How a roller door works
A roller door is one metal curtain. As it opens, it rolls up like a carpet to sit on a drum directly above the opening, so it needs no ceiling space beyond that (B&D). Springs help balance the door’s weight, and the curtain runs in tracks (B&D).
Common roller door faults
- Heavy to lift by hand. The spring tension may need adjusting by a technician (Steel-Line).
- Bulging as it rolls up or down. B&D calls this ballooning. It can come from a stretched or warped curtain, the wrong spring tension, or tracks that are out of line or blocked (B&D).
- The motor runs slowly. Steel-Line suggests cleaning the guides with warm soapy water, and calling a technician if that doesn’t help (Steel-Line).
- Grinding or scraping. Usually metal on metal, from worn parts or bent tracks (B&D).
- Won’t open after a power cut. The opener may still be released. On some roller door openers, a red lever releases the door when you pull it down and reconnects it when you push it up (Steel-Line).
Leave the springs alone
B&D says roller door springs are under high pressure, and that adjusting the tension needs specialised tools and knowledge. DIY attempts can be hazardous (B&D). If the door is heavy, crooked or bulging, stop using it and get it checked.
Roller door motors
For an opener that won’t respond to the remote, runs but doesn’t move the door, or starts to close and then reverses, see garage door motor repairs. If the opener needs a new power point, that part must be done by a licensed electrician.
Servicing a roller door
B&D says a professional service checks the springs, cables, rollers and tracks for wear, lubricates the moving parts, balances the door so it doesn’t strain the opener and tracks, and tests the auto-reverse function (B&D).
Between services, you can check the door for visible damage, such as frayed cables or rust, wash it with mild soap and water, and clear dirt and debris from the tracks.
Roller or sectional?
A roller door only needs space directly above the opening, which suits garages with support beams, an uneven roof line or overhead storage. A sectional door is made of panels hinged together, which follow a curved path as it opens and store across the garage ceiling (B&D). If your roller door can’t be fixed, the garage door business can talk you through both.
