Roller garage door motor replacement

• Compatible tubular motor fitted inside your existing barrel
• Open and closed limits set so the door stops in the right places
• Safety edge or photocells tested and closing force checked after fitting
• Price agreed before we come out; other parts quoted before fitting

How do you know if a roller garage door motor has failed?

A failed motor usually shows as a door that won't move even though the control box has power and the controls are working, or a motor that hums without turning the barrel.

Other signs include a door that stops part-way, runs for a short time and then cuts out, or moves in one direction only. Not every one of these means the motor has gone, though. The same symptoms can come from a tripped supply, a flat remote battery, a faulty receiver, a dirty photocell or a damaged safety edge, so it's worth ruling those out first.

Check that the power is on at the isolator, try the wall switch as well as the remote, and make sure nothing is breaking the photocell beam. If the door still won't move, request a visit. Don't open the roller box or try to adjust the limits yourself, and keep people and cars clear of a door that has stopped part-open.

What does replacing a tubular motor involve?

Replacing a tubular motor means securing the curtain, removing the old motor from the barrel, fitting a compatible new one and setting it up.

1. The curtain is lowered or supported so the barrel can be worked on safely.
2. The roller box is opened and the old motor is drawn out of the barrel.
3. The new motor is fitted with the right adaptors for your barrel and wired to the control box.
4. The open and closed limits are set so the door stops in the correct positions.
5. Remotes, keypads and safety devices are paired and tested, and the closing force is checked.

This is work for an engineer with the right tools. The curtain is heavy and the barrel carries its full weight, which is why we ask you not to open the box or try to free the motor yourself. Once the motor is in, the door is run through several full cycles to check it opens, closes and stops cleanly.

How much does a replacement roller door motor cost?

A replacement tubular motor costs £395–£695 inc VAT, supplied and fitted, with the price agreed before we come out.

That covers the motor, fitting it inside your barrel, wiring it to the control box, setting the limits, and testing the controls and safety devices afterwards. If the engineer finds something else that needs attention, such as a worn control box, a damaged safety edge or bent guides, they'll explain it and quote before fitting any further parts.

If we can't be sure from your description that the motor is the problem, a repair visit at £119–£169 inc VAT diagnoses the fault first, and the motor is then quoted if it's needed. That way you don't pay for a motor the door doesn't need. Fixed prices for other parts are on our prices page, and all home prices include VAT at 20%.

Will a new motor work with my existing remotes and control box?

Often it will, but compatibility depends on the motor maker's system, so we check the details of your door before booking the visit.

Tubular motors are sized to the weight of the curtain and the diameter of the barrel, so the replacement has to suit your door, not just fit the space. The control box and receiver also need to work with the new motor. If they don't, or your existing remotes can't be paired with the new system, we'll say so and quote for a matching control box or handsets before anything is fitted.

The quickest way to start is to send photos of the control box and its label, and tell us roughly how wide and tall the door is. On an older door, it's also worth asking whether a new motor makes sense. If the curtain, guides and barrel are worn too, we'll tell you plainly. Our guide on how long roller garage doors last covers what affects a door's life.

How does a motor replacement visit work?

A motor replacement visit runs in four steps: you describe the fault, we confirm the price, the visit is booked, and any other parts are quoted before they're fitted.

1. Tell us what the door is doing, and send photos of the control box and its label if you can.
2. We confirm the motor price, or a diagnostic repair visit if the cause isn't clear.
3. The visit is booked, with the date confirmed in writing once an engineer and the right motor are available.
4. The motor is fitted, the limits are set, and the door is tested before handover.

Before the engineer leaves, they'll show you the manual override for your new motor, since it may work differently from the old one. Keep the handle where you can find it in a power cut, and test the safety edge or photocells monthly as the manufacturer's instructions describe.

Guide prices for roller garage door motor replacement

Guide prices for homes. The visit price is agreed before we come out, and any parts are quoted before they are fitted.

Guide prices for homes, last reviewed 25 October 2026. Your written quote is the price. See the full price list.

How does a visit work?

1. STEP 01

   Tell us about the door

   Describe the door and what you need, with a photo or video if you can.

2. STEP 02

   Agree the visit price

   We confirm the visit price before anyone comes out.

3. STEP 03

   Visit

   The engineer finds the cause and makes the door safe where possible.

4. STEP 04

   Parts quoted first

   Any parts are quoted before they are fitted, so you decide.

Questions about roller garage door motor replacement

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