Frequently Asked Questions

You call (350) 238-9389, a live coordinator answers, and we schedule a time to come look. We diagnose the gate on site, give you a written quote, and you decide. Most common repairs, like hinge replacement, wheel adjustment, or sensor realignment, are finished the same visit. Larger jobs, like a full opener replacement or welding a cracked frame, may need a second trip. Either way, you'll know the plan and the price before we start.

A full repair starts with a complete inspection: hinge posts, gate frame, welds, wheels, track, opener, safety sensors, and the keypad or remote system. We check alignment, look for rust or stress cracks, and test the auto-close and obstacle detection. Then we fix what's broken, adjust what's drifted, and torque everything back to spec. You get a written summary of what we found and what we did, plus our ninety-day guarantee on the work.

Yes. A sagging gate almost always traces back to the hinge post, not the gate itself. If the post has shifted or rotted at the base, no amount of hinge tightening fixes it. We reset or replace the post, then rehang the gate so it swings square. Gatewood says it plainly: a gate sags in the hinge post, not in the middle. Fix the panel without the post and you'll fix it twice. We do it once, correctly.

We weld on site whenever possible. A cracked steel frame, a broken hinge bracket, a torn weld on a sliding gate: our truck carries the welding gear, and we do the repair right in your driveway. Taking a gate away for two weeks is how some companies work. That's not how we're built. Hal Gatewood builds and repairs gates in his own shop, and you can drive there and look at it. The same standard applies to every job we take.

Most common repairs are done in one visit: hinge replacement, wheel or roller replacement, sensor alignment, keypad reprogramming, or a limit switch adjustment. That's typically one to three hours on site. Full opener replacement takes a half day. Custom work, like building a new steel gate to match an existing fence, runs one to three weeks from measure to install, because the gate is fabricated to order and then painted or powder coated before it goes in.

Yes, we repair gates regardless of who installed them or what brand the opener is. BFT, Linear, Viking, Ghost Controls: if it opens and it's failing, we'll diagnose it. You don't need to call the original installer. You don't need to replace the whole system because one part failed. We fix what's actually broken and leave the rest alone. That's the difference between a repair company and a replacement salesman.

We repair and service BFT, Linear, Viking, and Ghost Controls openers, plus most other major brands you'll find on Sherman Oaks driveway gates. Each one has its own quirks: BFT control boards are sensitive to power surges, Linear gear assemblies wear with heavy daily cycles, and Ghost Controls systems commonly fail at the limit switch. We stock common parts and can order anything else fast. Your existing opener is usually worth repairing before you consider replacing it.

That's usually a limit switch or an obstruction sensor issue. Ghost Controls openers use magnetic limit sensors, and when they drift out of alignment the gate stops short or overshoots. It can also be a low battery in the backup system or a safety edge that's reading a false obstruction. We diagnose Ghost Controls units regularly in Sherman Oaks, and most of these fixes are same-visit repairs. Call (350) 238-9389 and we'll sort it out.

Yes. BFT is one of the most common brands on automated gates in Sherman Oaks, and we know their systems well. Common BFT failures are control board burnouts after a power event, worn capacitors, and hydraulic pump leaks on older BFT models. We diagnose the actual fault, replace only the failed component, and reprogram the opener so it runs correctly. You don't pay for a whole new system when one part failed.

Both, and we'll tell you which we're quoting. Original equipment manufacturer parts from BFT, Linear, Viking, or Ghost Controls come with the manufacturer's warranty and are the right call on newer openers. On older units where the OEM part is discontinued or backordered, a quality aftermarket equivalent often makes more sense. We show you the options, explain the trade-off, and let you choose. No hidden substitutions, no mystery parts on your invoice.

We're a local branch of Gatewood Fence & Gate, and every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires for gate and fence work in California. Hal Gatewood puts his name on the shop and the work, and our business address is real and local, not a call center three states away. If you want to verify anything before we start, ask and we'll show you the paperwork.

Yes, we carry the insurance coverage the work requires, and we're bonded. Gate repair involves heavy steel, high-tension components, and electrical systems, so carrying proper coverage isn't optional for us. It protects your property and it protects our crew. Every pro who works under our name has to meet the same standard. That's a requirement, not a favor. Ask us for specifics when you call (350) 238-9389 and we'll walk you through what we carry.

We handle urgent gate repairs during our regular hours: Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM. A gate stuck open overnight is a security problem, and a gate stuck closed blocks your car, so we get it. Call (350) 238-9389 and we'll get you scheduled as soon as we can within those hours. Same-week service is typical for urgent repairs.

First, if the gate has an opener, disengage it and try to move the gate manually. If it moves by hand, the problem is the opener, not the gate itself. If it won't move manually, a wheel, roller, or track issue is the likely culprit. Either way, don't force it. A gate that binds under load can damage the frame or pull the post. Call (350) 238-9389 and describe what's happening. We'll give you an honest read on the phone and schedule a visit during our regular hours.

Often, yes, depending on the day and what else is scheduled. Our regular hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM and Saturdays and Sundays 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM. If your gate is stuck, making noise, or the opener keeps failing, call (350) 238-9389 early and there's a good chance we can see you the same day. Urgent jobs in Sherman Oaks take priority over routine tune-ups.

Yes. Gatewood Fence & Gate gives you ninety days in writing on every fences and gates job. If something we fixed fails within that window, one call brings us back to make it right. No argument, no runaround. Hal Gatewood publishes his name, his address, and his license number, and he answers his own phone. That's the oldest accountability mechanism there is, and it's stamped on every job we do in Sherman Oaks.

It covers the work we performed and the parts we installed. If a hinge we replaced loosens, a weld cracks, or a sensor we aligned drifts out of position inside ninety days, we come back and fix it at no charge. What it doesn't cover is a new problem that develops after we leave, or damage from a vehicle strike or a storm. We're clear about what's covered when we hand you the written guarantee, and we honor it.

Yes, and we pass those through to you. BFT, Linear, Viking, and Ghost Controls all warrant their parts and openers for varying periods, usually one to three years depending on the component. When we install a new opener or control board, you get the manufacturer's warranty on the part plus our ninety-day guarantee on the labor. We register the product for you and give you the paperwork so you're covered if a part fails down the road.

Because the root cause was never fixed. A gate that sags gets hinge adjustments, but the hinge post is still shifting. An opener that eats gears gets a new gear, but the gate itself is binding and overloading the motor. Show me the gate closing on its own and I'll show you where it's failing. We chase the actual cause, not the symptom. That's why our repair includes a full inspection of the gate, posts, track, and opener, not just a part swap.

Written by Hal Gatewood, Owner at Gatewood Fence & Gate, serving Sherman Oaks since 2001.