What happens when you call
- You call and say what you need and where you are.
- If no one picks up, leave a message. It is passed to a local garage door company the same day.
- The garage door company confirms the price with you before any work starts.
Garage door repair in Austin
Broken spring repair
Springs lift most of the door's weight and hold dangerous tension. The door industry association says spring systems should be repaired only by trained professionals.
Opener repair and replacement
Openers that hum, stop partway or reverse for no reason. Federal rules have required openers made since 1993 to have extra entrapment protection, such as photo-eye sensors.
Door off track and cable repair
Cables connect the springs to the bottom of the door. The industry says frayed cables should be replaced only by a trained technician.
Rollers, hinges and panels
Worn rollers make a door noisy and rough. Dented or cracked panels can often be replaced one at a time.
Safety sensor problems
A door that won't close, or goes back up, often has a dirty or knocked sensor. A technician can clean and realign it.
New garage doors
Replacement doors and openers, with a written quote before work starts. Inside Austin, replacing an overhead garage door doesn't need a building permit.
Garage door repair across Austin and nearby
- Central Austin
- North Austin
- South Austin
- East Austin
- Round Rock
- Cedar Park
- Leander
- Pflugerville
- Georgetown
- Lakeway
- Buda
- Kyle
Garage doors in Austin: what to know
Heat is hard on springs
Camp Mabry averaged 29 days a year at 100°F or hotter from 1991 to 2020, with 80 in 2023 and a record 90 in 2011. The door industry lists extreme heat and cold among the conditions that shorten spring life, and advises keeping the door closed where you can.
Hard freezes happen
In February 2021 Camp Mabry fell to 8°F on the 15th and 7°F on the 16th. Cold snaps are another stress the industry lists for springs.
Hail season
On September 24, 2023, storms brought baseball-sized hail to Austin, Round Rock and Georgetown, damaging many homes and vehicles. If hail dents your door, take photos before any repair and check your insurance.
Test the safety reverse monthly
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says to lay a 2x4 flat in the door's path. If the door doesn't reverse when it hits it, disconnect the opener until it's fixed.
Typical prices
| Typical repair | $150-$350 |
| Torsion springs | $200-$350 |
| Extension springs | $120-$250 |
| Opener repair | $100-$300 |
| Opener replacement | $300-$940 |
| Door off track | $100-$300 |
| Cable came off | $100-$200 |
| New single door, installed | $700-$2,000 |
| Same-day emergency | adds $100-$300 |
Ranges from published cost guides, not a quote. The garage door company sets the price and should confirm it before starting.
Before you hire
- Don't force a door with a broken spring or cable. The industry calls springs the most dangerous part of the door.
- Ask for the spring size and type and a written quote before work starts.
- On a door with two springs, the industry advises replacing both, even if only one broke.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and a written warranty.
- Adding a new outlet for an opener is electrical work, which in Texas needs a licensed electrician.
- If you're in an HOA, check its rules on door style and color before ordering a new door.
Texas has no state licence for garage door companies. Inside Austin, replacing an overhead garage door doesn't need a building permit, but work that does need one requires a contractor registered with the City. Prices above are national ranges from Fixr, not Austin quotes.
More help in Austin
Questions
My spring snapped. Can I open the door?
Don't force it, and keep people and cars clear. The door industry association says spring systems should be repaired only by trained professionals.
Why do springs seem to break in summer here?
Springs wear out with use, and the industry lists extreme heat among the conditions that shorten their life. Camp Mabry averaged 29 days a year at 100°F or more from 1991 to 2020.
My door goes down, then back up.
Openers are built to reverse when something blocks the door or the safety sensor. A dirty or misaligned sensor is a common cause, and a technician can check it.
Do I need a permit to replace my garage door in Austin?
Not a building permit. The City lists replacing or installing an overhead garage door on a garage as exempt work, though it must still meet code. Changing the size of the opening is structural work, so ask whether your job needs a permit.
Does Austin require a licensed garage door company?
Texas has no garage door licence. If a job needs a City permit, the contractor must register with the City first. Electrical work, like a new outlet, needs a licensed electrician.