Springs
Garage door springs, repaired and replaced
Garage door springs are what make a heavy door feel light. When one goes, the door gets heavy, crooked or stops entirely, and it is the one repair you should never attempt yourself.
Five signs your springs need attention
Springs rarely fail without warning. These are the warnings.
- The door has become slow or difficult to open and close
- Loud or unusual noises coming from the spring mechanism
- The door looks crooked or misaligned as it moves
- Jerky, uneven movement through the opening or closing cycle
- Visible gaps or damage in the springs themselves
The two types, and which you have
The most common type on modern doors, mounted horizontally on a shaft above the opening. They last longer than extension springs, run more smoothly, and give better balance and control. If your door is reasonably modern, this is almost certainly what it has.
Mounted along the horizontal tracks either side of the door, stretching as the door closes. More common on older installations. They can be replaced like for like, and on some doors it is worth discussing a conversion instead.
Why this is not a DIY job
Of everything on this website, this is the one we would most like you to read.
A garage door spring is under extreme tension whether the door is open or closed, and it stores enough energy to cause serious injury when it is released without the right tools and technique. People are hurt doing this every year in New Zealand.
Beyond the injury risk, a spring fitted to the wrong specification will not balance the door. That puts the load onto the motor and the cables, wears the whole system out early, and can void the warranty on the door and the opener.
It is not an expensive repair when someone who does it daily does it. It is a very expensive one to get wrong.
How we do it
- Step 1
A full assessment of the door system, not just the broken part, because a failed spring often has a cause worth finding.
- Step 2
A clear explanation of what has gone and what it costs, before we start.
- Step 3
Replacement with quality springs matched to the weight and size of your specific door.
- Step 4
Rebalancing and testing across the full cycle, plus what to watch for so the next set lasts.
Why work with us
Windsor manufacture our sectional and roller doors at their South Auckland facility. They've been supplying quality garage doors across NZ for almost 30 years, and we're proud to be their trusted partner servicing from the Harbour Bridge to the Brynderwyns.
From quote acceptance to installation, we work hard to make it a seamless process. If required, we can have your door operational in two weeks. Architectural doors require a longer lead-in time.
Has your door failed? Car stuck inside? We can normally get a technician with you the same day. If not, we will point you in the right direction to get a speedy outcome.
Our Windsor made COLORSTEEL® range is engineered locally to withstand the toughest conditions. This industrial grade durability comes with a rock-solid 10 year warranty. Choose COLORSTEEL®. Trusted by Kiwis.
Locally owned, serving Warkworth, Mangawhai and Silverdale. We know which products last in North Auckland conditions.
As a qualified plumber, Chris sets the 'tone' in the business amongst his colleagues. A stickler for standards, there are no shortcuts. The core philosophy is "Do it once, do it right". Quality service; quality product; happy days...
Like most businesses, we offer FREE, no obligation quotations. Our prices are very 'fair and reasonable' and tailored to suit most budgets.
Call us today and Chris will take your call direct and answer your questions. If you need a new door, he'll measure and quote and often install it. No sub-contractors or middle people. Keep it simple...
Common questions
Garage door springs are rated in cycles rather than years, so it depends entirely on how often the door is used. A holiday home door opening twice a week will outlast a busy family home's door by many years. Rather than counting from the install date, watch for the warning signs: a door that has become slow or heavy, new noises from above the opening, or a door that looks crooked as it travels.
On a two-spring door, usually yes. The second spring has done identical work to the one that failed and is close behind it, so replacing only the broken one commonly means paying for a second call-out within months. We will tell you what your door has and what we recommend when we look at it, and the choice is yours. On a single-spring door the question does not arise.
Please do not. Without the spring counterbalancing it, the full weight of the door is carried by the motor and the cables, neither of which was designed for it. That is how a straightforward spring repair turns into a motor and cable replacement. An unbalanced door can also fall. Leave it closed, use the manual release if you need the car out, and call us.
Yes, genuinely. A garage door spring is under extreme tension whether the door is open or closed, and it stores enough energy to cause serious injury when released without the right tools and technique. People are hurt doing this in New Zealand every year. Beyond the injury risk, a spring fitted to the wrong specification will not balance the door, which wears out the whole system early and can void your warranties.
We have technicians on the road across North Auckland and Rodney every day, and broken springs are treated as urgent because the door is usually out of action entirely. Phone rather than emailing, because a phone call is what gets you into the day's run. We carry the common spring sizes on the vans, so many spring jobs are completed on the first visit rather than needing a return trip once a part arrives.
Torsion springs mount horizontally on a shaft above the opening and are what most modern doors use. They last longer than extension springs, run more smoothly and give better balance and control. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks either side of the door and stretch as it closes, and they are more common on older installations. Both can be replaced like for like.
From the bridge to the Brynderwyns
Get a broken spring replaced
Tell us what the door is doing and one of our technicians will come back to you and organise a time on site.
We're a family business. Chris owns it, quotes it and answers the phone himself, so you get a straight answer the first time you ask.