Having spent most of the easter break clearing out Judes garage so I can put my car in it when it arrives. It then seemed like a darned good idea to fit automatically opening doors. They'd need to work with the alarm as well.

Does anyone know of any dealers who are fitting this kind of thing? Or can you do it as a DIY job? Any info greatly appreciated, my searches on the net have revealed precious little.

 

B&Q Warehouses & ScrewFix direct both stock them as fairly simple DIY installs. They come with RF remotes and a Keypad/PIN exterior control. Very reasonable too. You should find installers in the Yellow Pages too, as long as there is already mains power in the garage it ought to be a piece of cake.

 

I've investigated this in the past, using the WWW, and it looked like automatic door openers don't work with all types of up-and-over garage doors. I think it has something to do with the type of hinge mechanism you have.

Unfortunately I can't remember which type of hinges won't work (memory loss due to and too much )

So you may need to check the instructions before buying.

I never did do anything about it. I think I need to have a look at it again.

 

Yep that is true Tony, the basic kit only works with a certain type of door but they sell an additional kit to work with another type of door (the canopy type that I have) I reckon the professional installers ought to be able to work with pretty much every variety.

 

I just replaced my old wooden double garage doors with a single up and over type. I checked out the DIY outlets and none of them could cater for my garage width which is a little wider than the ones they tend to stick on new houses these days.

There's plenty of people who'll get doors made up for you.... at a price! I was amazed at how expensive it can be. I reckon I did OK in the end at about

 

We had one supplied and fitted last year, its 10X7 which is larger than your average door (7x7), its a GRP canopy which has a mahogony wood finish to it, the door looks great, you wouldnt know it was GRP. Along with the motor and 2 remotes it came to 1250 fitted

 

I use the B & Q system for my door. Door is 12 feet wide or so with steel frame and GRP (weighs a ton) The electric chain type opener from B and Q has been working OK for the last 4 years. It also automatically stops if it senses resitance (car or small children, etc!)

From memory it also needed an 'add on' kit as Tif says

It great when its raining!

 

I have had this set up in the past you need to make sure that the alarm detector is a combined infra red and microwave - otherwise the heat from the engine can set it off.

 

I had my electric garage door fitted at my old house for around

 

Isn't that an ideal opportunity to fit the car with a transmitter under the numberplate, to operate the door automatically?

It also has the advantage that it confuses laser speed guns