Repairs · All brands
Electric gate repairs: diagnosis first, parts second
We repair electric gates of every brand across Surrey — CAME, BFT, Nice, FAAC, Roger, Liftmaster and unbranded imports. Call-outs are typically within two to four working days, we carry common boards, photocells and receivers on the van, and every repair starts with a safety check because a faulty gate is often an unsafe one. Diagnostic visits from £120.
The faults we see most — and what they usually mean
| Symptom | Usual causes | Repair cost band | DIY-checkable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate won't move, motor silent | Power, blown fuse, failed transformer, dead board | £ – ££ | Sometimes |
| Motor runs, gate doesn't move | Sheared coupling, stripped gear, disengaged release | ££ | Rarely |
| Opens but won't close | Blocked/misaligned photocells, failed safety edge | £ | Often — clean the lenses first |
| Stops and reverses mid-travel | Force limit tripping: stiff hinges, track debris, wind | £ – ££ | Sometimes — clear the track |
| Works from keypad, not remotes | Receiver fault or remote batteries/coding | £ | Often |
| One leaf lags or grinds | Hinge wear, ram geometry drift, hydraulic leak | ££ – £££ | No |
| Intermittent ghost opening | Interference, water in a junction box, failing board | ££ | No — needs tracing |
Before booking, three safe self-checks: is the control panel powered (indicator lights)? are photocell lenses clean and facing each other? do the remotes have fresh batteries? Those three resolve about a fifth of the calls we receive — our troubleshooting article walks through them.
Why every repair starts with a safety audit
A gate that's failing mechanically is usually also failing legally: force limits drift as hinges stiffen, safety edges perish, photocells get knocked out of alignment. Repairing the presenting fault while leaving the gate capable of crushing force would make the problem ours. So the first fifteen minutes of any visit is a BS EN 12453 check — forces, edges, photocells, manual release — and the quote separates "fix the fault" from "make it safe" so you can see both clearly. Detail on the standards page.
Obsolete systems: repair, replace the brain, or replace the gate?
Boards for systems over ~12 years old are frequently unobtainable. The decision tree we apply:
- Board available or substitutable → repair. Cheapest, keeps everything else.
- Board obsolete, motors sound → replace control gear with a current universal board, keep motors. Typically £600–£1,100.
- Motors obsolete/worn, gates sound → full re-automation on the existing gates: see gate automation, £2,800–£6,000.
- Gates themselves failing → the honest replacement conversation, with numbers from the cost page.
Free site survey & fixed quotation
Get a precise price for a gate repair
Tell us the opening width, whether power is nearby and the style you have in mind. We measure on site, confirm a fixed price in writing, and never sell door-to-door.
Prefer to talk? Call 01483 000 000.
Frequently asked questions
Do you repair gates you didn't install?
Yes — the majority of our repair work is on other installers' systems, including discontinued and unbranded import kits.
How fast can you attend?
Typically two to four working days; gates stuck closed across a sole vehicle access are prioritised, and we can talk you through the manual release by phone immediately.
My gate opens by itself at night — why?
Usually radio interference, water ingress into a junction box, or a failing board input. It needs tracing rather than guessing; it's also worth clearing stored remotes in case a lost or cloned fob is the cause.
Is it worth repairing a 15-year-old system?
If the motors are hydraulic FAAC or CAME units, often yes — they outlive their electronics. Budget electromechanical kits of that age are usually better re-automated. We'll give you both numbers.