If you’re tired of getting out of the car in the rain to lift your garage door, you might be wondering whether you can simply add a motor to the door you already have. The short answer is: often, yes — but it depends on the type, age and condition of your door. Here’s what you need to know.

Which garage doors can be automated?

• Up-and-over doors — many canopy and retractable up-and-over doors can be fitted with a ceiling-mounted operator, provided the springs and mechanism are in good working order
• Sectional doors — usually very straightforward to automate, as they run on tracks designed for smooth, balanced movement
• Side-hinged doors — can be automated with dedicated swing-arm operators, although the options are more limited
• Roller doors — manual roller doors can sometimes be converted, but it depends heavily on the manufacturer and model

When automating isn’t the best option

A motor needs a door that is well balanced and moves freely. If your door is heavy to lift, sticks, has worn cables or tired springs, adding a motor will put extra strain on it and can lead to early failure. In these cases we’ll usually recommend either a repair first — see our garage door spring repair service — or replacing the door with a new electric garage door designed to work with a motor from day one.

What’s involved in fitting a motor?

1. We check the door’s balance, springs, cables and fixings
2. We confirm there’s suitable headroom and a power supply nearby
3. The operator is mounted, connected to the door and set up with safety limits
4. Remotes are programmed and we show you how to use the manual release

Most installations on a suitable door can be completed in a few hours.

Benefits of automating your garage door

• Open and close the door without leaving the car
• Improved security, with automatic locking on many operators
• Easier access for anyone with limited mobility
• Optional extras such as keypads, smartphone control and courtesy lighting

Manual vs electric

If you’re still deciding whether to go electric at all, our article on manual vs electric garage doors compares the pros and cons in more detail.

Get expert advice

Our engineers can tell you in one visit whether your current door is suitable for a motor. Call 0116 332 3613 or get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote anywhere in Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Coventry and the Midlands.