Garage door repair, was I ripped off?

[AustinTink]

Has anyone had the springs replaced on their garage door? I just paid $138 per spring, there were two. PLUS, $125 for labor. ARGHHHHH!!!!!! I haven't been out to eat in a month..... just to watch my $$$$$ fly out the window (or fly out the garage door I guess) It just sounds really high to me. Anybody had this service done??

 

[huntersmom]

Yes, I actually had this done yesterday!!! It was only one spring and the total cost with part and labor was $125. My husband looked into fixing it himself and I think the price of the spring depends on the weight of the garage door so that could account for the difference in cost.Our spring was for 90 lbs and cost about $75. It does sound pretty high to me though, esp. the labor. My guy came and left in about a 1/2hour so he wasnt here very long.

 

[AustinTink]

He did mention that it was a spring for the heaviest type of door. That could explain the $138. It also has a lifetime warranty. There was another for $108 that had a 3 year. It's the separate labor cost of $125 that's really sitting badly with me. I'm so saddened by the whole thing, we've been saving $$ like crazy and now to be swindled makes me so mad!!

 

[XYSRUS]

Oh it's done now. Just thank goodness you have the money for repairs. Stop stressing.

 

[jlima]

Has anyone had the springs replaced on their garage door? I just paid $138 per spring, there were two. PLUS, $125 for labor. ARGHHHHH!!!!!! I haven't been out to eat in a month..... just to watch my $$$$$ fly out the window (or fly out the garage door I guess) It just sounds really high to me. Anybody had this service done??

This is a repair you don't want to skimp on. We've lived in our house for 11 years and have replaced our springs twice. When we lived in California and purchased our first home, the inspector said the springs needed replacing; and the sellers replaced the springs themselves and the door never operated properly until we had a professional do it. That's just how much they cost and I wouldn't let DH try to replace them himself. Your labor charge sounds a little high, but the cost per spring sounds about right. Next time ask the company what they charge per hour and what their minimum charge is. You may have paid for an entire hour, even though it may have taken less time.

 

[kidshop]

Yes, it's a rip off and yes I paid $300 + for the same thing almost 2 years ago!

 

[AustinTink]

Thanks for the responses. I guess I'll just have to grin and bear it.

 

[dis-happy]

Well, think of it this way. You paid less than my next door neighbor did when she accidently backed her car out of her garage....while forgetting to open the door first!!!

 

[RNMOM]

I've had it done at different houses and it is very expensive. Part of the reason, I've been told, is that it is quite dangerous. Apparently if one of those springs slips when it is wound tightly it can take your head off. I have no problem paying a professional.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

There are two types of springs on Residential Garage Doors. Most common is the Extension Spring. These springs are the type that are suspended above the tracks of the door that follow the ceiling into the garage. They have pulleys, and are extended when the door is down, and compress as the door opens. They rarely break, but have been know to rocket off the door if the lifting wire breaks. They are very common on the smaller (8 x 8) doors.
On the larger doors, you most likely will see Torsion Springs. These springs (sometimes only one, sometimes i a pair) are mounted on a steel shaft, and will run across the header (above the door on the interior) of the garage opening. These springs turn (rotate) as the door goes up and down. They apply lifting pressure to the lifting cables that attach to the bottom of the door at each jamb (side). These springs are VERY dangerous and even the best handyman should not attempt to even adjust these springs! When your door is down (fully closed) these springs are at their most wound position, and look rather harmless. But, if you were to try anything to these springs, the lift wires, or the bottom shoe (the metal part that connects the lifting wire to the bottom of the door) you can be very seriously injured. I have been in the door business for over 30 years, and have heard some very sad, and tragic stories of homeowner attempts to adjust or fix the door to save money. Yes, some have resulted in death.
So please, if you think your quoted price is too high, just shop around some more. Don't try to do it yourself, it's not worth loosing a finger, limb, eye or your life over it.

 

[AustinTink]

Well, think of it this way. You paid less than my next door neighbor did when she accidently backed her car out of her garage....while forgetting to open the door first!!!

LOL, I had a neighbor who did the same thing!!!!!

 

[TaraPA]

Well, think of it this way. You paid less than my next door neighbor did when she accidently backed her car out of her garage....while forgetting to open the door first!!!

I just did this last week. With a very large SUV. Both the truck and the door have extensive damage!

 

[AustinTink]

There are two types of springs on Residential Garage Doors. Most common is the Extension Spring. These springs are the type that are suspended above the tracks of the door that follow the ceiling into the garage. They have pulleys, and are extended when the door is down, and compress as the door opens. They rarely break, but have been know to rocket off the door if the lifting wire breaks. They are very common on the smaller (8 x 8) doors.
On the larger doors, you most likely will see Torsion Springs. These springs (sometimes only one, sometimes i a pair) are mounted on a steel shaft, and will run across the header (above the door on the interior) of the garage opening. These springs turn (rotate) as the door goes up and down. They apply lifting pressure to the lifting cables that attach to the bottom of the door at each jamb (side). These springs are VERY dangerous and even the best handyman should not attempt to even adjust these springs! When your door is down (fully closed) these springs are at their most wound position, and look rather harmless. But, if you were to try anything to these springs, the lift wires, or the bottom shoe (the metal part that connects the lifting wire to the bottom of the door) you can be very seriously injured. I have been in the door business for over 30 years, and have heard some very sad, and tragic stories of homeowner attempts to adjust or fix the door to save money. Yes, some have resulted in death.
So please, if you think your quoted price is too high, just shop around some more. Don't try to do it yourself, it's not worth loosing a finger, limb, eye or your life over it.

This info makes me feel MUCH better! My husband is handy, but it's not worth that kind of risk. On the plus side, whatever the repairman did, my door is sooo much quieter now!! The room above the garage used to shake when the door opened and closed.

 

[rcraw45425]

We had ours replaced a few years back. Right now I have the guys here replacing the entire door because it had almost broken in half from flexing in the same spot for 19 years. Replace the entire door (18x8) and springs $920. I'm happy it's not more than that!

 

[ceecee]

I think a lot depends on the area you live. Our springs were more because we had a much heavier door and it was a 2 1/2 car garage so it needed the heavy duty springs. When we moved into our new house I couldn't believe how light this door is. Our garage is always cold too!

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

Well, think of it this way. You paid less than my next door neighbor did when she accidently backed her car out of her garage....while forgetting to open the door first!!!

My mother just did this last week!!!!!! I feel bad for her...but it is soooo funny! Her repair costs $750 + labor !!!!!!

 

[wall*e2008]

Has anyone had the springs replaced on their garage door? I just paid $138 per spring, there were two. PLUS, $125 for labor. ARGHHHHH!!!!!! I haven't been out to eat in a month..... just to watch my $$$$$ fly out the window (or fly out the garage door I guess) It just sounds really high to me. Anybody had this service done??

What will you do if you find he charged too much? This is a done deal best to let it go. I use the motto of "Once I pay for an item I never look at the price of it again".

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

If it's any consolation, we bartered services with our garage door repairman when a spring broke a couple of years ago on our double door. The service that was exchanged for his work was valued at just about what you paid for your repair.

 

[dseth]

My DH did this type of work for several years. You paid a fair price. It is an extremely dangerous job at times. If you don't use the proper tools and have good training you certainly can injure yourself. The rule of thumb is if one spring breaks have them both replaced because the other one isn't far behind. At least if you do it that way you avoid the service call the next time around! Not a bad idea to watch for a coupon to have a garage door tune up in the summer! May save you some dough in the winter.

 

[AustinTink]

What will you do if you find he charged too much? This is a done deal best to let it go. I use the motto of "Once I pay for an item I never look at the price of it again".

I wouldn't have done anything about it. I was just mulling it around in my head. I can help it... I'm a muller! But reading all these responses has set my mind at ease. It's just a drag to have an unexpected expenditure when we've been doing so well saving money. But, back to the drawing board... it's leftovers for dinner tonight, baby!!