Get Quotes from Top Garage Door Contractors in San Diego, CA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Garage Door Repair Contractor in San Diego?

The licensing and regulation of San Diego garage door repair contractors is handled at the state level by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Per the regulatory requirements of this board, garage door repair contractors that wish to provide services worth a total of $500 or more, labor and material costs inclusive, must possess a C-61/D-28 - Doors, Gates, and Activating Devices Contractor License before doing so. Violations of this mandatory licensing requirement are considered misdemeanor offenses and are punishable by statutory penalties of up to $5,000 in fines, up to six months in jail, or a combination of both. Violators can also receive separate administrative fines of up to $15,000.

The CSLB typically issues contractor licenses to individuals who are 18 years or older, and interested parties that wish to obtain these licenses will have to meet the following requirements:

• Complete and submit an Application for Original Contractor License Form to the board via available submission channels provided on the form
• Have at least four years of experience in garage door installation, repair, and maintenance services and provide acceptable documentation to verify this experience. Note that this work experience must be attained at no lower than the journeyman level and must have been obtained within ten years from the license application date.
• Pay a non-refundable application fee and all other stipulated fees
• Pass a CSLB-administered licensing examination
• Provide proof of compliance with the board's bonding and insurance requirements.

Additional information on the CSLB's licensing requirements can be obtained by contacting the board via phone number (800) 321-2752.

It is always in your best interest to confirm that your intended garage door repair contractor has been appropriately licensed by the CSLB, as this denotes that they have the minimum required qualifications needed to get the job done right. You can do this by calling the board via the above phone number or online via its Check a License platform.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Garage Door Repair Contractors in the City?

Garage door repair, maintenance, and replacement services in San Diego are primarily affected by the following factors:

• The nature and severity of the damage to the garage door
• The size of the garage door
• The type of material that the garage door was constructed with
• The garage door style and design
• Overhead door finishes
• Your location within the city
• The labor intensity of the job
• The urgency of the job
• The garage door repair contractor's level of experience and reputation

It is always a good idea to get and compare cost estimates for your required garage door services from at least three different garage door repair contractors in the city before making your final hiring decision. The benefits of doing this include:

• It helps you get a fair assessment of the going rate for your required services within your area of residence
• It helps you spot fraudulent garage door repair contractors who overcharge for their services and those who deceptively offer low bids to run home improvement scams on unsuspecting homeowners.

Note that you should always give each contractor that you contact similar parameters for your required garage door services to ensure uniformity in their cost estimates. Be wary of any garage door repair contractor who cannot reasonably explain why their estimates vary significantly from the others or ones who are eager to begin work without providing an estimate or performing an initial inspection of the damaged garage door.

Garage door repair contractors in San Diego earn an annual average wage of $42,660. The list below compares the hourly average wages of these contractors with those of garage door repair contractors in other major California cities as well as other locations across the country:

What Kind of Garage Door Services Do You Offer?

Garage door services offered in San Diego are generally grouped into the following categories:

• Garage door installations: new garage door installations are commonly requested by residents of the city who are undertaking new construction projects or home improvement projects involving garage remodeling and upgrades. The cost of new garage door installations is largely dependent on the type, style, and design of the garage door to be installed, its size, and the labor intensity of the job, and they can range from $300 - $4,500
• Garage door replacements: garage door replacements are similar to new garage door installations, as they also involve installing new garage doors in homes and properties. However, the key difference is that, in this case, this service usually involves removing an existing garage door. Homeowners and property managers can also utilize parts of their old garage door system for the replacement job to cut costs. However, you should always confirm the compatibility of the old parts with the new garage door before doing this.
• Garage door repairs: services provided under this category aim to fix damages to garage doors, replace faulty components of these doors, and ensure that they subsequently operate smoothly and efficiently. Note that, depending on the severity of the problem, a complete garage door replacement may be required. Some common repair services offered by garage door repair contractors in San Diego include:
  • Faulty garage door spring replacements
  • Faulty garage door track repairs and replacements
  • Faulty garage door roller, hinge, and cable repairs and replacements
  • Faulty garage door panel repairs and replacements
  • Damaged garage door frame repairs
• Garage door maintenance: many professional garage door repair contractors in San Diego offer maintenance services aimed at ensuring that garage doors perform optimally at all times and do not break down unexpectedly. The schedule and scope of these maintenance services are largely dependent on the garage door repair contractor. Nevertheless, many professional garage door repair contractors in the city offer annual and bi-annual garage door services that include the following:
  • Garage door inspections and tune-ups
  • Moving part lubrications
  • Spring balance assessments
  • Bottom seal and threshold seal assessments
  • Garage door weatherstripping
  • Garage door alignment balancing and adjusting
  • Garage door opener assessments
  • Auto-reverse testing and assessment
  • Safety sensor assessment and alignment
  • Motor rail inspections and motor setting adjustments

Professional garage door repair contractors in San Diego are typically equipped to offer residents of the city one or more of these services. However, you should always ensure that your intended garage door repair contractor is equipped to offer the specific type of garage door service you require and has ample experience doing so. Failing to confirm your intended garage door repair contractor's area of expertise before finalizing hiring arrangements with them can lead to unsatisfactory service delivery at the end of the day. This, in turn, will cost you time and money searching for another more qualified garage door repair contractor to get the job done correctly.

Provided below are cost estimates for garage door services commonly requested by residents of San Diego. It should be noted that your location within the city, the specific nature of your required services, and your contractor's level of experience will affect the actual amount you will be required to pay for these garage door services:

Estimates for garage door installation based on type (materials only):

Estimates for garage door installation based on configuration (materials only):

Estimates for garage door installation based on size (materials only):

Estimates for garage door installation based on door material (materials only):

Estimates for garage door installation based on style (materials only):

Estimates for garage door opener installation based on type (unit only):

Estimates for garage door screen installation based on type (materials only):

Estimates for garage door installation and replacement labor (per hour):

Estimates for garage door repair based on door material:

Estimates for garage door repair or replacement based on faulty components:

Estimates for garage door repair based on type of problem:

Will You Get the Garage Door Installation Permits as Required per the San Diego Building Code?

Per local building regulations, a permit must be obtained from the San Diego Development Services Department (DSD) before the commencement of any work that involves the construction of new structures or the repair, alteration, improvement, or modification of existing buildings and structures in the city. However, while these works generally include garage door-related projects, permit exemptions may be made for garage door repairs that meet the following criteria:

• Does not cost more than $1,000
• Limited to the replacement of components or existing parts with similar materials for maintenance purposes
• Does not affect any electrical or mechanical installations and systems in the building

Interested parties that wish to obtain permits from the DSD may do so by completing and submitting a General Application Form DS-3032 to the department at:

Alternatively, permit applications can be submitted to the department online via its OpenDSD permitting platform. However, applicants who wish to utilize this option will have to create a user account on the platform. To this end, the DSD provides access to a user guide that can be used to get assistance in creating this user account and navigating the online permitting platform.

Requested permits are typically issued within 27 business days, depending on the department's workload, the scope of the project in question, the timely payment of stipulated fees, and the proper submission of all necessary paperwork. This paperwork may include building drawings, construction plans, and any other forms and documents that the DSD may deem essential for review. In situations where this paperwork is required, the necessary documents must be created and submitted to the DSD in an approved PDF format, and they must also be validated online before the permit application is made to the department. Finally, once the requested permits are issued, your project may be subject to inspections before, during, and after the work is done to ensure that it conforms to all relevant San Diego building and construction standards and regulations.

You can get additional information or direct queries related to the permitting process for garage door-related projects in San Diego to the city's Development Services Department at (619) 446-5000. Inquiries can also be made in person at the department's physical office via the contact information provided above. Note that it is advisable to book an appointment before visiting the office in person.

What Brands of Garage Doors Do You Work With?

In installing or repairing your garage door, it is smart to ask your contractor if they You can determine the suitability of your intended garage door repair contractor for the job at hand by finding out the brands of garage doors they typically work with and confirming that it aligns with your specific needs. Garage doors are commonly constructed from a wide variety of materials, such as wood, steel, aluminum, composite wood, vinyl, glass, and fiberglass, and they also come in several design styles and operating mechanisms. These include:

• Paneled garage doors
• Sectional garage doors
• Side-sliding garage doors
• Side-hinged garage doors
• Roller garage doors
• Tilt-up/Up-and-over canopy garage doors
• Tilt-up/Up-and-over retractable garage doors
• Carriage house double garage doors
• French-style garage doors
• Full-view garage doors

When considering the type, style, and design of garage door to use for your installation or replacement project, it is always a good idea to go for brands constructed by tried and trusted garage door manufacturers, like:

Note that you should always consider the following features when making your decision on the brand, type, and style of garage door to install in your home or property:

• Safety
• Security
• Durability
• Cost
• Motor strength
• Ease of maintenance
• Insulation/energy-efficiency
• Ease of operation
• Aesthetic appeal
• Availability of replacement parts

An advantage of hiring licensed and experienced garage door contractors is that they typically assess your specific living conditions and factor in the aforementioned features before recommending the appropriate garage door brands and types for your project. Finally, you may also be required to buy a separate garage door opener when installing your garage door. These openers can be customized to fit your specific needs and also come in several types and operating mechanisms, such as:

• Screw drive openers
• Chain drive openers
• Belt drive openers
• Jackshaft openers

Some top-quality garage door opener brands used by home and property owners in San Diego include:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Garage Door Repair Contractors in San Diego?

Even though garage door repair contractors operating in San Diego are not mandated to carry general liability insurance, hiring one with this type of insurance is very important. A total of 460 non-fatal occupational injuries were recorded amongst mechanical door repairers across the United States in 2020 alone. Similarly, nearly 10 percent of all fatal occupational injuries reported in the country during this time occurred in the State of California. In situations where these injuries occur during your project, you can be held liable if your garage door repair contractor is not properly insured. These liabilities also extend to any property damage that the contractor may cause during the project.

Therefore, it is always in your best interest to confirm your intended garage door repair contractor's insurance status before they begin any work on your property and ensure that this insurance is adequate for the scope of your project. You can do this by requesting a copy of their insurance certificate and contacting the named insurance provider to authenticate this certificate.

Note that even though San Diego garage door repair contractors do not have to carry general liability insurance, they are legally required to inform homeowners of their insurance status before working on residential buildings. Garage door repair contractors in the city must also maintain a surety bond of $15,000 and carry workers' compensation insurance where applicable.

You can get more information on the mandatory bond and workers' compensation insurance requirements for San Diego garage door repair contractors by contracting the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) at (800) 321-2752.