Fencing Company Santa Rosa CA | Call J Esparza Fences

During extended dry periods, the soil in Santa Rosa can shrink and pull away from fence posts, leading to loose or leaning posts. This is especially common in areas with clay-rich soil. If you notice your fence starting to wobble or separate from the ground, it's a sign the posts are losing their grip.

Signs of a failing gate lock include difficulty latching, the gate dragging on the ground, or the latch not aligning with the strike plate. This often happens when the gate shifts from post movement or hardware wears out. A quick test: if you have to lift the gate to close it, the hinges or posts may have shifted.

For unstable posts, we recommend re-setting them with concrete in deeper, wider holes to combat soil shrinkage. For gate locks, we inspect alignment first—sometimes adjusting hinges is enough. If hardware is corroded or broken, we replace it with weather-resistant locks and latches designed for heavy use.