Questions we get asked
Price, timing, what's safe to do yourself, and one California rule about openers most people haven't heard of. If yours isn't here, call and ask.
Price and payment
How much is a garage door repair?
Most repairs land between $180 and $520. A single torsion spring installed is $225 to $340, a pair is $365 to $520, an opener repair is $185 to $390, a full roller set is $170 to $250 and a tune-up is $119. Every range is on the cost page.
What does the visit cost if I don't go ahead?
$39. That covers the trip and the diagnosis. If you do go ahead the same visit, the $39 comes off the repair in full.
Do you quote over the phone?
We give you the likely range over the phone from what the door is doing, and we confirm it on site before starting. A firm number needs eyes on the door, because a spring is sized to the weight of your specific door.
Timing and coverage
Can you come out today?
San Rafael and central Marin are same-day appointments if you call before noon. For the far ends of the county we'll tell you on the phone what we can hold.
What areas do you cover?
San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Larkspur and Corte Madera. If you're elsewhere in Marin, call and we'll tell you straight whether we can get to you on time.
What are your hours?
Seven days a week, 7am to 7pm, weekends included. Most shops around here shut on Saturday and Sunday, which is a problem, because a door that jams on a Saturday morning is the one that keeps your car in the garage all weekend.
My car is shut in the garage. What now?
Call and say so first, and we'll book you ahead of the queue. While you wait, stop pressing the button, because running the opener against a broken part is what turns one repair into two.
The work itself
Is a broken spring something I can replace myself?
No. A torsion spring stores enough energy to break bones and it releases all of it at once if a winding bar slips. It's the one job on a garage door that genuinely isn't a home repair.
If one spring broke, should I replace both?
If the door has two, yes. They were installed together and have done the same number of cycles, so the second usually follows within months. The pair costs less than two separate visits.
How long does a spring last?
Springs are rated in cycles, not years. A standard spring is about 10,000 cycles and one open plus one close is one cycle. Four cycles a day is roughly 1,460 a year, so around seven years. A busy multi-car household gets through them faster.
Does a new opener need a battery backup?
In California, yes. Health and Safety Code section 19892 has required it on every residential opener installed in the state since 1 July 2019, with a $1,000 penalty per unit. Every opener we install has it.
Is my old opener unsafe because it's old?
Not automatically. The federal requirement for photo-eye sensors applies to what may be manufactured and sold rather than to a unit already in your garage. If your opener has working sensors and reverses on an obstruction, it's doing its job.
Why does my door bind on one side?
Often because the opening has moved rather than the door. Older houses settle, frames rack a few degrees over the decades, and the door is the first thing to complain. We check the opening with a level before recommending anything.
About the company
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes, licensed and insured, and we'll show you both before any work starts. Ask when you call and we'll bring the paperwork to the door.
Do you have reviews?
Not yet. We've just opened and we'd rather say so than invent any. The reviews page sets out what we guarantee in writing instead, and the four questions worth asking any garage door company before you book.
Who answers the phone?
We do. One number, and it rings straight through to the people who come out and do the work.
Still not sure what's wrong?
Call (510) 509-9998 and describe what the door is doing. Most of the time we can tell you what it is before anyone drives anywhere.
San Rafael · Novato · Mill Valley · San Anselmo · Fairfax · Larkspur · Corte Madera