Garage door problems
Snapped garage door cable
A snapped garage door cable in the UK usually shows as one side of the door hanging lower than the other, or the door jamming part-way through travel. Cables work alongside the springs to guide and balance the door and can fray from age or a worn drum edge before they fail. Replacement typically costs £120–£250 inc. VAT and needs an engineer.
What the cables actually do
On UK up-and-over doors with retractable gear and on sectional doors, steel cables run from the bottom corners of the door up to a drum near the spring assembly. They work under tension alongside the spring to keep the door tracking evenly as it rises and falls. A cable is not a decorative or backup part — if it snaps, that side of the door loses support.
Common causes of failure
- Fraying where the cable repeatedly runs over a drum or pulley edge, usually visible as individual wire strands lifting away from the main cable.
- Corrosion, especially in an unheated or damp garage — a common UK issue, see our guide to garage condensation and damp.
- The cable slipping off its drum, often after the door has been forced or has jammed once already.
- Age — cables are a wearing part with no fixed UK replacement interval, so visual inspection matters more than a calendar date.
What happens after a cable snaps
The door typically drops or tilts on the side with the failed cable and can jam solidly in the tracks. The remaining spring tension is still present and can make the door unpredictable to move even a small amount — this is why cable failure sits alongside spring failure as a job for an engineer, not a homeowner.
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Cable replacement | £120–£250 |
| Call-out fee | £40–£80 |
| Track repair/adjustment (if the door has jumped its track) | £100–£220 |
Prices include VAT. Both cables are usually replaced together even if only one has failed, since the pair is the same age.
Step by step
1.Stop using the door
Do not attempt to force the door up or down once a cable has snapped — the imbalance can cause the door to drop suddenly or jump the tracks further.2.Look, don’t touch
From a safe distance, check which side has dropped and whether the cable is visibly hanging loose or has come off its drum.Safety: Never handle a snapped cable or attempt to re-thread it onto the drum yourself. The spring it works against is still under tension and can move unexpectedly.
3.Secure the garage and book an engineer
If the door is stuck open or badly askew, treat it as a temporary security gap. Book an engineer and mention which side has dropped — this speeds up diagnosis.
Questions people ask
- Is a snapped garage door cable as dangerous as a broken spring?
- It carries a similar risk profile — the spring the cable works against is usually still tensioned, so an uncontrolled cable can whip or the door can drop unexpectedly. Treat it with the same caution: do not force the door and do not attempt a DIY fix.
- Can a garage door be used with one cable snapped?
- No. With one side unsupported the door will hang crooked and can jam or come off the tracks entirely if operated. Leave it in its current position and book an engineer.
- What causes garage door cables to snap in the UK?
- Fraying from repeated running over a drum edge, corrosion in a damp or unheated garage, and general age-related wear are the most common causes seen on UK up-and-over and sectional doors.
- How much does cable replacement cost?
- A typical UK cable replacement costs £120–£250 inc. VAT and fitting, plus a call-out fee of £40–£80. Engineers usually replace both cables together even if only one has failed.
UK standards and regulations referenced
- PUWER 1998
Related
Last reviewed: . Next review due: .