GARAGE DOOR FAQS

When you need repairs, some companies might try to take advantage. Knowing a few common garage door scams is your best defense.

Here are the main scams to watch out for:

• The Never-Ending Warranty Trap: Be wary of offers promising "free" fixes for life or a lifetime guarantee. The catch? They install cheap parts and don't cover the labor in the warranty. Those low-quality parts break fast, and you get stuck paying high labor costs repeatedly. Always read the contract thoroughly to see what's not covered.
• The Unnecessary Overhaul: A tech comes out and insists you need to replace practically every piece of hardware—like all your torsion springs, cables, rollers, and bearing brackets—even for a small issue. They might even try to plant doubt about your manufacturer’s warranty, saying it's about to expire. A well-installed door should stay in solid condition for over a decade. If they push for a complete replacement based only on age, grab a second opinion.
• The Emergency Rip-Off: If you need emergency repair, some less-reputable companies will seize the moment. They'll exaggerate the extent of repairs or parts needed and then start overcharging. To protect yourself, try to educate yourself quickly on the damage and compare a few quotes to ensure you're getting a fair rate.

Look out for these red flags that suggest a service provider might not be completely legitimate:

• The Van & The Name: Is their service vehicle generic or completely unmarked, lacking any identifying markers (like a logo or name)? Does the company name on their ads, website, and phone greeting keep changing, or seem very recent? This suggests they might be trying to evade something or someone.
• No Real Address or Website: Every legitimate business should have a permanent physical address you can verify, and a professional, informative website. If their site is nonexistent or suspiciously vague, or if you can't find a real location, be cautious.
• Prices That Don't Add Up: If the prices seem too good to be true, they probably are. Look for hidden costs and review the contract thoroughly to make sure you know exactly what you're paying for.
• Bad Reputation Check: If you search their name and they have no rating or history with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or if their online reviews are universally perfect (100% five-star reviews), it's worth digging deeper. Trusted companies aren't scared of a few honest reviews.

When you're ready to choose, use these tips to find an experienced and trustworthy garage door company that will do a quality job for your new garage door or repair needs:

1. Look for Experience and Proof: Check how long they've been in business (their age and origins). The longer they've been around, the more reliable they usually are. Most importantly, always ask for proof of insurance (liability and compensation).
2. Dig into Reviews and Ratings: Read reviews and testimonials on different sites, not just their own. Check their BBB ratings and history. A good rating gives you peace of mind.
3. Get Multiple Quotes: Don't just take the first offer! Seek several bids and compare the quotes for the best value. This also gives you a feel for their customer service.
4. Ask About the Products: Ask about the quality of the garage door parts they use. What are the materials and the strength rating? Good parts ensure your investment lasts.
5. Verify the Details: Confirm they cover your area (local service range), that their work schedule fits yours, and that the services offered include exactly what you need for your door model.

The best quality over head garage doors are made from high-quality materials, are well insulated, operate smoothly, and are safe while also looking great.  The best material for your door depends on your climate and budget.

• Steel: Durable, low-maintenance, and cost-effective, often insulated.
• Wood: Unmatched aesthetics and natural insulation, but requires more maintenance.
• Aluminum: Lightweight, rust-resistant (great for coastal areas), and ideal for modern, full-view designs.
• Fiberglass/Composite: Low-maintenance, resists cracking, and can mimic the look of wood.

To ensure your door is well insulated, look for a high R value. This measures the door's thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the better the door is at regulating temperature and saving energy costs. You can ensure that your garage door is secure by purchasing a door with multi-point locking systems and a secure opener.

A new garage door can vary in price quite a bit, depending on the materials, safety measures, and panel designs; A new garage door can vary from $1,000 to over $3500!

We send more of our old garage doors to either a recycling facility or to a landfill. Recycling is the most common method of disposal, as it is an environmentally friendly option, especially with steel and aluminum door panels and components. However, it can be more economical to dispose of a door in your local landfill.

When dealing with service calls, think about your door’s age, use rate, and the weather conditions your door may be exposed to. A minimum yearly check to ensure there is no major damage or wear and tear presents your door from being damaged in extreme weather. If your door experiences a high rate of usage, you may want to make sure to check your door twice a year.

It is strongly recommended that you replace both garage door springs simultaneously when one breaks. Springs wear out from the same number of open/close cycles, so if one fails, the other is typically close behind. Replacing only one creates a dangerous imbalance, putting excessive strain on the remaining components, including your garage door opener motor, which will lead to a second, costly repair very soon. Always hire a professional for this repair, as the springs are under extreme tension and are very dangerous to replace yourself.

Not always. If you have a sectional garage door (the kind that rolls up in pieces) and only one or two panels are damaged, you can often replace just those sections, which is much cheaper than replacing the whole door.

The issue is most likely a result of your garage door's safety mechanism being triggered, causing the door to reverse immediately. The two most common causes are: a problem with the photo-eye safety sensors—which may be blocked by debris, dirt, a spiderweb, or direct sunlight, or they may be slightly misaligned and breaking the beam a few inches down—or a problem with the opener settings. If the downward force setting is too low, the door interprets normal friction from the track or weather seal as an obstruction, or the down travel limit setting may have shifted, telling the door it's already fully closed.

Most garage doors need to me replaced when it is over 20 years old or the cost of frequent repairs starts to approach the price of a new door. Replacement is also advisable if the door has extensive structural damage (multiple warped or rotted panels), moves unevenly or with loud grinding noise, has outdated safety features, or fails to seal properly, which can compromise security and increase energy bills.