We fit, automate and repair remote-controlled garage doors across Durham, on period properties near the city centre and on newer homes in Belmont, Newton Hall and Chester-le-Street. We also replace lost or broken remotes, including for landlords whose handsets have left with tenants.
How we work on period and modern garages
You can reach us through the quote form or by email. Tell us what you want done, what sort of house the garage belongs to, and whether the property is listed or in a conservation area. Photos of the door from outside and from inside help us see its type, the headroom and where power might come from.
What we take on
- New roller, sectional and side-hinged doors, supplied with a motor, remotes and safety features.
- Motors added to existing doors that still run well by hand.
- Replacement and spare handsets, paired to your opener.
- Repairs to openers, photocells, springs and cables.
What to expect
Older Durham openings are rarely square, so we measure carefully before any door is ordered. You get a clear written quote that sets out the work. On a period home we will often suggest keeping a sound door and adding a motor, since it costs less and the frontage stays as it is. At handover we test the obstacle detection, pair the remotes and show you the manual release.
Can I fit an electric door in a conservation area?
In many cases you can, although the answer depends on what you plan to change. Parts of Durham city are in a conservation area, and some properties are listed as well. Adding an opener to an existing door may keep its appearance exactly as it was. Replacing the door is more sensitive, because the change can be seen from outside.
We cannot tell you what is allowed on your property, as rules vary with the building and the street. Check with Durham County Council before you order anything that alters the front of a building, as an early answer saves you from choosing a door you cannot use.
Questions to ask the council
- Is the property in a conservation area, and is it listed?
- Does the change need permission if the door can be seen from the road?
- Are there any limits on materials, colours or the style of door?
Traditional doors that open at the press of a button
Side-hinged doors are usually the best fit for an older home here, because they look the way a garage or coach house door always looked. They open outwards like a pair of gates, and a dedicated kit drives each leaf from your remote. You can also open one leaf to reach a bike or some tools.
Choosing a material
Side-hinged doors come in timber, steel and GRP. Timber is the obvious match for a period property, but it needs repainting or staining over the years. Steel and GRP give you the traditional shape with less upkeep, though a sensitive location may limit your choice.
Space in front of the leaves
Each leaf swings out, so you need clear space in front of the opening. That can be awkward on a tight plot or a narrow lane near the city centre. There is more on our side-hinged doors page.
What about the modern estates outside the city?
Newer homes around Belmont, Newton Hall and Chester-le-Street rarely need any of that thought, and a standard sectional or roller door usually suits them well. Both lift vertically, so you can park close to the door and nothing swings across the drive.
A sectional door seals well and suits an attached garage, but its tracks take up the ceiling. A roller door keeps the ceiling free, which helps if the garage is really the household shed. Our roller and sectional comparison sets out the differences side by side.
Can an old door take a motor?
Most sound doors can, and the quickest test is to lift yours by hand and see how it moves. If it runs evenly without sticking or dropping, it is a good candidate. Older pairs of side-hinged doors need to be solid and still swing freely, which is not always the case, because they often drop on their hinges over time. Our guide on making an existing door electric walks through the test.
A coach house may have no socket at all, and a qualified electrician should add any new supply before the door is automated. On a listed building, ask about the route of any new cable too.
Lost handsets in rented homes, and doors that stop
Durham has a lot of rented housing, and handsets have a habit of leaving with the tenants. A missing remote is usually simple to deal with, because pairing a new one clears the old one from the receiver. If a handset is still there but has stopped opening the door, the cause is often a flat battery or nearby interference. If your remote is no longer made, a new receiver can often be added to the existing motor, as our remote replacement page explains.
If a door has stopped altogether, try the wall button and then the manual release. A door that reverses often has blocked or misaligned photocells, which you can clean yourself. If the door is crooked or has made a loud bang, stop using it and keep people clear. Springs and cables are under high tension, so a repair is not a DIY job.
What do doors cost in the city and on the estates?
These are typical 2026 UK guide figures for a single garage. They are not our price list, and your figure depends on the opening and the finish.
| Option | Typical fitted guide price | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| Automating an existing up-and-over door | £300 to £600 | Sound doors you want to keep |
| New electric roller door | £900 to £2,000 | Estate homes wanting a clear ceiling |
| New electric sectional door | £1,200 to £3,000 | Attached garages on newer homes |
| New electric side-hinged door | £1,500 to £3,500 | Period properties |
Side-hinged doors sit at the top of the range because each leaf has to be driven. A new socket, if you need one, is typically £80 to £150 as a guide.
Where we cover around Durham
We work in the city and in Chester-le-Street, Pity Me, Framwellgate Moor and Belmont. If you live in a nearby village such as Sherburn or Bowburn, send your postcode and we will confirm. Further north, the stone homes of Morpeth raise many of the same questions about old openings.
A garage on an older property deserves a little more thought before anything is ordered, and a modern one rarely takes long to sort out. Use the quote form at the top of this page to tell us about your Durham home, and we can start from what is really there.
