White Center, WA, Mercer Island, WA, Bellevue, WA, Kirkland, WA, Shoreline, WA.
FAQs About Gate Repair in Seattle
Most Seattle gate repairs are scheduled same-day or next-morning, and emergency calls are answered by a live person 24/7. If your gate is stuck open and you have a dog or a delivery coming, tell us that on the phone and we’ll do what we can to get there sooner. Call (877) 610-2993 and ask for the soonest opening.
Most gate repairs and direct replacements don’t require a Seattle permit, but new driveway gates with automation sometimes trigger electrical or right-of-way reviews depending on the lot and setback. We’ll tell you plainly whether your job needs one before we start. The estimate accounts for any permit fees, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Yes. We work on shared driveway gates, townhome community gates, and HOA-controlled entries across Seattle, including phone entry, keypad, and card reader systems. For shared gates, we coordinate a shutdown window so neighbors keep access while we work. Call (877) 610-2993 and we’ll walk the site before quoting.
If your gate is sagging, dragging, or refusing to open in Seattle, call (877) 610-2993 for a free estimate. A live person answers, the price is quoted and agreed before any work starts, and every job carries the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing.
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 Seattle Customers Say
"Hundred and forty feet of cedar privacy fence, all posts set in concrete, all of it dead level on ground that is anything but. He walked the line with me twice before a single hole was dug."
- Judith Stallworth"Driveway gate had been dragging for two years and two other companies told me the whole thing needed replacing. Hal reset the posts, rehung it and it swings like it did when it went in. A fraction of the price of a new one."
- Hollis Amberly"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