Garage door repair
Most garage door faults are a broken spring or cable, a roller off its track, a dead motor or remote, or safety sensors out of line. Springs and cables hold the door's weight under heavy tension, so they're a job for a fitter. Repairs are priced on a visit; a new motor costs €250 to €600 and a new door starts at €800.
What's wrong with the door, what you can check yourself, what to leave to a fitter, and when to stop repairing it.
Free and no obligation. Your plan goes to one builder, not a list.
- Springsthe most common fault
- Visitrepairs priced on a visit
- €250–€600a new motor
- €800a new door from
What's wrong, and who fixes it
| What it does | Likely cause | Who fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Won't lift, or lifts and drops back | A broken spring | A fitter: springs are under heavy tension |
| Hangs crooked, one side lower | A snapped or slipped cable | A fitter |
| Grinds, judders or jumps | Worn rollers or a bent track | A fitter |
| Motor hums but the door doesn't move | A stripped gear, or a spring gone | A fitter |
| Goes down, then straight back up | Photo-cells blocked or out of line | You: wipe them and line them up |
| Nothing happens with the remote | A flat battery, or the receiver | You first: change the battery |
| A roller door stuck part-open | The limits out, or the curtain jammed | A fitter |
What you can check safely
- The remote: a new battery, and try the wall button too.
- The power: the socket, the plug and the fuse board.
- The photo-cells: wipe the lenses and check nothing sits between them.
- The tracks: clear out stones, leaves or anything wedged in them.
- Never touch the springs or cables, and stop using a door that has a broken spring: it's very heavy and can drop.
Plan your garage renovation
A few quick taps: what your garage needs, what the roof and door cost, and the order to do it in. Contact details come last, and only if you want a price.
Your garage, the door: €1,320 to €2,800.
How the estimate is worked out
Roof and door ranges are what Irish roofers and door companies publish for the same job: the lowest to the highest figure. A double garage roof is its area times the rate for the covering. Floors, walls, windows, insulation and electrics vary too much from garage to garage to price fairly without seeing them, so the builder prices those on a visit.
Repair or replace?
- Repair a sound door with one failed part: a spring, a cable, a roller or a motor.
- Replace a rusted or rotten door, one whose parts are no longer made, or one that keeps failing.
- Replace if you want it electric or insulated anyway: the money goes into the new door, not into the old one.
- Compare: a new up-and-over costs €800 to €1,500 fitted, an electric roller €1,200 to €2,500, and taking the old door away €120 to €300.
Prices and types: garage doors.
The jobs on a garage
Each job has its own page: what it involves, what it costs where we can price it, and what to check. Insulation and electrics: insulation, electrics.
Garage doorsUp-and-over, roller, sectional or double: prices and what to pick.
Garage roof replacementStripped and re-covered in felt, rubber or fibreglass.
Garage floorsScreeded level over the old slab, then tiles, epoxy or paint.
Garage walls and windowsBlockwork repairs, render, a skim inside, a window or a side door.
Asbestos garage roofsOld fibre-cement sheets: what to check before anyone touches them.Questions before you start
How much does garage door repair cost?
It's priced on a visit: the fault and the parts decide it. A new motor costs €250 to €600.
Is a broken garage door spring dangerous?
Yes. The door is heavy and the spring was holding it. Leave it shut and call a fitter.
Why does my garage door go back up when closing?
Usually the photo-cells: something's in the way, or they're dirty or knocked out of line.
Should I repair or replace my garage door?
Repair a sound door with one failed part. Replace one that's rusted, rotten, keeps failing or that you want electric anyway.
Every guide and county page
Jobs
Costs and guides
Get the garage sorted, in the right order
Pick the garage and the jobs to see what the roof and door cost and the order to do it all in. When you want a price, your plan goes to a single vetted builder for your area.