Most roller garage door repair jobs we attend across Sunderland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham come down to a handful of familiar faults. A door that suddenly stops, opens halfway, makes a grinding noise or ignores the remote is frustrating, but it is usually fixable on the first visit.
Here are the seven faults we see most often, what causes them and how we put them right.
1. The motor has stopped working
Motor faults are one of the most common reasons for a call-out. Motors wear with age and heavy use, and a power surge or a fault in the control unit can stop one completely. We stock and fit motors for most popular roller door and shutter systems, so a motor replacement is usually done the same day you call. Where a repair is not cost-effective, we will tell you straight.
2. The remote or keypad does nothing
Before assuming the worst, check the batteries in the handset. If that is not the problem, the receiver or control unit may have failed, or the handset may have lost its programming. We reprogram, replace and upgrade control systems across all major brands, and can add extra handsets or a keypad at the same time.
3. A lath is bent or damaged
A knock from a car, a ladder or a forklift can bend one or more laths. A damaged curtain does not always mean a new door. Where individual laths or sections are bent or broken, we replace the affected slats and restore the door to full working order, which saves a lot compared with a full replacement.
4. The door is heavy to lift or will not stay open
Manual roller doors rely on correctly set springs and counterbalances. If your door is heavy to lift, drops faster than it should or will not stay open, the spring tension usually needs adjusting or a spring needs replacing. It is a quick job for an engineer, but not one to attempt yourself, as springs hold a lot of tension.
5. The door runs out of its guides
If the curtain jumps out of the side guides, it will jam or run unevenly. Damaged guides, loose fixings or debris in the channel are the usual causes. We realign or replace the guides and check the fixings so the door runs smoothly again.
6. The lock or security bar has failed
After a break-in, a lost key or simply years of use, locks and bolts can stop working properly. We upgrade and replace locks, bolts and security bars on roller garage doors and shutters, and new locking can usually be fitted without replacing the door.
7. The safety edge keeps stopping the door
Electric roller doors have a safety edge that stops the door if it meets an obstruction. If it is damaged, dirty or misaligned, the door may stop and reverse for no obvious reason. We test, clean and replace safety edges so the door works reliably and stays safe.
What to do before you call
- Check the power supply and the fuse for the door.
- Try the remote batteries and a second handset if you have one.
- Look for anything blocking the guides or the bottom of the door.
- Take a photo or short video of the fault. It helps us diagnose it before we arrive.
Please do not try to adjust springs, motors or wiring yourself. If the door is stuck open and your property is not secure, call us and we will aim to make it safe the same day. For advice on staying safe around electrical equipment at home, Electrical Safety First has useful guidance.
Same-day roller garage door repair across the North East
We offer same-day callouts for urgent faults, and our engineers carry a full selection of common parts, so most repairs are completed on the first visit. We repair all makes and models, even if we did not fit them. Find out more on our roller shutter and garage door repairs page, or see our Sunderland and Newcastle pages for local information.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a roller garage door repair cost?
It depends on the fault and the parts needed. We diagnose the problem, explain the options and give you a price before we start, so there are no surprises.
How quickly can you do a roller garage door repair?
We offer same-day callouts for urgent faults across the North East, and most roller garage door repair jobs are finished on the first visit because our engineers carry common parts.
Do you repair doors fitted by other companies?
Yes. We repair all makes and models of roller garage doors and shutters, wherever they came from.
Book a free survey
Call Elite Security Shutters on 0191 354 5800 or request a free quote online. We cover Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and the wider North East, and every job is carried out by our own fully insured team.