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Signs a Gate Post Is Starting to Lean
Posts move slowly, so the first signs show up at the gate rather than at the post. The reasons clay soil moves posts at all are covered in Gate Posts and Footings in Expansive Clay Soil.
Early signs
A latch that needs a lift or a push to catch is the most common first clue. A gap between the leaves that is wider at the top than the bottom, or a leaf that scrapes the driveway at the end of its swing, both point to a post tipping toward the gate. Cracks in the concrete collar around the post base are another sign.
When to act
Adjustable hinges can take up a small amount of sag for a while. If the lean keeps growing through a wet season and a dry one, the post footing needs attention before the gate frame bends or the operator strains trying to move it.