Backyard Gate Wall Latch

Fig.1 Latch fell out

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:
Crescent wrench  
Cordless electric drill and 1/8-inch drill bit
Flat washer 1/4-Inch

Hammer

Lag Bolt 1/4 by 3-1/2 Inch

Lead wall anchors

Wood shims cut in 1/4-inch sections

Last week Emma called from Ontario, California. She stated she saw my Craig-list advertisement on the Internet and wanted to know if I was the repair services. She asked me to come to her home and repair her backyard gate screw latch that fell off the wall.

This post shows the seven steps to repairing a gate screw latch.

Step 1: Above fig.1 shows the custom wall leg gate had a missing lag bolt. 
Step 2: Fig.2 shows a 1-1/2 inch lag screw, not nearly long enough to stay inside the wall and hold the gate leg up for a reasonable length of time. The lag screw needs to go through the stucco, past the stucco wire, one or two layers of 30-pound felt paper and into the wood beam. In this case only the tip of the screw was making contact with the wood behind the stucco. But that little bit lasted 5-years.

Fig.2 Lag screw damage

Step 3: Fig.3 shows the hole inside the wall, noticed that only one piece of the lead anchor was inside the wall and the second part was missing or it might have fallen inside the stucco wall. 
Step 4: Inserted four 3-inch x 1/4-inch (82.55 millimeter) wide wood shims. The shims allows the stucco hole to create pressure against the lead anchor when the new lag bolt would be inserted into the wall hole.

Fig.3 Fill the hole

Step 5: Fig.4 shows the new lag bolt and flat washer that will go into the wall hole to give the lag bolt screw more support.

Fig.4 Replaced hex head lag

Step 6: Fig.5 shows a 3-1/2-inch lag bolt that will give the gate a chance to hold on to its gate leg.

Fig.5 Insert new washer, 
place into stucco

Step 7: Fig.6 shows the edges of the wood shims with a metal hammer to flatten the area, then drilled an 1/8-inch (3.175 millimeter) pilot hole into the wood. Pushing the metal leg over the hole, screw in the lag bolt into the pilot hole in the hole with a crescent wrench. Now the the job was finished and should hold up the gate for quite some time. 

Fig. 6 Tightened 
and job is finished

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Note: The DIY Advisor assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any jobs. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed contractor if in doubt about any steps on these posts. All names were changed to protect client's privacy. DIY Advisor. Reproduction of site content including photos without permission prohibited. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011-