How Much Does it Cost to Repair a Garage Door?

Garage doors provide one of the major entryways into your home. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that they are secure and in good working order. If you are having problems with your current door, then you need to have a professional determine if it can be repaired or if it will need to be replaced. Here are some of the most common factors that will affect the cost of a garage door repair.

On This Page:

1. Cost of Common Garage Door Repairs
2. Other Garage Door Problems
3. Garage Door Repair Costs by Style
4. Garage Door Repair Prices by Materials
5. What About Garage Door Finishing?
6. The Bottom Line

How Much Do Common Garage Door Repairs Cost?

Though you can do some maintenance to your garage doors on your own, it may be a good idea to schedule routine inspections with a professional. A typical service call will include a manual inspection of the door and opener. Then adjustments can be made including spring tension, chain/belt tension, limits and force adjustments and door lubrication. Fees for this service vary from place to place, but garage door repairs typically cost between $148 and $326.

Here are some common garage door repairs and their associated costs:

1) The door will not open or close.

There could be several reasons for your garage door to stick in one position or another:

• Sensor Obstruction – If your system is equipped with sensors at the base of the track, any obstruction could make your garage door fail to operate correctly. Check to be sure there is nothing in the path of the sensors.
• Opener – If there’s nothing obstructing the sensors, then the problem might involve the garage opener repair. If there is a small light on your opener, press the button and see if the light illuminates. If it does not, likely you will need to replace the small battery inside the opener. This is a very inexpensive repair, and may solve the problem.
• Wheel Track Obstruction – Try closing the garage door manually to see if there are obstructions on the wheel tracks. If that is not the case, examine your tracks for potential damage like dents and bends. Look at your door to see if it is hanging unevenly. If the track is damaged or the door is hanging unevenly, it is time to call a professional for repairs. Track repairs can typically cost $133 to $154. Cost for correcting the uneven hanging of doors themselves can vary greatly, but typically cost about $125.

2) The movement of the garage door is uneven.

• Spring Issues - Unless it is due to an obstruction of some type, uneven movement of your garage door is likely caused by a problem with the spring mechanism. Roll-up doors generally have one center-mounted torsion spring. The tension on torsion springs is great. Therefore, it is necessary to call a professional for any repairs to this type of spring mechanism to avoid serious injury. Because replacement of these springs or cables in a garage door can take at least two or three hours of labor, costs can average $300 or more.
• Track Issues - If your garage door tracks are bent or warped in any way, your door will move unevenly or refuse to move at all. Depending on the degree of damage, your tracks will need to be repaired or replaced. Typical track repairs cost $133 to $154.

3) Your garage door makes loud noises when opening or closing.

Squealing, screeching, or grinding noises from your garage door are usually indicative of a lack of lubricant or an accumulation of dirt or debris in the tracks. When removing debris, do not use harsh chemicals to clean the tracks. Once the track is clean, coat it with lubricant designed especially for garage doors, if possible. If you do not have access to this special type of lubricant, you can use WD-40 on the tracks and hardware.

If you follow these steps and your door still makes a loud noise when you use it, it is time to call a professional for possible repairs to your track. Average cost for track repair is $155.

4) Your garage door falls very quickly.

If your garage door falls more quickly than it once did, or bounces around when in use, it is likely due to broken chains or cables. This is a repair best done by a professional. The cables or chains are relatively inexpensive, but installation takes some time. Average costs may be $150 to $200.

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Other Garage Door Problems & Their Costs

Here are a few other issues that may arise, depending on the type of garage door you have:

• Broken glass in the door: Glass is relatively inexpensive, so the major cost of this repair is the labor it takes to replace it.  Figure on about an hour of labor for a garage door professional at about $75, with a cost of $25 to $50 for the glass itself.
• Dents and dings: Many dents and dings can be repaired easily by you. If the dents are large enough for a professional to do the job, expect to pay for about an hour of labor at $75.
• Circuit board replacement: Expect to pay around $100 for replacement of circuit boards and reprogramming of remotes.
• Roller replacement: Damaged or broken rollers can be repaired for around $10 to $15 each.
• Hinge replacement: Hinges can be replaced for around $10 each.

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How Does the Garage Door Style Affect Repair Costs?

The goal in choosing a garage door is to match the style of the house. There are several styles of garage doors to choose from. Here is a brief overview of a few popular garage door styles and their advantages and disadvantages:

• Sectional: Also known as a raised panel door, this door is the most common. It is made of several horizontal panels hinged together, fitted with wheels and mounted within a track. The biggest advantage of this door is it takes up relatively little space and easily controlled with a standard remote garage door opener for a nominal cost. Their moving parts are readily accessible which can keep repair costs low. The average cost for sectional door repairs is $128.
• Carriage: These doors mimic the look of doors found on old carriage houses in the days of horses and buggies. Because of their rustic look, they are often favored in the West and Southwest of the United States. The doors swing open like oversized French doors and hang from jambs on hinges. With their unique look, they create an area of visual interest for your home and are quite energy efficient. The downside is they require a considerable amount of clearance to work properly. Because most carriage garage doors are largely composed of wood, you may need to replace deteriorating or rotting door materials. The average cost for carriage garage door repairs is $133.
• Traditional One Panel: These doors consist of one large panel which tilts to open by employing a spring mechanism to swing upward. The wood version is popular in the South and Southeastern US, where a milder climate keeps the wood from rapidly deteriorating. Traditional garage door designs include Cape, Colonial, Ranch, Tudor and Craftsman. The disadvantage is these doors require a lot of clearance to operate correctly. Sometimes repairs can be difficult because of the heaviness of the door or its inaccessibility. Average cost to repair tilt-up doors is $172.

In general, single tilt-up models are the most affordable doors. Single roll-up are also on the affordable side of the spectrum. Custom roll-up models will be more expensive, and solid wood custom doors are the most expensive.

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How Do Garage Door Repair Prices Vary by Material?

Repair costs for garage doors can also be affected by the type of material used. In order to cut down on repair costs, you should work with the correct garage door material for your climate. Here is a quick rundown of the different materials used in garage door design and some associated costs:

• Wood - Wood garage doors are sturdy and quite beautiful. However, if you live in a humid climate, your doors will be prone to rotting and splitting. If your wood is painted, you must also factor in the costs of painting as part of your regular maintenance routine. The cost of repairing the wood varies depending on the type. However, average cost to repair a wood panel is $190 to $215.
• Steel - For homes in a hurricane or typhoon prone location, steel is ideal. If you live in a coastal area or high wind area, your local building codes may require a reinforced door. However, it is important to note that steel doors are susceptible to rust damage. Typical costs for repairing a steel door are $135 to $155.
• Aluminum - Durable and lightweight, aluminum doors are a rust-resistant alternative in humid and coastal areas. Though repairs to aluminum may be infrequent, they may also be a bit more expensive to repair. Average costs for repairing an aluminum door are $176 to $200.
• Fiberglass - For climates that experience extremes in temperature, fiberglass is a good option. It can withstand high heat or extreme cold and is a great insulator. It is durable, resistant to splitting and typically costs less to repair. Average costs for repairs to fiberglass doors are $148 to $165.

Regardless of the material, you will likely need to perform some regular maintenance tasks. A garage door professional can examine common problem areas to ensure all are working as they should. Additionally, it is necessary to examine the integrity of the door itself, since your garage can be especially vulnerable to security issues if your door is not structurally sound.

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What About Garage Door Finishing?

If you install a new door and the new color does not match the trim or exterior of your home, you may decide that painting or refinishing is preferred.

• If you have a steel door, but want the look of a wood one, it is not necessary to change your entire garage door. Often, it may be possible to mimic the look of wood with skillful painting. Your local home improvement store may be able to provide good advice about the type of paint and brushes needed to mimic the look of wood for your particular door material.
• Refinishing might be necessary for a wood door that has been damaged by the weather. Professional refinishers can restore the look of the door to its original beauty and even weather seal it to reduce the chances of having to refinish it again at a later time.
• If you want to add or remove windows from your garage door, remember that any panel you add must perfectly match in terms of dimension. Uneven paneling in a garage door will likely impede its smooth operation.

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The Bottom Line

Because your garage door is a major entryway to your home, it is important to keep it in good working order for your own safety, security, and convenience. Choosing the right style and appropriate materials will lessen the amount of repairs that may arise. Additionally, investing in regular maintenance can be cost-effective in the long run. If your garage door is in need of major repair, it is best to call a professional garage door repair company for assistance. Typically, the company will charge for at least one hour for making a service call. However, the benefits of a professional repair job can well outweigh any costs, as a professional can ensure the safety, security, and proper operation of your garage door.

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