Garage door repair is a concern for homeowners that can become more serious than it appears on the surface. Luckily, repairs are generally less expensive than homeowners expect. Garage doors are extremely heavy and they operate using tightly wound springs making DIY repairs highly dangerous. According to research from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, when garage door repairs are ignored or installed incorrectly, complications can lead to serious injury. On average, there are 2,500 people crushed by garage doors annually in the United States with another 7,500 sustaining injuries from pinches. 

Average Cost

The average cost of garage door repair is $251 with costs generally ranging between $150 to $375. The garage door materials along with the extent of the damage will impact the actual cost of the repair. In general, repairs will not exceed $1,000. Fiberglass doors are most commonly the least expensive type of door to repair while wood doors are the most expensive. 

Common Garage Door Repairs

There are many common garage door parts that may become damaged or worn out and require repairs. The costs for these parts and average labor costs are as follows: 

• Springs (set of 2):

  • Part: $45 -$200

  • Labor: $150 - $375

• Cable:

  • Part: $20 - $50

  • Labor: $100 - $375

• Track:

  • Part: $50 - $100

  • Labor: $125 - $400

• Roller:

  • Part: $25 - $40

  • Labor: $90 - $200

• Sensor:

  • Part: $35 - $50

  • Labor: $110 - $200

• Bracket:

  • Part: $5 - $40

  • Labor: $80 - $175

• Chain:

  • Part: $10 - $50

  • Labor: $85 - $350

• Panel: 
  • Part: $150 to $1,500
  • Labor: $250 to $500
  • Full replacement: $750 to $1,500
• Window: 
  • Part: $15 to $50
  • Labor: $75 to $175
• Rollers:
  • Total cost: $90 to $200
• Track:
  • $125 to $400
• Dent:
  • Fiberglass or aluminum: $125 to $300
  • Steel or Wood: total replacement

Garage Door Types

In the end, the actual call of the repair will depend not only on the extent of the damage but also on the type of door. There are five common materials that garage doors are made out of and six types of mechanisms. 

Materials: 

• Fiberglass
• Aluminum 
• Steel
• Wood
• Vinyl

Mechanisms:

• Sectional: the most common type of door that raises in sections.
• Roll up: similar to the sectional but in such small sections that it rolls rather than slides.
• Slide to the side: just like it sounds, these doors open sideways rather than up to the roof.
• Side hinge: opens just like a normally hung door.
• Tilt up: opens to the ceiling like the sectional; however, there is only one panel.

Reach out to a garage door repair service to learn more.