Metal Gate Repairs Derby

Metal Gate and Railing Repairs

Metal gates and railings are built to last for decades, but they don't last them untouched. Hinges wear, posts move, water sits along bottom rails, and a chipped finish lets rust in underneath. Most of these problems start small, and they are straightforward to fix if they are caught early.

As metal fabricators, we repair gates and railings the same way we make them: by welding. A broken joint is welded rather than bolted or bracketed, a rotten section is cut out and replaced with new steel, and a missing scroll or spear is remade to match. We repair wrought iron, mild steel and metal framed gates, whether or not we made them in the first place.

We carry out gate repairs across Derby and the surrounding area, including Belper, Duffield, Ripley, Heanor, Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Etwall, Repton, Melbourne, Swadlincote and Burton upon Trent.

Common Metal Gate Problems We Fix

A gate that has dropped or drags on the ground

When a gate starts catching on the ground or the path, something has moved. It is usually one of three things: worn hinges or hinge pins, a post or pillar that has started to lean, or a gate frame that has sagged at its joints. Packing out the latch or grinding the bottom of the gate only hides the problem. We find which one it is and fix that, whether that means new hinges, resetting or replacing a post, or squaring up and re-welding the frame.

A gate that won't latch or lock

This is usually the same problem seen from the other end: once a gate drops even a few millimetres, the latch and keep no longer line up. Rehanging the gate normally brings them back together, and where the latch itself is worn or broken, it can be replaced.

Rust and broken welds

Rust does its damage where water sits: along the bottom rail, at the foot of each bar and inside joints. Bars rust loose from the rail and welds crack. Surface rust can be cleaned back and treated; where the metal has thinned or holed, we cut out the weak section and weld in new steel.

Snapped or missing decorative parts

Finials, spear heads, scrolls, collars and basket twists get knocked off or rust through. We can make a matching replacement and weld it in, so that once the gate is refinished the repair doesn't stand out.

Bent or impact-damaged gates and railings

A reversing car or van can bend a gate or a run of railings. Bent bars and rails can often be straightened; where they can't, the damaged section is remade to match and welded back in.

Tired, flaking paintwork

If the metal underneath is sound, a gate that simply looks tired can be refinished to look new again. See refurbishment below.

Gate Refurbishment: Shot Blasting and Powder Coating

For a gate with rust in several places, or a finish that is flaking all over, the longest-lasting repair is a full refurbishment in the workshop:

1. We take the gate away

   The gate is unhung and taken to the workshop, so the work isn't limited to what can be done on your drive.

2. Shot blasted back to bare metal

   Blasting strips every trace of old paint and rust, and shows exactly where the metal is sound and where it isn't.

3. Welding repairs

   Weak or holed sections are cut out and replaced, broken joints are re-welded, and missing parts are made and fitted.

4. Primed and powder coated

   The clean metal is primed and powder coated, in the original colour or a new one.

5. Rehung

   The gate goes back on sound hinges and fixings, set so that it swings and latches properly.

Painting over rust costs far less on the day, but the rust carries on underneath and the paint soon lifts again. Blasting it away first is what makes the new finish last.

Repairs on Site

Not everything needs to go to the workshop. Railings set into a wall, a broken hinge bracket or a single cracked weld can often be repaired where they are, using our mobile welding service. Welding on site depends on what is nearby, because of the fire risk, so send us a photo of the repair and its surroundings and we'll tell you whether it can be done in place.

Repair or Replace?

A metal gate is usually worth repairing if its frame is sound. The frame is the most work to make, so fixing what has failed around it generally costs less than starting again.

Replacement makes more sense when rust has eaten through the frame at many joints, when the gate never properly fitted its opening, or when you want something different anyway: more privacy, a wider opening, or a sliding gate instead of a swinging one. We'll give you an honest view either way, and if a new gate is the answer, we can make one to the old design or something completely different, from wrought iron gates to composite gates and metal driveway gates.

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Keeping a Metal Gate in Good Order

A few minutes a year prevents most repairs. Oil the hinges and latch, keep soil, leaves and gravel away from the bottom rail and the foot of each post, and touch in any chips in the paint before rust gets under them. If a gate starts to catch or the latch needs a push, get it looked at then: a gate that is reset early is a small job, while one that has been forced shut for a year usually needs more.

Frequently asked Questions about Metal Gate Repairs in Derby

How much does a metal gate repair cost?

It depends on what the gate needs. Resetting a dropped gate is a small job, while a full shot blast, repair and powder coat takes longer and costs more. Send us a photo of the gate and the problem, and we'll give you a provisional price, then confirm it once we've seen the gate.

Can you repair a gate you didn't make?

Yes. We repair metal, wrought iron and metal framed gates and railings, whoever made them. Older gates sometimes use sizes or details that are no longer standard, so where a part can't be bought, we make a matching one.

Why has my metal gate dropped?

Usually because of worn hinges, a post or pillar that has moved, or a frame that has sagged at its joints. The right fix depends on which of these it is, so it's worth finding the cause before adjusting the latch or trimming the gate.

Can you repair my gate without taking it away?

Often, yes. Resetting hinges, small welding repairs and replacing a latch can usually be done on site. A full refurbishment with shot blasting and powder coating is done in the workshop, so the gate is taken away and brought back to be rehung.

Do you repair metal railings as well as gates?

Yes. Loose, bent or rusted railings can be welded, straightened or have sections remade to match, either in place or, for panels that can be removed, in the workshop.

Is it worth repairing an old wrought iron gate?

Usually, especially if it is original to the house. Period gates often have details that are hard to reproduce, and a genuine wrought iron gate is best repaired with matching reclaimed wrought iron rather than replaced.