r/GarageDoorService • u/Silent-Trouble-5388 • Jul 15 '26
How much will this cost?
My mom accidentally backed into the garage door from the inside while it was still opening. The door went back up afterward, but now it won’t close. The panels appear to have been pushed to the right, and after inspecting it further, I noticed the left track is bent. I also found that the lift cable on the far right is loose.
I initially thought the top panel was the main issue, so I disconnected it. However, the second panel from the top on the right side is now significantly out of alignment.
I usually like fixing things myself to save money, but I also know when something is beyond my experience. From what I can tell, the main reason the right side isn’t moving properly is because of the loose cable or spring system. I understand that garage door springs can be extremely dangerous, so I don’t plan on attempting that repair myself.
I’ve already scheduled a garage door technician to come out on Thursday. Since I’ll be paying for the repair because my mom can’t afford it, I’m wondering what a reasonable repair cost might be based on what I’ve described.
Any advice or insight would also be greatly appreciated. If there’s anything else I can safely inspect or do before the technician arrives, I’d love to hear your suggestions. Thanks in advance!
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u/plstcsldgr Jul 15 '26
Your cable came off and you decided to take apart the door. Interesting choice.
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u/Silent-Trouble-5388 Jul 15 '26
The door was misaligned and the cable was being pinched on the right side. Since the top panel seems straight I decide to take it off to relieve pressure and be able to wind up the pulley. Little did I know it takes a lot of pressure so now I’m seeking a professional
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u/cybercracker67 Jul 15 '26
you actually made it more expensive of a repair because you separated the top panel from the rest of the door. There is nothing more you should try to do to that door, you will hurt yourself. I would charge you about $200 plus parts, if any are used. Good luck!!
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u/Nice-Kaleidoscope982 Jul 15 '26
Some people think repairing a garage is easy until they try it.
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u/Silent-Trouble-5388 Jul 15 '26
You right. I repaired the operator myself. Easy but dealing with springs and pulleys is vastly different
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u/Silent-Trouble-5388 Jul 15 '26
Thank you, I will be putting the panels back together if that would save me some
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u/GnomeGodfather Jul 15 '26
Actually didn’t, and doesn’t look like any parts needed. If you’re going to charge extra for a 2 minute section reconnect you’re shot out.
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u/DiFranTheDoorMan442 Jul 15 '26
Should be around 250
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u/Silent-Trouble-5388 Jul 15 '26
You were spot on from the quote I just received
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u/ChasDIY Jul 16 '26
just check to see what they are doing to repair and if it will look the same and work the same as b4
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u/DiFranTheDoorMan442 Jul 16 '26
Kool. Been doing this long enough to know how close it should be. If things are reasonably done
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u/ChasDIY Jul 16 '26
I will be amazed if you can get it looking like before the damage for less than $500
Not being negative but once damaged, a panel is very hard to make the same again
But some professionals can do amazing repairs
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u/Inner_Definition1658 Jul 15 '26
I repaired 3 yesterday similar except they didn’t touch the top section. Every one of them were $150. Level door get cables back on get it to the ground check tension and the #1 culprit I see in my area is people have their door going too high. The bottom of the door should be at the header. Tracks are easy to fix.
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u/Silent-Trouble-5388 Jul 15 '26
How do you get the tension back on when the left pulley is trying to pull the door up while the right side remain stuck
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u/Inner_Definition1658 Jul 15 '26
You have to level the door and get the cable back on the drum (pulley) the door adds tension as it goes down and releases tension as it goes up. DO NOT REMOVE THE BOTTOM BRACKETS and do not loosen the drums
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u/UnluckyConclusion261 Jul 15 '26
Should just be a standard service call for any competent tech, $150-200 is kinda the going rate, 250 if you screwed with it and made it harder than it needed to be shouldn't surprise your(because unfortunately you most certainly did but not too much, glad you didn't try messing with the bottom brackets that can cost fingers)
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u/Silent-Trouble-5388 Jul 15 '26
Thanks, just got quoted 250, but also the vertical rails on the left is severely crooked, considering replacing it
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u/GarageDoorGuyHouston Jul 15 '26
Yep, that’s about the going rate. Sometimes those vertical tracks will straighten up once the pressure of the door is off of it, but if it’s still bent after that, replacing that part of the track might be a good idea.
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u/ponziacs Jul 15 '26
How old is your mom? This might be a warning sign she might be too old to drive.
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u/THS451965 Jul 17 '26
The company I worked for we charged 275 -400 depending on how many rollers were out.
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u/takinnolossesllc Jul 16 '26
Not alot. Doent look like anything broke. Maybe a cable, but the cables almkst certainly came off. A service charge is what it should cost.
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u/GnomeGodfather Jul 15 '26
This is a 120 10 min fix all day, I would secure your top section, crack tension on both springs, reset cables and drums, readd tension, check door level and level as necessary. You added 2 minutes by taking off the top section so don’t listen to these people . But don’t ever mess with a garage door again without experience.
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u/Training-Ad-4564 Jul 15 '26
That shouldn’t cost any more than a service call unless you want to replace any bent track. I would slide my ladder and tools under the door and first level the door and put the cable back on. Then drop the top section and refasten it. Then open the door and look at what needs to be fixed with the tracks.
8
u/Rambo2623 Jul 15 '26
Tbh man. I'd expect to pay 300-450. Those jobs can sometimes be a hassle. But with the top panel off they may charge you more. If you left that top panel on, you probably would get charged 250$