Fences & Gates Colorado Springs | Backyard Enclosures

That's usually caused by heavy snow piling against the fence and by the freeze-thaw cycle in our clay soils. When the ground shifts, it can loosen the fence posts. At Backyard Enclosures, we address this by setting posts below the frost line and using galvanized brackets that keep the panels secured even when snow and ice build up. If you already have a sagging panel, we can often pull it back into place and reinforce the connection points.

If your gate is dragging on the ground, the bottom rail is rotted, or the wood has split from sun exposure, a simple hinge adjustment won't fix it long-term. In Colorado Springs' dry climate, wood can crack deep into the grain. A replacement gate—often built with a solid-wood or composite frame—will swing freely and seal properly against the latch, which also helps keep wind-blown dust and critters out of your backyard.

The main cause is ice forming inside the track or around the hinges. Installing a gate with a bottom clearance that won't trap ice and using self-lubricating, sealed bearings in the hinges makes a big difference. If you live in a neighborhood near Garden of the Gods where windy, drifting snow is common, we also recommend adding a small gravel strip under the gate so it doesn't sit directly on frozen ground. That keeps the gate moving freely all season.