There are several types of garage doors from a variety of manufacturers, so having a one-stop solution to fixing all garage doors isn’t possible.
But, the good news is we’re going to cover the most common problems and issues here, what you can do to fix your garage door and the next steps to make sure you don’t have to deal with any niggling issues again.
Off Track? Rust? Won’t Close? Lock Broken? (All The Problems)
Like with everything mechanical, garage doors consist of working parts that are used daily and will eventually wear away and break down.
Of course, you can help avoid this by servicing your garage door every year to make sure you don’t have any uncontrolled outages, but more about that later.
- The most common issues that UK residents encounter are:
- Garage door rollers
- Automated/Electric motor not working
- moving parts seized
- Hinges seized
- The door is sticking out
- Rails off track
- Door opening too fast or too quick
That’s just a summary of the most common problems encountered, we haven’t even mentioned broken locks, rust, seals leaking and more.
As we mentioned above, there’s no one-stop solution for all these problems but there are certain parts you can check to troubleshoot the problem yourself.
Firstly, we would recommend contacting us if you’re not sure where to start, don’t feel confident or if it’s a dangerous situation; such as electric cables being exposed or the door dropping suddenly.
If your garage door is lurking, dropping too fast or too slow it’s most likely the springs at fault. They may have snapped, cracked or stretched out. The best course of action is to call an expert like us where we can safely replace the damaged part.
If when you open or close the garage door there’s a lot of resistance or squeaking/rubbing sounds; there’s most probably a part which needs some lubrication or grease. Not all garage doors need everything lubricated and some don’t require any, so to be safe you can resort to your manual, the supplier or an online forum. This type of problem is often avoided with an annual service.
If your garage door is stuck or sticking out, you could be looking at a bent roller or something blocking the path on the track. We wouldn’t suggest prodding around the tracks or trying to re-shape any metal work as this could cause further damage to the structure or possibly cause the door to lurk.
If you’re unsure how to tackle any garage door issue, give us a call and we’ll be more than happy to assist you.
How Much Does It Cost?
Unfortunately, there’s no flat cost for every type of repair, some averages in 2022 show it can start from £85 and go to £165 but can rise depending on labour, parts, and the complexity of the issue or system.
If you need a repair to your garage door, one of our professional fitters can carry out a detailed inspection of the issue at hand and explain the work, problem and costs at hand.
It’s also a free service for any garage door repair in the Berkshire area, this allows you to weigh the cost of repairing a garage versus a new installation.
There’s also no callout charge either, so there’s nothing to pay if you don’t want us to carry out the recommended work.
Can I Do It Myself?
The internet is awash with DIY guides and Youtube tutorials on how to fix all the common problems of garage doors.
The question is should you do it yourself?
We’ve all been there, some things just broke and you’re trying to duct tape it or smother it in WD-40 and hope it solves your problem and 9 times out of 10 you’re still in the same situation before you tried to bodge it.
Not only are you risking making the problem worse but you’re risking damaging another part of the garage mechanism or injuring yourself in the process.
The first thing to do when a fault occurs is to assess the situation and check for anything obvious, e.g. if the door won’t shut all the way – it’s not worth slamming it over and over again, as this will only cause further damage.
The best action depends on the urgency, you could always check if the garage door is covered by a warranty/guarantee and if it’s not you should call us who specialises in garage door repairs.
Stop The Problems In Advance
Most problems can be easily prevented, it’s the same as anything mechanical.
Imagine if you never got your car or boiler serviced, they’re slowly going to get less efficient and eventually when you least expect it to break down on you.
The same happens to your garage doors, most of the time they’re being used day in and day out without a second thought about how it’s running or when its next service is.
Not all garage doors are the same either, electric garage doors will require a different service routine than an up-and-over door design.
We would recommend a yearly service which can help prevent the need for reactive repairs and will help cut down on unexpected repairs down the line.
If you’ve got a garage door which needs service, repair or you’re looking at replacing it. We would be more than happy to help, contact us here or call us using 01344 750530.
