Repair or replace? What the age of your door tells you
Most doors we see are worth repairing. A few are not. The age of the door, and how many times it has failed lately, decide which.
We repair far more doors than we replace, and we would rather tell you a £165 repair will see you right than sell you a door you do not need. But there is a point where paying for repairs costs more than a new door. Here is how we judge it.
Under ten years old: repair it
A sectional door under ten years old is almost always worth repairing. Springs, cables and rollers are wear parts; replacing them is what keeps a door going. Expect another ten years or more from a well-kept door this age.
Ten to fifteen years: repair, and watch it
Doors in this range are usually fine, but look at the panels. Rust starting at the bottom edge, or a panel that has been creased, will shorten its life. Repair the fault, and ask us how long we think the door has.
Over fifteen years: count the call-outs
An older door with its first fault is still worth repairing. An older door on its third repair in two years is telling you something. Parts for some older doors are no longer made, insulation is usually non-existent, and the steel may be thin enough to dent with a ball.
What a new door gets you
A new insulated sectional door costs from £1,675 fitted for a single, with a ten-year door warranty and two years on the fitting. It is warmer (worth it if the garage is attached or used as a room), quieter and more secure, and it should last 25 years or more with a service every year or two.
Our rule of thumb
If a repair costs more than a quarter of a new door and the door is over fifteen years old, get a price for both. We will give you both on the same visit, in writing, and you can decide.
