Garage door repair in Exeter
Professional garage door repair services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£210
Typical Duration
1-4 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Garage doors repaired properly - hinges replaced, mechanisms fixed, alignment sorted. Get your door opening and closing smoothly again without replacing the whole thing.
When Your Garage Door Is Being Annoying
Sticks when you open it. Catches on the frame. Won't stay up. Makes horrible scraping sounds. The handle/lock doesn't quite line up anymore.
Most garage door problems are fixable without replacing the whole door - just needs the right fix in the right place.
💡 Pro tip: Don't ignore a sticking garage door. What starts as a minor annoyance usually gets worse - hinges wear faster, wood splits, mechanisms break. Sort it before it becomes a bigger job.
Common Repairs vs When To Replace
Not everything needs a new door:
| ✅ Worth Repairing | ❌ Time For New Door |
|---|---|
| Worn hinges or catches | Door rotted through |
| Alignment issues | Whole door warped/twisted |
| Sticking/dragging | Structural damage |
| Broken handle/lock | Beyond economical repair |
Reality check: Most mechanical issues are fixable. Structural rot or damage usually means replacement time.
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Diagnose | Find what's actually causing the problem |
| Fix | Replace worn parts, adjust alignment, repair mechanisms |
| Test | Open/close multiple times, check it works under load |
| Advise | Tell you what else might need attention soon |
📦 You're Left With
- Door opening and closing smoothly
- All hardware secure and working
- No more scraping or sticking
- Honest advice on longevity
Pricing Guide
Depends what's actually wrong:
| Type of Repair | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Replace hinges/catches | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Realign sticking door | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Multiple repairs/adjustment | 2-3 hrs | £110-£160 |
| Major repair work | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Basic hardware included. Specialist parts (springs, mechanisms) extra.
Common Problems I Fix
🔧 Sticking/scraping:
- Worn hinges
- Door out of alignment
- Frame movement
- Warped timber
📦 Won't stay up:
- Failed gas struts
- Weak/broken springs
- Worn catches
- Cable issues
⚠️ Loose/wobbly:
- Hinges working loose
- Rotten mounting points
- Missing fixings
- Frame deterioration
Why Choose Us for Garage door repair in Exeter?
Door opening and closing smoothly
Hinges, catches, hardware replaced
Alignment adjusted properly
Tested under load
What to Expect
Step 1: Diagnose the Problem
I'll open and close the door, check all the hardware, identify what's actually causing the issue.
Step 2: Fix What's Needed
Replace worn parts, adjust alignment, secure loose fixings - whatever's required to get it working smoothly.
Step 3: Test Thoroughly
Multiple open/close cycles, check it works under different conditions, make sure it's solid.
🔧 DIY Tips
Some garage door repairs you can tackle yourself:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Socket set or spanners
- Screwdrivers
- WD-40 and proper grease
- Spirit level
- Replacement hinges/catches if needed
- Someone to help (doors are heavy)
📐 Basic maintenance
- Lubricate moving parts - hinges, tracks, rollers (use proper grease, not WD-40)
- Tighten loose fixings - check all bolts and screws annually
- Clean tracks/runners - dirt causes sticking
- Check timber for rot - catch it early
🔩 Replacing hinges
- Support the door properly (it's heavy!)
- Do one hinge at a time (never remove multiple simultaneously)
- Use like-for-like replacements
- Don't overtighten (cracks timber)
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not supporting door weight when working on it (dangerous)
- Using wrong type of hinges (not all are the same)
- Over-lubricating (attracts dirt)
- Ignoring rotten timber (hinge won't hold)
- Messing with springs without proper knowledge (seriously dangerous)
💡 Pro trick: Annual maintenance makes a massive difference. 20 minutes a year lubricating hinges and tightening fixings prevents most problems. Do it in spring so you spot winter damage early.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
⚠️ Spring replacement warning: Garage door springs are under massive tension. If your door needs new springs and it's not a simple gas strut replacement, get a specialist. DIY spring replacement can seriously injure you.
Part availability: Older garage doors can have non-standard parts. Sometimes exact replacements aren't available and we need to adapt or use closest modern equivalent.
Roller doors: If you've got an electric roller door, I can help with basic mechanical issues, but motor/electronics need a specialist garage door company.
Rotten timber: If the door frame or door itself has rot, that needs fixing first before any mechanical repairs. Hinges won't hold in rotten wood.
Repainting after: If I've had to make any timber repairs, you'll probably want to touch up the paint/treatment afterward to protect it.
Old doors in Devon: Exeter's older properties often have original timber garage doors. These can absolutely be repaired and kept going - they're usually better quality than modern cheap doors. Worth maintaining them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What garage door problems can you actually fix?
Most mechanical issues - sticking/dragging doors, broken hinges, faulty catches, alignment problems, loose or broken hardware, rotten wood repairs. I can't fix electric roller door motors (specialist job) or replace whole door sections, but most day-to-day problems are fixable.
My garage door is really heavy to lift - what's wrong?
Usually the springs. Up-and-over doors have counterbalance springs that take the weight - when they weaken or break, the door becomes heavy. I can assess if they need replacing, but spring replacement on some doors is a specialist job (they're under serious tension).
The door scrapes the frame when opening - can you fix that?
Yeah, usually just needs hinges adjusting or replacing if they're worn. Sometimes the frame's moved slightly over time. I can usually get it running smoothly again without major work.
How long does a typical garage door repair take?
Simple stuff like replacing hinges or catches - 1-2 hours. Bigger jobs like realigning a door or replacing multiple components - 3-4 hours. I'll give you a better estimate once I see what's actually wrong.
Is it worth repairing or should I just replace the door?
Depends on the door's age and condition. If it's fundamentally sound and just needs hinges or minor repairs, definitely worth fixing. If the door itself is rotten, warped, or falling apart, replacement makes more sense. I'll be honest about what's worth doing.
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