Garage door repair cost guide

A garage door serves two main purposes. First, it complements the style of a house, enhancing its curb appeal. Second, it provides the required functionality, allowing a homeowner to drive in and out of the garage conveniently. If something goes wrong with a garage door from the aesthetic or functional point of view, a homeowner may either call a service provider to solve the problem relatively cheaply or replace the door altogether. As a garage door is quite expensive, the former option is preferable. Below, you will find some useful information concerning the typical garage door issues and how much it may cost to fix them.

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Garage door repair service providers perform regular inspections of garage doors, their in-depth repairs, or some minor adjustments to their outward appearance or inner workings. The list of possible issues includes unusual noises a door produces, its uneven movement or failure to open or close to the full, dents or holes in the panel, faulty sensors or opener, and other troubles. Most professionals charge a flat rate for the first hour of work, with any additional tasks being paid for by the hour. The total figure in the bill is determined by the difficulty of repair, type of the problem (broken springs or cables, debris in the track, circuit board out of order, and so on), time it takes to fix the issue, material (aluminum, fiberglass, wood), weight, and size of the door, and a number of other factors. On average, prepare to spend from $150 to $335. The maximum reported amount is $590. The minimum cost is $80.

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Price-related questions

What are the most typical issues with a garage door and how much does it cost to have them fixed?

Springs

One of the most common problems that garage door repair professionals have to fix is springs that have broken. The standard service life of a spring is around 10,000 cycles, with one cycle meaning one opening and closing of the door. If you enter and leave your home through the garage door, the springs are more likely to break sooner. There are two main types of springs found in garage doors. Here is a rundown of their features and cost to repair them when they get out of order.

Extensions springs

You can purchase these in an ordinary hardware store. Depending on their quality, they may cost in the range $7 - $35. They are simpler in mechanism than the second variety – torsion springs – and thus are less costly to replace. If you have two springs, professionals recommend having two new ones instead of the old ones even if only one of them is broken. A single extension spring will cost you between $110 and $130 to replace. For two-spring replacement work, expect to pay from $140 to $170.

Torsion springs

Unlike extension springs, torsion springs are provided by specialized garage door companies. They are also more expensive, costing from $50 to $110. The exact price is determined by how big a spring is required. Installing a torsion spring on your own is not recommended, if not impossible. Tension is the principle feature of this kind of mechanism. If not tackled properly, this spring may seriously traumatize the installer. Besides, winding the spring like this must be performed by using special equipment that only garage door companies have. Homeowners with the roll-up garage door variety will have to spend $210 - $260 (two-car garage door) for replacing the torsion springs. Those who have a tilt-up door installed will spend less: $170 - $210.

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Experts highly recommend disconnecting the springs and lifting the door with your hands minimum once a year. That way, you can see if the door is properly balanced. The sound of metal rubbing against metal or breaking of something inside means the door needs to be seen by a pro.

Sensors (safety beams/photo eyes)

These use an infrared beam to stop the door from closing every time something moves through the opening. Before going to extremes, check the following:

  • Alignment. A sensor with a flashing indicator light means the sensors are not aligned correctly. If that's the case, position them right. An uninterrupted indicator light is the sign that the issue is gone.
  • Obstacles. There must be no objects preventing the beam from reaching the opposite side of the garage. Those could be twigs, leaves, or similar things.
  • Dirt. The sensor itself must be clean: there must be no dirt on it.

After cleaning the sensor and clearing its path, try the door to see if the problem is fixed. If not, call professionals. If the photo eyes need replacement, a service provider will charge you around $180. Simply repairing them will cost you a hundred dollars less.

Cables

One day, you may notice that your roll-up door doesn't close so quietly and slowly as it used to, but simply falls down. That indicates the door cables are broken or have lost their sturdiness. Since the cables are subjected to a great tension, their replacement is clearly not a DIY project. If they are mounted incorrectly and suddenly break, that may damage your vehicle or injure you. These garage door elements are not very expensive (around $20 a piece). However, a professional will need some time to get them working. Prepare to spend from $130 to $190, materials included.

Opener

The garage door system comprises the door itself and the opener. If you maintain the opener well, you can enjoy its flawless operation up to 15 years. Sometimes, however, this electric device may get out of order. In many cases, you'll have to have it replaced by professionals. Before you call them, though, go over all or some of these steps:

  • If your opener is equipped with an indicator light, press the button (if available) next to it. The light is still off? Try removing the old battery out of the opener and putting in a new one.
  • Make sure there is enough grease in the tracks. If you hear an unpleasant metallic sound, add more lubricant. An insufficient amount of this substance may cause the opener failure over time.
  • Check the batteries in your remote control. Put new ones in to see if the remote is working.

If none of those measures has had any effect, you may have to hire an electrician to have a look at the wiring. When replacement is unavoidable, choose an opener that corresponds to the weight of your door. There are many different models and brands of garage door openers available on the market. So, it's hard to say how much you'll spend on the project. However, if you call a pro, be prepared to pay a service fee - around $80.

Tracks
  • The door may be closing with an unpleasant metallic sound or very slowly. That may mean there's something preventing the rollers from moving freely. Make sure there are no foreign objects along the tracks. The sound may also mean the tracks are not greased enough. You can purchase a special kind of lubricant for that purpose ($12-$15 per bottle) and spread it evenly along the tracks.
  • A track may have been damaged in some way. The warped part of the track then produces the squealing sound when it rubs against the moving door. If the metal is soft enough, you could put it right yourself. Otherwise, professional help is needed.

A service provider will take around $160 for fixing any issues with the tracks.

Does the door material affect the garage door repair cost?

It does. Different garage door materials have their pros and cons including price.

Wood. Cost: from $180 to $260. Doors made of custom wood are the costliest to repair.

Aluminum. Cost: from $170 to $210.

Fiberglass. Cost: from $150 to $170.

Insulated steel. Cost: from $140 to $160.

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Information to check

Contractor

Choose a respectable company with years of experience. Review at least 4 bids before making a final decision. As this market, unfortunately, is full of scams, make sure the contractor is licensed and insured. Certification from a reputable organization is also a proof you're dealing with real professionals. Don't be misled by low prices, as con artists often use them as a bait.

Warranty

A good contractor always gives a warranty for the service in the written form. Its standard length is 5 years. Make sure the necessary door components are included in the warranty. Then, you won't have to purchase them if the door breaks while the warranty is still valid.

Photos

Check if the contractor requires you to take photos of the door. Even if not, it's a good idea to document the damage visually.

Other frequently asked questions

What if I need to have my door repaired urgently? For example, if my car is trapped in the garage and I have no other access inside.

Some garage door repair companies have round-the-clock service for such situations. You'll have to pay more in comparison with a standard visit and even more when this a weekend or holiday.

How much do new rollers cost?

One roller will cost you $10-$11.

I've broken a glass in my door? What's the cost of having a new one installed?

You'll pay $30-$55 for the glass and a fee of around $80.

Bottom line

The garage door cost depends on the type of the problem, door material, weight, size, and style, the need to replace faulty components with new ones, and other factors. The average cost ranges between $150 and $335.

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