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If your garage door has recently started sounding louder than usual - maybe it’s groaning, rattling, squeaking, or just making a noise that wasn’t there before - you’re not the only one. We come across this all the time when we’re out visiting customers across Norwich and Norfolk. It’s one of those things that often creeps up slowly, and then one morning you lift the door and think, “That definitely wasn’t doing that yesterday.”
The good news is that most noisy garage doors aren’t on the brink of disaster. In a lot of cases, the noise is caused by everyday wear and tear or something fairly simple that’s easy to sort once you know what you’re dealing with. Still, it’s always worth paying attention to a change in sound, because it’s usually your door’s way of telling you that something needs a bit of care before it gets worse.
Below, we’ve broken down the most common reasons garage doors start making a racket, what those noises usually mean, and the fixes that tend to put things right.
Dry Hinges and Moving Parts
One of the most common causes of squeaks and creaks is good old-fashioned friction. Over time, the hinges, joints, and rollers lose lubrication. When that happens, metal starts rubbing against metal, and that’s where the noise comes from.
What it sounds like: A sharp squeak, chirp, or groan when you open or close the door.
Why it happens: Lubrication naturally dries out, especially on doors that are used daily. We also see it a lot on doors that sit in the sun or wind all day - something that’s pretty common around coastal areas of Norfolk.
What normally fixes it: A proper lubrication of the hinges, rollers, springs, and pivot points. A silicone-based lubricant usually works best because it doesn’t turn sticky or attract dust like WD-40 does. It’s a small job, but the difference can be huge.
Loose Screws, Brackets, or Fittings
Garage doors move far more than people think. Every time the door opens, the vibrations travel through the tracks, brackets, and fittings. Over the years, nuts and bolts naturally work themselves a little loose. This is especially true for older Up & Over doors that have seen their fair share of use.
What it sounds like: A rattling or clattering noise, sometimes more noticeable halfway up or halfway down.
Why it happens: Age, use, and general vibrations. Nothing dramatic - it’s just what happens to mechanical parts over time.
How to fix it: Tightening everything back up. We tend to check this during routine services, and it’s often the quickest win when someone calls us out about a noisy door.
Worn or Damaged Rollers
On roller garage doors, the rolling mechanism is obviously key. But even on sectional and Up & Over doors, the small wheels or rollers play a big role. Once those rollers start to wear down, you’ll hear it straight away.
What it sounds like: A grinding, scraping, or rumbling noise as the door moves.
Why it matters: Worn rollers don’t just make noise - they make the door feel heavier and can cause the track to wear unevenly.
What fixes it: Replacing the worn rollers. It’s usually a straightforward job and can completely transform how smoothly the door moves.
Springs Losing Tension
The springs do most of the heavy lifting on a manual garage door, and even automatic systems rely on spring tension to move smoothly. When a spring is wearing out, it can cause the door to jerk, struggle or make a loud “ping” or popping noise.
What it sounds like: Straining, snapping, heavy lifting noises.
Why it happens: Springs have a lifespan. The more the door is used, the quicker they wear out.
Why you shouldn’t ignore it: A failing spring is one of the most common causes of an unsafe garage door. If the tension goes completely, the door becomes very heavy and can fall unexpectedly.
Fix: A spring replacement - definitely not a DIY job. Springs are under serious tension, and replacing them needs proper tools and experience.
Tracks Out of Line
If the tracks on either side of the door shift even slightly, the door will no longer glide the way it should. We see this a lot when a door has been nudged by a car bumper, or when something has knocked against the inside of the door.
What it sounds like: Scraping, dragging, or sudden jerks as the door moves.
Why it happens: Tracks can bend or shift over time, especially if the door has ever been hit or if the mounting points have weakened.
Fix: Realigning the tracks and making sure everything is straight again. Once the door is running smoothly, the noise usually disappears instantly.
General Ageing and Wear
Sometimes there isn’t one big issue - it’s a combination of lots of small things. Older doors naturally develop a bit of character over the years. Screws work loose, rollers age, springs soften, and the whole system becomes a little noisier.
If your door is 20-30 years old, it’s perfectly normal for it to sound “old”, even if it’s still working fine.
The fix: A full service might help, but sometimes upgrading to a new roller or sectional doors makes more sense. Modern doors from brands like Garador and Warm Protection are noticeably smoother and quieter compared to older models.
Do Electric Garage Doors Make Less Noise?
Yes - most of the time, they do. A well-installed electric garage door tends to run far smoother than a manual one. The motor handles the movement instead of you lifting it yourself, which reduces jerking and strain.
Roller doors from Warm Protection and Garador also tend to be quiet because the material and motor systems are designed to run smoothly without clattering or banging.
Why It Helps to Call a Local Installer
If your door has recently started making noises you’re not used to, it’s worth getting someone local to take a look. We’ve been fitting and repairing garage doors across Norwich and Norfolk for more than 30 years, and noisy doors are something we deal with almost every week.
The benefit of using a local installer is that if anything needs adjusting after the visit, we can pop back quickly. And because we work with these doors day in and day out, it doesn’t take long for us to pinpoint the problem.
Need Your Noisy Garage Door Looked At?
Whether the noise is a small irritation or a sign that something’s wearing out, we’re happy to come round, have a look, and sort it out. Most issues are fixable on the spot, and if your door is getting a bit tired, we can talk you through modern options that run much quieter.
If you’d like us to take a look, just get in touch. We’ll book you in, pop over, and give you honest advice - no pressure, no salesy nonsense, just a straightforward chat and a proper fix.