Garage Door FAQs
On this page you will find some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you require further assistance contact us here.
What Garage door is best for me?
It’s horses for courses here. If you’re still planning to put the car in then an Up and Over or Roller may be best. If the garage is not really a garage anymore then maybe a side hinge is best as it allows you to get in and out without opening the full width of the doorway, this solution can be perfect for home offices or gyms.
If the garage is built in to the house with doors through into the home or rooms above then insulation is key, our range of sectional doors provide impressive levels of weather protection. If security is the key point for you then consider getting extra locking on the door, some of our side hinge doors can come with 3 point locking, the Up & Over ranges can be supplemented with 4 point locking and if you’re after a roller door, we suggest you look at the SWS Original or Excel.
Should I service my garage door?
The garage door is generally the largest door into your home that very often has expensive items behind it. Getting your door serviced can provide great peace of mind for you and can provide an early warning for any issues that may be developing. We can help to reduce repair costs for you by spotting problems early.
Can I repair my garage door?
As a reputable local business, we will always give you honest advice. If a door can be repaired, we will give that as an option, but it can be more cost effective in the long run to start afresh with a new door. Either way, our teams will give you reliable trustworthy advice.
Should I get an insulated garage door?
It all depends what you are doing with the garage and where the garage is. If your garage is in a standalone block and you’re using it to store “stuff” then you probably do not need insulation. However, if the garage is built in to the house, has internal doors into the home or has rooms above then we do suggest you consider insulation. The effect on the garage, the items stored within and the adjoining rooms will be noticeable through the colder months.
If I have a motor, how many remotes do I get?
Generally, all the motors we supply for domestic doors come with two remote control handsets. These are securely programmed to only open your door, so do not worry if your neighbour sees your new door and copies you! If you want extra handsets, we can do this, it can be handy to give one out to other people who may need access into your garage, whether that’s the gardener or relations coming to stay at your home. Alternatively, many of the motors we install can integrate with wireless exterior keypads, allowing you to set a PIN code to allow entry without the need to carry a handset.
If I have a motor and there’s a power cut, how do I get in?
If you have another door into your garage, you would gain access through there and then all automated doors have a manual override. However, if the automated garage door is your only access point we will fit an External Release. This is a secure way of being able to manually raise a door from the outside.
How long does an installation take?
Generally, we aim to install doors as the first job of the day but in general the simpler end of installs take around 2 – 4 hours with more complex doors (with automation etc) taking around 3 – 5 hours.
Our current door has a wooden frame, will you remove it?
When fitting a new door, if there is a wooden frame around the existing door we will generally remove it. Most of the time an existing wooden frame is either rotten or about to start rotting. If it is necessary to have timber in the doorway, for whatever reason, we will discuss this with you at the survey and we would use tanalised timber. Ideally, though, we would fit direct to the masonry where possible.
Who will fit my new door?
If you order your new door from Cornwall Garage Door Centre, it will be our in house fitting teams that install it – we do not use sub-contractors. Also, unlike a lot of garage door companies, our fitters will also carry out the survey. That way, our fitters get to see your property before the installation date and you get to meet them too. We try our best to keep the same team on a job from start to finish, however, this is not always possible. If we do need to change between teams, the new team will have access to the measurements and photos taken at the initial survey to get them up to speed.
What happens to my old garage door?
We will dispose of your old door for you. When removing an old door, our team will take it out safely and efficiently, quite often this means the door is not reusable. If you would like to re-use your old door please tell our team before they start the removal process.
What do I do if I need help with the door after the installation?
Just call us on 01872 275997 or email on sales@cornwallgaragedoors.co.uk. We will do our best to assist you, this may be help over the phone or it may be necessary to get a team back to you.
My remote control does not work from as far away as it used to – help?
First things first, try changing the battery. Most remotes use a coin battery (common in watches). By removing the rear cover you can change the battery over, this can be a bit fiddly; we stock most batteries at our showroom in Truro and our team there will be happy to help during our opening hours. It is important to ensure the new battery is the same specification as the old one. If this still does not sure it, contact us on 01872 275997 or email on sales@cornwallgaragedoors.co.uk
Our garage needs building work doing to it – will Cornwall Garage Door Centre do that too?
Ordinarily, no. In some cases, we can carry out minor alterations to the doorway to allow a different sized to door to be installed, but normally, we would recommend you find a builder to take the alterations on and we will do the door. That said, we are always happy to provide you with the measurements the new door will need and we can even talk direct to the builder if you want to keep out of it.
What colours are available?
Each range of products has a variety of colours available. Most colours available are identified by a RAL code, so if you are trying to match in with other items on the garage we can always check. With some of the manufacturers we work with we can get your door produced in a bespoke colour, either with a RAL code or a Farrow & Ball colour code. We have colour samples in our showroom and in some cases we can even get samples sent out direct to you in the post.
Do you carry out emergency repairs?
Unfortunately, we do not offer an out of hours emergency repairs service. In the first instance, contact us and we will do our best to help. Sometimes, we can help over the phone or we may need to visit. We do our best to cover as much of Cornwall as we can, as quickly as we can, but we can not guarantee how quickly we will necessarily get to you.
Do you offer free quotes?
Yes, we do. We offer a free, no obligation quote. If you are able to specify rough sizes and specification we can do this over the phone or email, but if we are going to be fitting the door, we will want to come to site to measure the door.
We are building a new house, what do you need to be able to carry out a survey?
On a new build, we understand that timeframes can be tight, so to measure a door properly, we will need to know the width and height of the opening, details of space around the doorway, an idea of finished floor height and the amount of headroom available.
What power supply will a motor on a domestic door need?
The motors we install with domestic doors require a standard UK 13A three pin socket somewhere near the front of the garage. We can show you where at the survey, it varies depending on the style of door.
What times are you open?
We are open from 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 4pm on Fridays. Our showroom is in the Newham area of Truro and we have a variety of our door ranges on display for you to view.
My doorway is not a standard size, does this matter?
No, don’t worry. Some manufacturers work with “standard sizes” but nearly all models of door are available in bespoke sizes, there are size limitations but we will work with what you’ve got to get the best door for you.
What area do you cover?
We cover the whole of Cornwall – we even work with customers on the Isles of Scilly.
Can I get a matching side door?
Yes, we have a few ranges that offer matching side doors – contact us for more details.
How can I tell what door I have?
Most doors have a manufacturers name on it somewhere. This may be on the handle on the front, a sticker on the inside or on the control box or handset. Alternatively, it may be on any old paperwork you may have. Otherwise, if you can send us a photo of the inside and outside of the door we may be able to identify it from this.
Should I wash my garage door?
Yes, here in Cornwall, we live in a marine environment, even if you do not live on the coast. It is important to wash the door periodically. Do not use a pressure washer, this is too strong and can cause damage. We suggest you use a light car wash liquid with a soft brush or cloth, then rinse it off with clean water. If the door is automated, we suggest letting the door dry off before raising the door again. A sunny but breezy day is best!
Do you offer finance on a new garage door?
No, we do not offer finance options. We request a deposit payment to secure your order and the balance payment is due upon completion.
How do I pay for my new garage door?
We request a deposit payment to secure your order and the balance payment is due upon completion. Details on how to pay are on the bottom of our invoices and quotes, you can pay online by BACS (please use your quote/invoice number as payment reference), call us to pay by card or send us a cheque.
How do i lock an automated garage door?
There is no lock and key with an automated door – the motor is the lock and provides the security.
Are roller doors secure?
Our “go-to” roller door is the SWS Original – the design on this door has achieved the prestigious Secured By Design status, the official Police flagship initiative making it the police preferred specification. This is endorsement by the Association of British Insurers and the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Can I have windows in my new garage door?
Several of the ranges of doors we install can have windows, there are various styles and shapes available, with different types of glazing finish too.
Can you automate an existing manual door?
Sometimes – yes. Sometimes – no. There are certain styles of doors that can be retro-automated, this is not always possible. Contact us for more details.
Can I order a manual door now and automate it in the future?
With some styles of door we can install them now as a manual door and automate it in the future. Contact us for more details.
My garage does not have much headroom – can I still have a roller door?
Yes, you can have a roller door even if there is not much headroom behind the lintel. We can install a roller door with a fascia, which provides a closure at the top of the door. We also have Compact roller doors available. These Compact doors are not as thick as the larger doors, but roll up in a tighter roll so take up less headroom.
What is an up & over door?
Up & Over doors are the most common type of garage door and is probably what most of us think of as a garage door. The door runs in two tracks either side of the doorway and moves in one large piece. These doors are available in a range of styles, colours and materials and can be automated or manual. Up & Over doors are great if you want to be able to get in and out with large heavy items.
What is an roller door?
Roller doors do exactly what they say on the tin, they roll up like a carpet around a barrel fitted at the top of the doorway. These can be manual or automatic, single skin or insulated, aluminium or steel. These doors are perfect if you park close to the garage door and still want to be able to get in, available in a wide range of colours, roller doors are made to measure so will fit all sorts of doorways.
What is an sectional door?
A sectional door is made up of 4 – 6 panels that runs in tracks, up the doorway and then articulates through 90 degrees to run back horizontally along the ceiling space. This innovative design works well in reduced headroom spaces and provides great durability over wider doorways and unrivaled insulation. Sectional doors would normally be automated for ease of use but can also be installed as a manual operation. Sectional doors generally offer a modern contemporary look and can be quite a statement piece for the front of your property – especially in a bold colour.
I have lost the key for my manual up & over door – what do I do?
If you have no spare key hidden away in a drawer in the kitchen, we can install a new lock that comes with two new keys.
Can you send me brochures?
Yes, we can send you brochures, but to minimise on paper usage, we have also uploaded the brochures onto our website at Cornwall Garage Door Centre – Brochures.
Have you got any photos of doors you have installed?
Yes – check out our Garage Door Gallery
Can I operate my automatic garage door through my home assistant or smart speaker?
There are motors available in our ranges that can be smart enabled. The integration kits are available as an add on, most systems can work alongside Google, Siri or Alexa systems.
Should I use oil to lubricate my door?
We do not recommend using oil to lubricate your garage door, it can be heavy and attract dirt and debris which can foul the door and cause it to jam. If you want to apply some lubrication, we suggest using a light silicone spray.
I have water getting in under my door – can you help?
Depending on the style of the door, we can sometimes install a rubber floor seal. The best weather protection for a garage is an ACO drain across the doorway.
The cable has snapped on my up & over door – what do I do?
Call us to book a repair.
What happens if I lose the handset for my automatic garage door?
We can generally supply handsets for a variety of garage door operators. If you have an existing handset, send us a photo of the front and back of the handset and we will try to match up with a new one.
How long will my new garage door last?
This is the million dollar question. There are many factors that can impact on the lifespan of a new garage door but with regular maintenance, periodic cleaning and average use a new door should provide 10-20 years of service. It would not be uncommon to see some exterior weathering after 5-10 years. Certain locations will test any garage door from any manufacturer.
Can you colour match a garage door to my front door / windows / fascias?
We need to know what colour you have already – most products of this type are manufactured with a colour code, i.e. Anthracite Grey is RAL 7016, with this code we can price for a colour matched door. Equally, if you really want your door to be Sky Blue (RAL 5015) or Saffron Yellow (RAL 1017) – we could probably do it!
Do you stock any spare parts for garage doors?
Our technicians keep a range of parts on the van and we have an extensive selection at our showroom in Truro. There are brands that we are not able to get parts for anymore but we have an array of trusted suppliers that we can call on.
