Brands
Cardale garage doors
Cardale was a UK garage door maker. Its up-and-over doors were common in British garages from the 1970s to the 2000s. Cardale is now a legacy brand, and many original spring drum gear parts are obsolete. UK installers often advise converting a Cardale door to modern canopy or retractable gear instead of hunting for old parts.
Cardale is a trade mark of its owner. We use the name only to identify and compare products. This is an independent guide, and we are not a Cardale dealer or installer.
Parts note: Cardale is a legacy brand, so original spares for its gear are limited. UK installers often advise converting an existing Cardale door to modern canopy or retractable gear, because discontinued parts are hard to find.
Cardale was a well-known UK maker of steel up-and-over doors. It fitted them widely across Britain from the 1970s to the 2000s. Cardale no longer trades in the same form, and its old spring drum gear is now mostly obsolete. As a result, owners of an older Cardale door usually choose between rare reclaimed parts and a switch to modern gear.
We do not supply Cardale parts or doors. Our pages explain your options, while a local engineer can inspect the door.
Ranges
Steel up-and-over (legacy)
Why Cardale parts are hard to find
Cardale doors from the 1970s to the 2000s used the maker's own spring drum gear. This design is unique to Cardale, so it will not swap with modern canopy or retractable gear from other brands. As Cardale wound down, drum, cable and spring parts for this gear became scarce. Because of this, many UK installers no longer stock them.
What breaks on an old Cardale door
The most common faults are worn or snapped lifting cables. A failed drum spring is also common. After decades of use, the pivot points in the gear wear as well. However, the steel door leaf is often still sound even when the gear has failed. For this reason, a gear conversion usually costs less than a full door replacement.
Converting to modern canopy gear
UK installers often fix an ageing Cardale door by converting it to modern canopy gear. This keeps the existing door leaf where its condition allows. It swaps the obsolete drum mechanism for current gear and springs. As a result, you avoid the cost of a new door and frame, and the door works safely again.
Never try to take apart or adjust spring drum gear yourself. Wound springs store a lot of energy, and they have caused serious injury when released. An engineer with the right winding equipment should always do this work.
Questions people ask
- Are Cardale garage doors still made?
- No, Cardale is a legacy UK brand and is not an active manufacturer supplying new doors in the way it once did. Existing Cardale doors remain common across UK garages fitted from the 1970s to the 2000s, but new parts availability is limited.
- Can I still get spares for a Cardale garage door?
- Original Cardale spring drum gear parts are largely obsolete, and stock is scarce. Most UK installers now recommend converting the existing door leaf to modern canopy or retractable gear rather than searching for discontinued Cardale-specific components.
- Is it worth replacing an old Cardale door instead of repairing it?
- Not necessarily. If the steel door leaf itself is in good condition, converting it to modern gear is typically cheaper than a full replacement. A full new door becomes the better option mainly where the leaf itself is rusted, dented or structurally compromised.