Garage door repair. Did I get hosed?

[LVSteve]

Thursday night the garage door refused to open. It would go up a foot or so and then the opener shut down. Yep, one of the big springs had broken. Asked around a couple of buddies and they reported similar fixes in recent years, but neither were that impressed with the guys doing the job.

I had the number of a handyman, but those garage springs are nasty things to handle. Stuff can go badly wrong. Friday AM I called a shop just around the corner and the guy said I'll be there inside an hour. Liking that. He turns up on time and expresses his surprise that 1) I have recognized the problem, and 2) it is evident that I lubricate the moving parts as all my rollers are good. Seems that neglect and ignorance are the norm with home owners in Vegas when it comes to garage doors. Given the noises emanating from some neighbors' homes, I believe him.

Guy replaces both my springs and the pulley wires. Before hooking up the opener he had the springs tensioned dead on so the door just sat where you left it. Nice attention to detail in my eyes. Total charges with taxes, $604. I did stump up for the heavier duty springs, otherwise it would have been nearer $450.

Is that a fair price, post-COVID?

 

[Rob613]

Paid $400 for both springs last summer, so sounds about right for heavy duty springs.

 

[arjay]

Replaced one spring 7-8 yrs ago,cost about $160 back then

 

[NYlakesider]

Replaced one spring 7-8 yrs ago,cost about $160 back then

I have always considered those door springs as pairs and replace both. Same deal in a car you never just replace 1 shock, 1 windshield wiper ETC!

 

[dave1918a2]

Sounds like a good price and job to Me.

 

[Faulkner]

The best way to keep your garage door springs lasting throughout the years is to lubricate them 1-2 times annually with a silicone-based spray. I had a garage door guy show me how way back when using a spray on garage door spring lube. I have four roll up doors with springs that are all around 30 years old and that I lube annually and have never had a problem with them.

 

[pmanton]

Some years back I replaced my own garage door. I bought it and replaced it myself. I fiddled and diddled and adjusted it ad nauseam.

It worked but was never right. Some years later it was damaged and I decided to turn the job over to the professionals. An hour and a half after his arrival the new door was in. It fit perfectly and operated as it should.

Bah Humbug.

 

[llowry61]

Like others have stated most professionals won't do just one spring. If they do, I am not sure I would trust them. I paid about 450 a year or so ago for standard springs. 3rd springs since building in 99. First was a single spring lasted about 5 years, then we had 2 installed and they last seems like about 10 years.

 

[gjgalligan]

One of my areas of responsibility at work was the over head doors of 5 buildings. probably 35 -40 doors total. Some of those doors open/close 25 times a day.
What I do is lightly oil the door springs with used motor oil on a rag just enough so isn't to the point of dripping. Do that 2 or 3 times a year and it slows the rust and friction wear.

This thread is a reminder I need do mine here at home.

 

[1sailor]

That price sounds cheap compared to what can happen to an untrained person trying to deal with those springs themselves. They can actually be pretty deadly.

 

[coltle6920]

LVSteve...

Seems like you got a good bit of old fashioned Customer Service along with a job well done. Goes a long way at any price!

 

[pawngal]

That price sounds cheap compared to what can happen to an untrained person trying to deal with those springs themselves. They can actually be pretty deadly.

Deadly, yes. Had one snap, put a nice big hole in the sheetrock on the garage wall. Good thing no one was around.

 

[Greyman50]

Seems since covid BS Everything has gone way up, your guess is as good as mine why…..

 

[grover99]

When I moved into my current residence, I had two garages with two doors each. I spent some time over the years on maintenance, but it was obvious that these doors were installed by a not too bright amateur. Finally, none of the doors worked. I can raise three of them by hand and the fourth one both springs came loose and I can’t, lift it by myself I realize that because of the total amateur insulation if I was to have them properly fixed it would no doubt cost a small fortune so I just don’t deal with remote control garage doors anymore

 

[alwslate]

It all depends on how handy you are. I'm pretty mechanically inclined. Several years ago I replaced both doors in my old house that I no longer live in. Two new doors, new tracks and two new springs. Springs can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. New springs were easy. No more steel rods to deal with. Sealed and with a nut on the outside. Wind them up with an electric drill and socket. Tension them exactly to achieve perfect balance. But...it took me several days to complete the entire job.

 

[LVSteve]

That price sounds cheap compared to what can happen to an untrained person trying to deal with those springs themselves. They can actually be pretty deadly.

Yeah, I heard one break in the old house. It was like a bomb went off at the front of the house. A whole lot of energy got released all at once.

The new springs are coated with some kind of black material.

 

[Muss Muggins]

You could always do it yourself and risk losing an arm. I am always incredulous at posts like these. It costs what it costs. If you can do it yourself, do it, but I totally recommend paying the garage door spring guys what they ask . . .

 

[Muss Muggins]

Meanwhile, the garage door dude does it in an hour . . .

It all depends on how handy you are. I'm pretty mechanically inclined. Several years ago I replaced both doors in my old house that I no longer live in. Two new doors, new tracks and two new springs. Springs can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. New springs were easy. No more steel rods to deal with. Sealed and with a nut on the outside. Wind them up with an electric drill and socket. Tension them exactly to achieve perfect balance. But...it took me several days to complete the entire job.

 

[rbrbrb6]

Short answer is No, you did not get hosed!

 

[alwslate]

Meanwhile, the garage door dude does it in an hour . . .

Reading comprehension is sometimes in short supply. Reread my post. No, the garage door dude does not replace two doors, new tracks and new springs in an hour.