You overslept a bit this morning and you’re running late. You need to hurry up to get the kids to daycare. Or instead, you had a bad night’s sleep and didn’t have time for coffee. Then to top it off… BANG!!! You just backed into your garage door. You can either burst into tears or start swearing a blue streak… However, once you calm down, what can you do?
Or it may happen when that first snowstorm of winter arrives and we forget the driveway is slippery … and we slide into the outside of the garage door! Another situation that garage door technicians see all too frequently is when that forgotten bike or ski rack on the roof of the car hits the door.
It all depends on the extent of the damage
Most frequently, it’s the bottom section of the door that is run into. If you have an electric garage door opener, it is very likely that is can lift the door almost completely. Most door openers are powerful enough to pull a load of up to 350 lb. (160 kilos). However, under no circumstances should your door opener lift more than its normal load, between 8 and 10 lb. (3.5 and 4.5 kilos).
BEFORE lowering the door, evaluate the situation. Are the rollers still in their tracks? Are the rollers still attached to the hinges? Are the lifting cables still properly aligned with the drums they wind around? Pay special attention to this: the whole lifting system (bottom bracket + lifting cable + springs) is under very high tension, equal to the full weight of the garage door. Do not touch any of these parts!
If everything seems to be in order, get your car out of the garage. Then, standing about 8 feet (2.5 m) from the door, push the button on your remote and see what happens. If you hear loud noises and see that the sections are not fitting together properly, block usage of your garage door by unplugging your door opener from the electrical outlet. Do not touch anything.
If the door has come completely out of its tracks…
There is little you can do… Do not touch anything, and call a garage door specialist. Frequently, you can find the name and telephone number of the specialist who installed your door on the housing of the door opener. Next, call a taxi, relative, or friend to get you to work, stopping along the way at the daycare center.
Should I call my insurance company?
It is important to remember two things: if your garage door is seriously damaged, your home insurance company should be contacted. As for your car, it’s your car insurance company. It might be the same company or the same agent. Remember, your car insurance doesn’t cover damage to your garage door
Another point: look closely at the deductibles for each of your policies. Is it worth it to make a claim or better just to absorb the loss?
And how much is it going to cost to get my garage door repaired?
Again, it depends on the extent of the damage and the age of your garage door. It could be that your door is so old that replacement sections are no longer available. If it’s necessary to replace the entire system so that the door operates properly, plan on 2 to 2 ½ hours of labor.
If just one broken section needs to be replaced, you only have to calculate the price a complete 4‑section door (7- to 8‑ft. doors have 4 sections) and divide by 4. Labor costs are responsible for a sizeable portion of the total price. The door must be completely taken apart, except the tracks, then installed as if it were a new installation.
What if I need to replace my entire garage door…
Then contact us at any time at 613-749-2138. We know garage doors better than anyone in the construction industry does. Based on your needs, we can send you a free quote by email.
We will happily come to your home and explain our whole product offering. As well, we will advise you on the best choice to make in your specific situation. You can also use our design center or take a look at our image gallery for inspiration.
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