Guide

Replacing an up-and-over door: what happens on fitting day

On fitting day, a two-person team removes the old up-and-over door, its frame and springs, prepares the opening, fits the frame and tracks, assembles the panels, sets the springs, fits the operator, then tests and hands over the door. Most single and double domestic doors are fitted in one day.

Before the day

• Clear the area just inside the opening, along both side walls and the ceiling for about 3 metres back.
• Move the car out of the garage and off the front of the drive.
• Make sure there is a socket or spur near where the operator will go, or that the electrical work has been arranged.

Step by step

• Removal: the old door is made safe, its springs released and the door and frame taken out.
• Preparation: fixing points checked, gaps and old fixings dealt with.
• Frame and tracks: vertical tracks and frame fixed and set plumb and square.
• Panels: sections assembled from the bottom up, with hinges and rollers.
• Springs and balance: springs fitted and set so the door is balanced.
• Operator: rail and motor fitted, limits and forces set, photocells aligned.
• Testing and handover: safety tests, a demonstration and your paperwork.

How long does it take?

Most domestic jobs are completed in a day. If the opening needs building work first, that is arranged beforehand so fitting day is not held up.

What happens to the old door?

We take it away for disposal or recycling where your quote includes it, which it normally does.

Sources

• Manufacturer installation instructions for domestic sectional doors

This guide gives general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules change; check with your council or a qualified adviser for your situation.