3 hours at most, or maybe two hours per door. I’ve had it done. . Don’t be insulting. It took you several days . . .
Garage door repair. Did I get hosed?
- Thread starter LVSteve
- Start date
We're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. One guy alone? No way. Doors are built up in sections and old doors are removed the same way. All new tracks for two doors, working over your head on a ladder to remove the old tracks and drilling holes for the bolts for the new tracks that must be installed in sections. How many garage doors have you personally replaced? One guy doing the entire job in six hours? Sorry. I'm going to have to call BS on this story. Not trying to be insulting, I just don't believe it.
This is actually the second time you have insulted me in this thread, but I don't care. I didn't video it. Regardless, you mentioned it took you several days. Mine was done in one day. Granted, it was new construction, but it was one guy, one day. Don't care if you don't believe it. . .
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Ivan the Butcher
Member
Over the decades we built a couple dozen houses and about 45 Twin Singles, all with Garages. We never installed the doors, had every one of them done by the same company, using different installers. My observation is, One experienced man can install two double wide solid doors in a workday, or 3 single wide solid doors in a single day. The condo complex I live in now has the lightweight metal doors. The Condos and garages are in rows having 7 doubles or 10 singles in a row. Two men easily did a row a day!
Ivan
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
New construction, good installer will be done in 3 or 4 hours. Replacing an old door, add 2 hours.
After coming very close to losing part of my left hand trying to do things myself, we now have a door company come out every second or third year to service the overhead doors. The charge is about a hundred bucks for the service call, occasionally a few worn parts to replace. The big springs are about $150 each, but no need to change them until they break (then do both at once to avoid another service call soon). The improvement in function is immediately apparent.
Another one of the many things we never think about until something breaks, then it becomes an emergency. Everything benefits from regular maintenance, especially when done by someone who knows what he is doing.
After coming very close to losing part of my left hand trying to do things myself, we now have a door company come out every second or third year to service the overhead doors. The charge is about a hundred bucks for the service call, occasionally a few worn parts to replace. The big springs are about $150 each, but no need to change them until they break (then do both at once to avoid another service call soon). The improvement in function is immediately apparent.
Another one of the many things we never think about until something breaks, then it becomes an emergency. Everything benefits from regular maintenance, especially when done by someone who knows what he is doing.
charlie sherrill
Member
I know nothing about garage door openers but I have noticed that whenever a repair person comes to my home to fix something they will usually give you a nice discount if you pay with cash.
Sounds like a good price to me. I helped my BIL change a broken spring on his door. It was pretty easy. I told him to get two, but he didn’t buy two since he was going to get a new door. I had my garage door replaced last year. Single door. The guy was done inside 3 hours. All hardware, motor, etc. I think it was just under $3000, maybe closer to $2500, but money well spent, I guess. We’re planning on selling so it needed done anyway.
Sounds a fair price. I replaced several springs myself until I saw a patient degloved doing the same. Now I call an expert for repairs.
600 for 2 springs + cables?
Sounds good to me - if you mess up tensioning those powerful springs, you could be killed by the flying bar, or for that matter do some serious damage to things in your garage.
Sounds good to me - if you mess up tensioning those powerful springs, you could be killed by the flying bar, or for that matter do some serious damage to things in your garage.
Big Dave in WNC
Member
WNC here-paid about 550 a couple years ago for this.
bushmaster1313
Member
Recently my double door did the same thing.
The garage door technician from a large company offered to replace the door and springs for about $3100 and just the springs for $1000
I took the deal on the door plus springs.
The garage door technician from a large company offered to replace the door and springs for about $3100 and just the springs for $1000
I took the deal on the door plus springs.
Alk8944
US Veteran
I would say YES!
Changing springs isn't a complicated job, you just have to be careful when tensioning the springs as they can be dangerous if they get away from you. It has been about 25 years since I had to replace a spring set, but my recollection is that at that time the replacement springs were about $30 for the pair from Home Depot! $30 is a damned far cry from over $600 that you say you paid! Even if they are twice as much now!
I have done about six sets in my life, no injuries because I understand how to do it safely!
Changing springs isn't a complicated job, you just have to be careful when tensioning the springs as they can be dangerous if they get away from you. It has been about 25 years since I had to replace a spring set, but my recollection is that at that time the replacement springs were about $30 for the pair from Home Depot! $30 is a damned far cry from over $600 that you say you paid! Even if they are twice as much now!
I have done about six sets in my life, no injuries because I understand how to do it safely!
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A quick look on Amazon and a door kit with a pair of door springs, cables, and drums is under $100 - $140. Even include the adjusting rods. So you paid roughly $500 for labor, taxes, etc. But your hands are clean and functioning.
I've replaced the gears on my 1994-vintage chain opener and now the remote failed, but door springs are not on my "to-do" list.
I've replaced the gears on my 1994-vintage chain opener and now the remote failed, but door springs are not on my "to-do" list.
hivel37
US Veteran
You didn’t over pay.
Maybe you bought too early.
Maybe you bought too early.
I guess I should have been more specific in my original post. All in the details. New construction vs replacing original doors that are different than the originals. All old materials have to be removed. Doors, tracks and springs. New doors come in sections and must be assembled with hinges and rollers. All new tracks have to be installed and sections have to be aligned almost exactly or the rollers will bind. New bars for the springs have to be put together in sections. Nothing fits so all holes must be drilled for all bolts, including those in the ceiling while standing on a ladder working over your head. Chains for the openers have to be put back in place and properly tensioned. I was recently retired when I did this so I didn't have to worry about leaving the house open to trouble while at work or did I have to work from dawn to dark to complete the job for a boss. It was a frustrating but satisfying job actually. Took about four days working for a few hours every afternoon. New construction vs replacement of two doors is an apples to oranges comparison. Sorry if you feel insulted. Maybe if you actually read a post before jumping in with criticism you can avoid feeling insulted.
Some don't understand the difference between a disagreement and an insult. So sensitive these days.
Back to the OP’s original question, I am fairly certain I paid right at $300 last fall here in the sand flats after breaking one spring, they replaced both . . .
Possibly a dry moly coating? There are all sorts of special "garage door spring lubricants" but the MSDS sheets are pretty vague about what's in them. I've read that silicone spray is a good option.LVSteve;142044486. said:
This reminds me that I should lube the springs etc. in my gf's door as it hasn't been done since I replaced a couple of the rollers last year. Got some special lube for it. (Before that, I'm not sure they had ever been done
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F4phantom
US Veteran
Had the same thing happen to me, but I heard the spring snap. Called around and got someone to come out the next day. I opted for the heavy duty springs. Cost was $600. Wife said it was too much but as I asked her, "do you want to do it". I'm not 70 any more. I retired at 70 almost 8 years ago. I don't do those things anymore.
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