Garage Door Questions, Answered

These are the questions we are asked most often on service calls across Miami-Dade and Broward. If yours is not here, call (305) 998-0991. We are happy to answer over the phone, and there is no charge for a question.

Costs and Pricing

How much does garage door spring replacement cost?

Single-spring replacements typically run $180 to $350, and double-spring jobs $300 to $550. Price depends on the door’s weight, the spring’s cycle rating, and whether the cables and bearings need replacing at the same time. We quote the full price before starting.

Should I replace one spring or both?

Replace both. Springs on the same door are installed at the same time and wear at the same rate, so when one fails the other is usually close behind. Replacing both costs less than two separate service calls, and it keeps the door balanced. An unbalanced door wears out the opener prematurely.

How much does a new garage door cost in South Florida?

A single door installed typically runs $1,200 to $2,400, and a double door $2,200 to $3,200. Those prices include the door, hardware, permit and installation, and they are for NOA-approved hurricane-rated doors, because that is the only kind that can be permitted in Miami-Dade or Broward.

Do you charge for estimates?

No. Estimates are free, and the service call is free when we complete the repair. If you would rather not go ahead after hearing the price, that is a completely acceptable answer.

Common Problems

Why won’t my garage door close all the way?

The most common cause is misaligned or blocked safety sensors, the two small units mounted near the floor on each side of the door. Check that both indicator lights are solid rather than blinking, and that nothing is interrupting the beam between them, including a cobweb or a shifted trash can. If the sensors look fine, the cause is usually incorrect limit settings on the opener, worn rollers, or a bent track section.

My garage door opens a few inches and stops. What is wrong?

That is almost always a broken spring. When a spring fails, the door becomes far heavier than the opener was designed to lift, and the opener’s safety mechanism stops it. Look for a visible gap in the coiled spring above the door. Do not keep pressing the button, or you will burn out the opener motor on top of the broken spring.

Why is my garage door so loud?

Noise usually comes from worn metal rollers, loose hardware, or a lack of lubrication on the hinges and springs. Metal rollers get noticeably louder as their bearings wear; nylon rollers are quieter and last longer. A grinding sound from the opener itself often means a stripped drive gear. A single loud bang with no other symptom is usually a spring that has just snapped.

My remote works but the wall button does not. Why?

That points to a wiring problem rather than an opener failure, usually a loose or corroded connection at the wall button or at the opener terminal. In coastal South Florida, corrosion on low-voltage wiring is common enough that we check it routinely.

Safety

Can I replace a broken garage door spring myself?

No. Torsion springs hold several hundred pounds of stored tension, and releasing that tension requires proper winding bars and technique. Spring replacement causes serious injuries to homeowners every year, including broken bones and worse. This is the one garage door repair that should never be a DIY project.

My garage door came off its track. Can I push it back?

Do not. Once a door leaves its track, the panels are no longer supported as designed, and forcing it can bend the track permanently, damage the panels, or drop the door. Stop using the opener, keep people and cars clear, and call us. Realigning a door properly also means finding what caused the derailment, usually a worn roller or a frayed cable.

How do I test my garage door’s safety features?

Two quick tests, worth doing every few months. First, place a roll of paper towels flat on the floor in the door’s path and close it. The door should reverse on contact. Second, wave an object through the sensor beam near the floor while the door is closing. It should stop and reverse. If either test fails, stop using the door until it is serviced.

Hurricane Code

Does my garage door need to be hurricane rated in Miami-Dade or Broward?

Yes, for any new installation or replacement. Both counties are designated High Velocity Hurricane Zones under the Florida Building Code, and only doors carrying a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance may be permitted there. Design wind speeds in Miami-Dade start at 175 mph, and doors must be impact rated as well as wind-load rated.

Do I need a permit to replace my garage door?

Yes, throughout Miami-Dade and Broward. Garage door replacement is a permitted structural alteration in both counties. We handle the filing as part of the installation.

Maintenance and Lifespan

How long should a garage door last in South Florida?

A quality steel door typically lasts 15 to 30 years, but coastal South Florida sits at the lower end of that range. Salt air corrodes springs, hinges, cables and tracks measurably faster, so homes within a few miles of the water often need hardware replaced well before the panels themselves wear out. Openers generally last 10 to 15 years.

What maintenance can I do myself?

Three things, safely. Lubricate the hinges, rollers and springs with a garage-door-specific lubricant every six months, not WD-40, which is a solvent and strips lubrication. Keep the tracks clear of debris. And run the two safety tests described above. Leave anything involving springs, cables or track adjustment to a technician.

Should I repair or replace my door?

Repair usually makes sense when the door structure is sound and the problem is limited to springs, rollers, cables or the opener. Replacement is generally the better value when panels are cracked or rusted through, when the door is not hurricane rated, or when repair costs approach half the price of a new door.

About Our Service

What areas do you serve?

We are based in North Miami and serve Miami-Dade and Broward counties. That includes North Miami, North Miami Beach, Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Coral Gables, Doral, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding communities.

Do you offer same-day service?

Yes, for most common repairs, subject to availability. We are open 7 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week. Call (305) 998-0991 and we will tell you honestly whether we can reach you today.

What brands do you work with?

We install and service LiftMaster, Clopay, Amarr and Chamberlain, covering both doors and openers. We stock the parts that commonly fail on these brands, which is why most repairs are completed in a single visit rather than scheduled for a return trip.

Hablan espanol?

Si. Hablamos espanol y atendemos a toda la comunidad del sur de la Florida, los siete dias de la semana, de 7 AM a 11 PM. Llamenos al (305) 998-0991.

Still Have a Question?

Call (305) 998-0991. We are open seven days a week, 7 AM to 11 PM, and there is no charge for asking.