How Much is Garage Door Repair and Installation?
You should never spend more than half the cost of a new garage door to repair your existing garage door.
The garage door is the largest moving object in your home, and today it is used more than ever. Because of this, homeowners are needing repair and replacement much sooner than in previous years. Most homeowners have no idea about how to repair or replace their garage door, so they leave it to a professional. In this article, we will discuss the average low and high price for garage door repair and replacement, so you can make an informed decision the next time you require service.
Grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and enjoy the read!
Price Increases and Supply Shortages
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
If this article was written before 2020, I would have had to trash it and rewrite it. Garage door companies have received the equivalent of thirty years of price increases on some products in the span of two years. We had thought the worst of times were behind us when 2020 passed, and then 2021 came out of the chutes like a bucking horse at the rodeo. It was one of the most trying times for anyone running a service company, and 2022 is not looking much better.
Price increases for garage door parts have ranged anywhere from 100-300% on average, while a select few have increased 1,000%. Yes, you did not read that wrong. There are parts that now cost anywhere from nine to ten times more than we were paying in early 2019. The price increases were coming so fast in 2020 that many contractors and service companies had to add clauses to their estimates and quotes stating they were only good for one to three days. Most quotes used to be good for thirty to sixty days on average.
What’s even more shocking is the lack of parts availability. For the first time in our tenure as service business owners, distributors have given us “indefinite” lead times meaning they have no idea when a product is coming in. The factory has communicated indefinite lead times which means your product will arrive, when it arrives. Try explaining that to a customer who is spending several thousand dollars with you on a project.
All discounts, bulk buys, combo packs, and loyalties were thrown out the window in the past few years. Because supplies have been so limited, it has left every man to fight and scrape for every part on their service truck. And to top it all off, gas prices have doubled. So, go easy on your service company. They are under a tremendous amount of stress. Instead of asking for discounts and coupons, start asking for quality parts and great service. We need it now more than ever.
Lastly, think long and hard before leaving a bad review online. Smaller service companies are spending countless hours attempting to source products when all they want to do it make repairs on your home. Most of this is done after hours or very early in the morning. These last few years have doubled their workload and tripled their stress levels. I am not saying some companies don’t deserve a one-star review, but think about it for a day or two to make sure they really deserve that demotion in these unsettling times.
Garage Door Repair & Replacement Pricing Chart
Garage door repair and replacement can vary depending on where you live and the quality of the products being installed. The chart provided here gives you an average low price and high price based on years of experience, discussions with garage door professionals, and averages found online. If you can find a quality company quoting you a price somewhere in the middle, then you’re probably on the right track. We go into greater detail throughout this article explaining each repair and make recommendations based on years of experience.
Torsion Spring Repair Cost
$175-$300 to replace one spring
$250-$450 to replace two springs
(including parts, labor, and service call)
The spring is the heart of any garage door system and nothing happens without it. Many homeowners don’t even realize a spring is what lifts their garage door, and the automatic opener is only there for convenience. Standard single car non-insulated garage doors weigh around 90 pounds, while double car width doors weigh around 160 pounds. Steel back insulated double car doors can get close to 300 pounds.
Single car garage doors will normally have one torsion spring, while double car width garage doors can have one or two torsion springs. The cost to replace one torsion spring can range from $175-$300, while having two torsion springs replaced can range anywhere from $250-$450. Of course, these numbers are averages and highly dependent on where you live and the quality of parts used.
In rare instances, you could have three or four torsion springs if you have a heavy overlay garage door. Each additional spring will cost around $100-$150 more. Some heavy residential garage doors will require custom cut springs. Custom cut springs will vary greatly depending on where your service company sources the springs. Distributors can vary greatly on how much they charge to cut and build custom springs.
Extension Spring Repair Cost
$150-$250 to replace two extension springs
(including parts, labor, and service call)
Extension springs are the smaller diameter springs you find on the left and ride side of a garage door by the horizontal tracks. They stretch as the garage door goes down, and they retract as it goes back up. They require two pulleys on each side for the cable to run through to operate the garage door properly. Most of the time when they break, it is on the end of the spring which will either have a hook or a loop.
Extension spring repair will range from $150-$250 to replace two springs. It is always best to replace extension springs in pairs, so each spring has the same pulling power, which will make the door go up evenly. If one spring is broken or sprung, the other spring is not too far behind. Both springs will have the same number of cycles, so replacing them in pairs will save you money in additional service calls.
Wayne Dalton Torquemaster Spring Conversion Cost
$300-$550 depending on the size of door
(including parts, labor, and service call)
The Wayne Dalton Torquemaster spring system is a relatively new type of garage door spring that has been installed for home builders for the last ten years or so. It features a tube mounted above the garage door with small diameter springs inside the tube. On most Torquemaster systems, the door will lock itself in the up position when the spring breaks because it features anti-drop protection.
Most garage door companies that come to your home will convert the Torquemaster spring to a standard torsion spring. The cost to have this done will range from $300-$550 depending on the size of your garage door. Most Wayne Dalton 9100 style garage doors will take a single torsion spring, but your larger doors will need a pair of torsion springs and longer cables and shaft which will add to the cost.
I recommend having the conversion to torsion spring done because the end product will be much higher quality. This service is more expensive because it requires new cables, drums, bearing plates, spring pad, spring bushing, torsion shaft, torsion springs, and all the hardware to install it properly. These parts are what you see on every standard garage door that has been installed in the past fifty years, but builder grade garage doors have found a way to eliminate many parts to save money.
The parts used to be relatively inexpensive, but at the time of writing this they are at an all-time high. I would still recommend having the torsion spring installed over replacing the Torquemaster spring inside the tube. You will end up with a higher quality product that will last longer.
Garage Door Off Track Repair Cost
$150-$350 depending on severity
(including labor and service call)
A garage door that is considered to be off track could be something as simple as a cable off the drum all the way to a complete garage door laying on the ground. We have seen it all, so the price for this service will vary depending on the severity of your repair. You can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $350 depending on how bad your door is off track. What you are paying for is the technical know-how.
Many times when a garage door is off track, the homeowner, or their neighbor thinks you can easily put things back on track, but that is seldom the case. Yes, sometimes there are simple fixes, and I am all for saving money, but please ensure you know what you are doing. For every action, there is a reaction, with a garage door. A simple door off track that would have cost you $150 to have fixed, can easily turn into a door laying on the ground or possibly the loss of a finger.
We were able to put the garage door shown above back on track. As long as the sections are still in good shape, a garage door company will be able to reinstall the sections back in the tracks. Keep in mind this is a much more severe case and usually involves taking the sections apart, re-stacking them, and rewinding the torsion springs which will cost more to have this done.
I’m not going to say we have seen it all, but we have hundreds of photos of off track garage doors that we have repaired, and it never gets old. Every off track garage door presents new challenges to a service technician who builds their skill level and confidence moving forward. We could go on all day with images of garage doors that are off track. Who knows, one day we might do a complete article with photos of all the garage doors we have put back on track.
Garage Door Cable Replacement Cost
$120-$200 to have cables replaced
(including parts, labor, and service call)
A broken or frayed garage door cable looks like an easy fix, but in reality it is a repair that should be performed by a trained technician. When changing cables with a spring under tension, the technician must know how to block the spring and set the cable properly on the drum, so the door is even with the header when it closes. This will guarantee the garage door looks correct in the up and down positions.
Cable replacement can range from $120-$200 depending on how many cables you are having replaced and the type. If you’re having torsion cables replaced, you want to make sure they are installing 1/8” thick cables, which will give you years of trouble-free service. Many builder grade garage doors will use 3/32” torsion cables, which are smaller in diameter.
Garage Door Roller Replacement Cost
$130-$200 to have ten rollers replaced
(including parts, labor, and service call)
Roller replacement is one of the best repairs you can have done to your garage door. Rollers are the tires your garage door runs on, and the full weight of the door is put on these parts as it runs up into the horizontal tracks. Making sure your garage door has good rollers will make it easier on your automatic opener, therefore preventing premature failure.
Roller replacement on your garage door can run anywhere from $130-$200 for ten rollers replaced, depending on the type of roller you are having installed. There are many types of garage door rollers ranging from the builder grade basic plastic rollers, 10-13 ball bearing rollers, all the way to the big bad Magnum sealed ball bearing roller.
Performance levels and the life span of these rollers will vary drastically depending on what you have installed. The Magnum is essentially a lifetime roller, but most garage door companies will not have these on their trucks because they are cost prohibitive.
Reinforcement Strut Installed on Sagging Section
$95-$135 for a single car garage door
$130-$180 for a double car garage door
(including parts, labor, and service call)
If your garage door is sagging or has cracks in the sections, you may be able to repair it with a reinforcement strut. Not all garage doors are repairable, especially if the section has completely lost its integrity or if you have a builder grade garage door with very thin metal to start with. But, if you catch it in time, most garage doors can be repaired with a strut which will save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars replacing sections or a complete door.
When getting quotes from garage door companies, ask them what gauge the strut is they use. All struts used to be 20 gauge for residential, which provided great strength when reinforcing sections. Today, with rising prices and shortages, the new normal has become 22 gauge and some companies will even use 24 gauge or thinner. Make sure the company you are using is installing at least a 22 gauge strut, especially if you have a double car garage door. If you can get a 20 gauge strut installed, even better.
Top Section Bent on Single Car Garage Door
$95-$135 for a single car garage door
(including parts, labor, and service call)
Many single car garage doors are installed by home builders and developers without struts when no automatic opener is to be installed. What usually happens is an automatic opener is eventually installed due to their popularity and the top section will start cracking, bending, and sagging because there is no reinforcement.
The cost to have a strut installed on the top section of your single car garage door ranges from $95-$135 depending on whether you have a 8ft or 9ft wide garage door. Installing the proper garage door strut on the top section will fix most single car width sections, even if they have lost their integrity. Of course, the ultimate assessment will come from your garage door service company as they are performing their inspection. It’s also common to have the top center stile repaired as well because it typically becomes detached from the section.
Section Sagging on Double Car Garage Door
$130-$180 for a double car garage door
(includes one strut, labor, and service call)
A double car width garage door in most cases will be anywhere from 16ft to 18ft wide. It’s not uncommon for a garage door this size to generate a crack in the middle of the section due to age or from being hit by a vehicle. Typically, you can repair a sagging section with a reinforcement strut, unless the section is beyond repair, which is possible.
Having one strut installed usually doesn’t require further adjustments, but two struts will most likely require a spring adjustment. The additional weight from having reinforcement struts installed on your garage door will add weight that can prematurely wear your automatic opener if the torsion springs are not adjusted properly. Hiring a professional to fix your garage door properly will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars by not having to install new sections or an entirely new garage door.
Here is a link to an extensive article we wrote on sagging garage doors: Garage Door Sagging in the Middle? Here’s Why
How Much to Fix a Dented Garage Door?
$300-$450 to replace one single car garage door section
$500-$900 to replace one double car garage door section
(including parts, labor, and service call)
Contrary to what most people might believe, fixing dents in a garage door section is not really possible. Yes, you may be able to push out a large dent caused by a basketball with your hands. But, most dents created in a garage door section actually stretch the metal, making it very hard to remove them. Combine that with a dent that lands on the stamped pattern or shadow groove, and you’re left with a full section replacement.
Section replacement cost will be highly dependent on the brand and model of garage door you have. There are non-insulated, vinyl back insulated, steel back insulated, and now foam core garage doors all offered by various manufacturers. Some insulated garage door sections use polystyrene white foam, while more expensive sections will have polyurethane injected foam insulation.
All you can hope for is that the section is still available for your garage door. Some manufacturers are notorious for constantly changing models, which helps them sell new doors. If you need more than two sections replaced, you’re most likely going to be getting close to the price of a full replacement.
Garage Door Tune-up Cost
$100-$150 for a basic tuneup
(including labor and service call)
A garage door tune-up can range from a simple lubrication and adjustment all the way to replacing hinges, cables, bearings plates, rollers, and drums. A basic tune-up will run you anywhere from $100-$150 depending on how many garage doors you have. It will include lubrication, track adjustments, spring adjustments, tightening hinges, opener lubrication, and limit adjustments. What you’re paying for is a trained eye looking over your garage door to determine if parts require replacing or reinforcing.
Most garage door openers don’t need much lubrication, but screw drive openers will benefit from some low temp grease on the screw drive rail. Chain and belt drive garage door openers will usually need to be tightened up due to stretching that occurs over time. The drive sprockets on top of the motor and at the end of the rail by the header can be lightly lubricated which will make for smoother operation and quiet down squeaky parts.
New Garage Door Replacement Cost
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweet taste of low price is forgotten
Benjamin Franklin
Garage door replacement will include new sections, tracks, springs, cables, rollers, hinges, and all hardware required for assembly. The quality of all those parts will depend highly on the brand and model you choose. With all the builder grade products being installed today, it’s more important than ever to ask informed questions about the garage door being installed in your home.
The level of builder grade garage doors has reached an all-time low in quality. I honestly don’t know how some of these garage doors pass the minimum safety specs, so they can be installed in a home. Make sure you know what you’re looking at when comparing bids between garage door companies. You will have to sift through fancy marketing speak and pretty pictures to determine which garage door is right for your home. Let’s take a look at some pricing for a quality garage door.
Non-insulated Garage Door Replacement Cost
$900-$1200 single car non-insulated garage door
$1500-$1900 double car non-insulated garage door
(including parts and labor)
I would rather have a quality non-insulated garage door installed in my home over a cheap, builder grade insulated door. The pricing we are showing here for non-insulated garage doors is for a 25 gauge outside face with a top strut installed on the top section. The garage door should have 10-13 ball bearing nylon rollers with 14 or 16 gauge wide body hinges installed.
If you’re having a double car width garage door installed, make sure it has three full rows of vertical stiles, so the door has enough spine to go the distance. Windsor Garage Doors has been slowly removing the rows of stiles on their garage doors, so they can keep lowering the cost for home builders. A new homeowner will not know the difference until they have to replace their garage door in under five years.
Insulated Garage Door Replacement Cost
$1500-$1800 single car steel back insulated garage door
$2600-$3000 double car steel back insulated garage door
(including parts and labor)
The standard metal gauge you want to look for in a steel back insulated garage door is 27 gauge interior and exterior. You can opt for a 24 gauge outside face with a 27 gauge inside, but expect to pay more for this configuration. Like we mentioned above with the non-insulated doors, make sure your installing company uses 10-13 ball bearing nylon rollers and 14-16 gauge wide body hinges. The heavier duty rollers and hinges are even more important with a steel back garage door due to the significant increase in weight.
Insulated garage doors are not as straightforward as the old days. Because of the housing boom in the last twenty years, less expensive garage doors manufactured with cheaper materials have been in demand to stay competitive and meet bid specs.
Wayne Dalton 9100 foam core, thin Windsor vinyl back garage doors, and 1 3/8” thick steel back garage doors were introduced so home builders and apartment complexes could meet a bid spec and tell new residents they have an insulated garage door. What you the homeowner ends up with is a garage door that will need to be replaced due to premature failure.
If you’re interested in a new insulated garage door, take a look at this extensive article we wrote that explains the different types of insulated garage doors: The Complete Guide to Garage Door Insulation
Woodgrain Finish on Metal Garage Doors
$350-$600 upgrade cost for single car garage doors
$700-$1200 upgrade cost for double car garage doors
Price shown above is to upgrade from standard paint to the premium bi-directional woodgrain finish.
For years, woodgrain patterns offered on metal garage doors would only run one direction which was usually horizontal. With advancements in printing technology, garage door manufacturers now offer bi-directional woodgrain finishes that offer the realism of wood with the low maintenance of a steel garage door.
The upgrade cost to bi-directional woodgrain finishes can vary drastically depending on the manufacturer you go with. You can expect to pay anywhere from $6-$10 per sq. ft. for popular finishes like walnut, mahogany, cedar, and oak. The pricing you pay will depend on where you are located and how your garage door company calculates upgrades.
Important Note
Most garage door manufacturers only offer their bi-directional woodgrain finish in steel back insulated garage doors. This means, if you intended to have non-insulated garage doors installed, you will now have to pay the upgrade cost to steel back and the additional cost for the bi-directional woodgrain finish. Some manufacturers have started offering their bi-directional woodgrain finishes with their non-insulated door. Only time will tell if the rest of the industry follows suit.
Glass Garage Door Replacement Cost
$4500-$7000 for a single car glass garage door
$7000-$10,000 for a double car glass garage door
(including parts and labor)
Full-view glass garage doors are all over the map when it comes to pricing. Most configurations are built using aluminum frames with clear 1/8” tempered glass. Glass options range from thicker 1/4” or 1/2” glass to obscure, bronze, frosted, or black ice options. Standard anodized frames are available in standard colors, while powder coat and Kynar options give you many more colors to choose from.
A whole article could be written on full-view glass garage doors and the options they offer. If you’re serious about this type of garage door, it’s best to meet with someone who can show you some samples and go over in detail what you’re getting for your money. The pricing on these garage doors can add up quickly, depending on the style and color you are looking for.
No matter which garage door you select, outside vinyl trim and disposal of wood garage doors could be extra depending on the company you hire.
Garage Door Replacement Cost (Labor Only)
$250-$400 for one garage door installed
(labor only)
You may have a hard time finding a garage door company to install a door you already own, especially if the box has already been opened. The reason for this is it usually takes more time to install a garage door after someone has already attempted to. Many times parts are missing, and your local home store won’t include a top strut on single car garage doors, which is another out-of-pocket expense.
If you need a new garage door, it’s best to hire a company that can supply the garage door and labor. The reason for this is mainly due to warranty. The company that installs your garage door will ultimately be responsible for warranty on the door for at least a year. By installing a garage door purchased from the manufacturer, they can go back to them for help if your door ever requires warranty repair.
Another reason most companies don’t like installing DIY garage doors is because they come with inferior spring systems that don’t last as long as the standard torsion spring setup. The last thing you want on the largest moving object in your home is crappy parts. You may save money in the beginning, but sooner than later, you will be replacing parts at retail value plus service call fees, which will end up costing you more in the long run.
Garage Door Replacement Return on Investment
Garage Door Replacement ranked #1 in 2021 with a 93.8% return on investment
The Cost vs Value Report has been published for years by Remodeling Magazine which compares the average costs for 22 remodeling projects against the perceived value you gain as a homeowner when you go to resale your home. This report has been used as the gold standard for many marketing agencies and corporations trying to get their message out.
Because the garage door makes up 1/3 of the front of a home when looking from the street, garage door replacement has been ranked as one of the top return on investment home remodeling projects for years. Manufacturers are releasing new designs and woodgrain patterns every year, making garage door replacement a no-brainer for home resale value, with a return on investment ranking 90% or higher in recent years.
Buying From a Dealer vs Local Box Store
If you’re in the market for a new garage door, buy the door from a local dealer who can install it for you. You will get a better garage door with higher quality components, and the person you deal with will most likely only deal in garage doors and be an expert in the field. A garage door dealer lives and breathes garage doors every day and because they also repair them, they know which brands and models to avoid.
A dealer will want you to have the best experience with the fewest issues possible because they will be providing warranty on parts and labor. It will be in their best interest to use quality rollers, hinges, springs, and tracks to ensure longevity with your garage door system. The installation is one of the most critical aspects of having a new garage door installed, and local home centers don’t necessarily pay their installing companies top dollar. Like the age-old adage, you get what you pay for.
Opener Gear & Sprocket Replacement Cost
$150-$200 to replace gear & sprocket assembly
(including parts, labor, and service call)
The most common gear and sprocket assembly replacement on residential garage door openers is on the Chamberlain, LiftMaster, and Craftsman brands. All three of these brands were manufactured by the Chamberlain Group. The gear and sprockets on these openers would finally give out like clockwork around the ten-year mark. Luckily, for years, parts were plentiful and replacement was easily done in the field.
This job was more intensive than a standard plastic gear replacement found on other brands of garage door openers. There were a few ways you could go about it, but many times we would just remove the complete motor to get it out of the way. This repair is more labor-intensive than other, more simple repairs found on garage door openers, so expect to pay a little more.
Opener Screw Drive Carriage Replacement Cost
$110-$150 to replace one carriage
(including parts, labor, and service call)
Genie Company made the screw drive garage door opener famous. The older units had a loyal following because they would easily last over twenty years with maintenance. One of the most common repairs on this type of garage door opener is carriage replacement. Over time, the teeth on the carriage will strip out, and you will walk out in the garage and hear a noise that sounds like a 50cal machine gun. This sound is the long screw attempting to grab the teeth on the stripped carriage.
Replacing the carriage is simple, and it does not require adjusting the limits if you have flip limit switches on the rail. You can purchase a replacement part online and slide the old carriage off the front of the rail and slide your new one back on. That’s about it. Nothing more to it. Of course, if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, you can hire a garage door company.
New Remotes Programmed with Service Call
$100-$150 for one remote programmed
(including parts, labor, and service call)
Whenever a customer needs a new remote, my initial response is to direct them to a website where they can purchase the remote and program it themselves. The reason for this is a homeowner will have to pay a garage door company a service call plus the cost of the remote, which can easily run $100-$150. In my opinion, this is a lot of money to spend on something as simple as programming a remote that you can do yourself for around $30-$50.
If you would like to have a trained technician check out and service your garage door, then paying the service call is definitely worth it. A trained eye will be able to spot worn rollers, frayed cables, or cracked hinges which is good because these parts can be replaced before they break and cause larger problems like a door off track.
New Outside Keypad with Service Call
$120-$170 for one keypad installed and programmed
(including parts, labor, and service call)
Programming an outside keypad can be simple with brands like LiftMaster and Chamberlain, but others may require extensive reading of the owner’s manual to determine the proper setup procedures. I understand if a homeowners want’s to have a garage door service company provide, install, and program a new keypad since it can be a more extensive process. If you are willing to take the time to read the instructions, you can most likely do it yourself. But, keep in mind, some instructions may be difficult to understand and interpret, especially when dealing with universal keypads.
New Automatic Garage Door Opener Installed
$400-$650 for one automatic opener installed
(including parts, labor, and service call)
The pricing to have a new automatic opener installed will vary greatly depending on the features you request with your new opener. Chain and belt drive systems are the most popular today, and many units now include Wi-Fi built in. Higher end units will feature integrated LED lights that give you more light in your garage and bulbs never need to be replaced. This is a great option for seniors that have a hard time changing the light bulbs in their garage door opener.
Chain drive garage door openers with standard light bulbs and Wi-Fi will be in the lower range around $400-$500 installed, while belt drive units with LED lights will run $500-$600 installed. How many remotes and keypads you get with this pricing will be highly dependent on whether the manufacturer is running specials.
Garage door openers that feature full LED light panels and video cameras will definitely be priced on the upped end. You can expect to pay anywhere from $650-$800 for these units installed depending on their feature set. You can also expect to pay the same amount for the heavier duty LiftMaster openers with I-beam rails designed for extremely heavy carriage house garage doors.
If you need more remotes and keypads installed at the time of installation, they should run you about $40-$70 each depending on the brand and model. Most garage door companies will help you with basic Wi-Fi setup with your smartphone and program your vehicles at no extra charge, while others may charge an additional fee for these services.
Garage Door Opener Installation (Labor Only)
$150-$250 for one automatic opener installed
(labor only)
The pricing we are showing here to have an automatic garage door opener installed by a trained technician is a realistic amount. This is labor cost you should expect to pay to have an opener installed when you are providing the unit. If you are comparing labor costs from a reputable garage door company to your local home store, that is not a fair comparison. Most local home stores offer cheaper installation prices and 99% of the time you will get a subpar installation. Let me explain.
First, the companies they use are not paid much to install your garage door opener. Their business model is to get into the customer’s home through a local home store and upsell additional parts to make up for the loss. Second, if you purchase the unit yourself, your warranty will run through the local home store. What this means is if you ever need to return the unit or deal with warranty, you will have to call the manufacturer yourself or remove the unit from the ceiling, so it can be returned.
The provided angle that comes in the box of a store bought DIY garage door opener is inferior to what a pro will use off their truck. We have seen on many occasions where this cheaper, thinner angle or strap has failed, resulting in a service call the homeowner has to pay because the unit wasn’t installed properly from the start.
Here are a few questions you need to ask when having a garage door opener installed that you purchase from your local home store:
- Are they supplying light bulbs?
- Are they using heavy-duty angle?
- Are they installing a sway brace?
- Will they program your vehicle?
- How much extra to install a keypad?
- Will they help set up your Wi-Fi?
The answer to the questions above is almost always a resounding “Yes” when you have a professional provide and install a garage door opener. A reputable company will have to warranty the product they install, so they use high-quality parts to help prevent problems throughout the life of the product.
Here is a link to a more extensive article we wrote on opener installation: How Much is Garage Door Opener Installation?
Basic Service Call
$60-$90 for a service call
Some companies will make service calls confusing by actually calling their “trip charge” a service call or vice versa. This is very common with service companies, especially ones that love using marketing tactics to confuse customers, so they can charge more. Most garage door companies will be able to quote you basic pricing, especially if you can email or text them a picture of your issue.
Most reputable service companies will charge you a basic service call plus parts. For instance, you may pay a $79 service call which includes the trip out to your home. If you have a single broken hinge on your garage door you may pay on average about $10 to have that hinge replaced. Your total bill would be $89 for a simple repair and the technician should lubricate your garage doors well as part of the service.
Send a Photo of Your Garage Door Issue
One of the biggest advantages of modern technology is the ability to quickly snap a photo of your garage door issue and send it to your repair company. By doing this, you will set expectations between you and the company, and they should be able to quote pretty accurate pricing based on your photos. Of course, there could always be additional damaged parts you didn’t see, like a frayed cable or cracked hinge. But, for the most part, you will have a good idea of what to expect, so there are no major surprises.
Beware of Garage Door Scams
Garage door repair services have become the target of scammers, making it harder for legitimate, honest companies to do business. Call centers have been set up to take service requests, which then dispatch subcontractors to your home. These third-party individuals make all their money upselling you services and parts. They use deceptive garage door coupons and marketing terms, so they can get their contractors into your home and pressure you or your elderly parents into purchasing goods and services at 4-5 times the going rate. Most of these offers are displayed on fancy websites that will look too good to be true.
Technicians Need Room in Garage to Work
A garage door technician will need about 2ft back from the garage door across the full width of the door to replace a spring and other parts on the garage door. If the garage door is off track, the technician will need access to the horizontal tracks, so they can put rollers back in the tracks and make necessary adjustments.
Many times when doing a garage door repair, the automatic opener will need force or travel adjustments so the area underneath the motor hanging from the ceiling will need to be cleared, so they can access it with their ladder.
Finding a Quality Garage Door Company
A quick search online will yield various articles about garage door repair and replacement costs. Most of these articles are written by websites that attempt to connect homeowners with service companies, also known as service company referral or lead directories. It’s best to stay away from these services because they take a large cut from the company you hire. The cost you pay will either be inflated from the start, or the company will be looking to make up for the loss by upselling products.
The best way to find a good service company is to call or drive down to your local realty office. Realtors and property managers always need qualified companies to make repairs on homes they are managing or selling. Most realtors have already sifted through the bad contractors and landed on a couple of honest companies they trust. For the referral, you can take some business cards from the realtor and pass them out to people you know who are buying or selling a home. Or, you can share their information on your social media as a way of saying thanks.
Conclusion
A reputable garage door company should be able to quote you prices over the phone for the most popular garage door repairs like spring replacement, cable replacement, roller replacement, and even automatic opener replacement. Residential garage door companies perform these same services day in and day out, and there is usually nothing surprising that pops up. Yes, you could have a frayed cable or a cracked hinge, but the repair company can show you the actual damaged part, so you know they are being straight with you.
Please keep in mind, this article was written in 2022 while gas prices and supply shortages were soaring to unprecedented levels. Because of what we have witnessed in the past few years, no one can guess where it is going. Just when we think things are getting better, another price increase is implemented or a local distributor will announce they are no longer selling certain products due to shortages. All of this drastically affects the cost of goods and services installed on your home.
The prices we quote in this article will be a great starting point to help you determine if what you are being quoted is reasonable. If you can find a quality company that is quoting you pricing somewhere in the middle, then you’re doing good. If you find a company that is quoting above the high price, tell them to leave and find someone else. Contacting a local realtor is a good place to start when looking for referrals, as most of them have already vetted many local service businesses.
