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📞 (519) 933-3384 License #ON-2847 Open 24/7
37 questions · 8 categories · No fluff

Everything you wanted to ask, answered.

A complete reference of 37 frequently asked questions about garage door repair, installation, pricing, warranty, scheduling, and service in London, Ontario. Written by our lead technician with 20+ years of field experience. No marketing fluff, no upsell language — just the same answers we'd give over the phone, in writing.

Pricing & quotes 6 Scheduling & service 5 Service areas 3 Warranty & guarantees 4 Payment & insurance 4 About the company 3 Specific repairs 6 Safety & DIY 6
01 — Pricing & quotes

What things cost.

Real prices for the work we do most. Every job gets a fixed quote on-site after a $95 diagnostic visit (credited to your repair if you proceed) — never billed without your approval.

How much does garage door repair cost in London, Ontario?+
Most repairs in London, Ontario range from $150 to $560. Spring replacement averages $220 to $380. Opener repair runs $180 to $320, with full opener replacement $480 to $780. Cable repair starts at $150. Panel replacement runs $380 to $960. New door installations start at $1,890 for standard steel doors. Every job receives a fixed quote before work begins.
Do you charge a service-call fee just to come look?+
Yes — a $95 service-call fee covers the technician's travel and on-site diagnosis. If you proceed with the repair, the $95 is credited toward your final invoice — you only pay parts and labor. If you decline the work, you owe the $95 for the diagnostic visit. Quotes for the repair itself are fixed before any work begins, never billed without your approval.
Are quotes really fixed, or do they change?+
Quotes given on-site after diagnosis are fixed for the work scoped. The only time a quote increases is if hidden damage is discovered during the work itself (a frayed cable inside the drum, for example). When that happens, the technician stops and gets your approval before continuing — never billed without it.
Are phone quotes accurate?+
Phone quotes are estimates within a reasonable range. We quote a price band based on the symptoms you describe, then confirm the exact number on-site after diagnosis. About 90% of phone-quoted jobs land within the quoted band. If the on-site price would exceed the phone quote, we tell you before any work begins.
Do you charge extra for weekend or evening service?+
No. Saturday, Sunday, and evening calls before midnight are billed at the same rates as weekday daytime calls. Overnight emergency calls (midnight to 6 AM) carry a small after-hours adjustment for the responding technician — disclosed before dispatch, never a surprise on the invoice.
Why are your prices lower than the big chains?+
Lower overhead. We don't run radio ads, sponsor sports teams, or operate a multi-province franchise structure. We're a small family-run team in London with three trucks. The savings on advertising and corporate overhead get passed back to customers as lower invoices.
02 — Scheduling & service

When we can get there.

Same-day, after-hours, and emergency timing — and what to expect at each stage of the visit.

Do you offer same-day service?+
Yes for most repairs, depending on parts availability and the time of day you call. Spring, cable, opener, and track repairs are typically completed in a single visit. Calls before 1 PM are almost always serviced same-day. After-1 PM calls are usually next-day unless it's an emergency.
How fast can you arrive for an emergency?+
Average emergency arrival is 78 minutes from call to truck arrival, citywide. London-core neighborhoods (Westmount, Hyde Park, downtown, Wortley Village) typically see arrival under 60 minutes. Surrounding cities (Strathroy, Lucan, Woodstock) may take 90 to 120 minutes depending on traffic and weather.
Are you open 24/7?+
Yes. Our phone line answers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — including statutory holidays, severe weather, and overnight. We don't use voicemail trees or third-party answering services. The voice you hear is either our day dispatcher, our overnight dispatcher, or the on-call lead technician.
How long does a typical repair take?+
Spring replacement: 60–90 minutes. Cable repair: 45–75 minutes. Opener replacement: 90–150 minutes. Track straightening: 60–90 minutes. Panel replacement: 90 minutes installation (after the matched panel arrives 1–3 weeks later). New door installation: 4–6 hours for standard residential, 1–2 days for commercial.
Do I need to be home for the repair?+
Preferably yes, especially for diagnosis and quote approval. If you can't be home, we can sometimes work with a spouse, tenant, or trusted neighbor for access — but the homeowner must approve the quote (by phone is fine). For commercial customers, on-site contact must be authorized to approve the work.
03 — Service areas

Where we cover.

All of London, Ontario plus surrounding cities. Same flat-rate pricing across the entire service area.

What areas do you serve in London, Ontario?+
We serve all of London, Ontario including Byron, Westmount, Masonville, White Oaks, Hyde Park, Oakridge, Lambeth, Wortley Village, Old North, plus surrounding cities including St. Thomas, Woodstock, Strathroy, Exeter, and Lucan. 15 named service areas total. See our service areas page for the full coverage map.
Do you charge extra for travel outside the London core?+
No travel surcharges. Same flat-rate pricing across our entire service area. Whether you're in downtown London, Byron, or surrounding cities like St. Thomas or Woodstock, the quote on the phone is the price on the invoice.
What is your service radius from London?+
Our regular service area extends roughly 60 km from central London. The furthest regular service points are Strathroy (35 km west), Exeter (45 km north), Woodstock (50 km east), and Lucan (30 km north). For locations beyond that, call us — we may still be able to help on a case-by-case basis.
04 — Warranty & guarantees

What we stand behind.

Lifetime parts, 5-year labor, and a satisfaction guarantee. No fine print.

What warranty do you offer on parts?+
Lifetime parts warranty on all springs, cables, rollers, hinges, and tracks. The warranty is tied to the part, not the customer — meaning if you sell your home, the new owner can still claim a defective spring under our warranty, as long as it's the original installation.
What warranty do you offer on labor?+
5-year labor warranty on all repair work. If the issue we fixed comes back within 5 years, we return at no charge for diagnosis and labor. Parts that fail within their lifetime warranty are also covered. New door installations carry a 10-year labor warranty.
What if I'm not satisfied with the work?+
Call (519) 933-3384 and ask for the lead technician. We'll come back, diagnose the issue, and either fix it on the first follow-up visit or refund the work in full. We'd rather lose a job's profit than have an unhappy customer leave a negative review.
Are openers covered by manufacturer warranty too?+
Yes. New opener installations carry the manufacturer's warranty on top of our labor warranty. LiftMaster carries a 10-year motor warranty on most consumer models, plus 5-year warranties on accessories. Chamberlain and Genie offer similar coverage. We register the warranty for you at install.
05 — Payment & insurance

How you pay.

All standard methods, plus financing on big jobs and full insurance-claim support.

What payment methods do you accept?+
We accept Visa, Mastercard, debit (tap or chip), e-Transfer, and cheque. Cash is accepted but discouraged for record-keeping. For commercial customers, net-30 invoicing is available on approved credit. No payment is required until the work is complete and you've inspected it.
Do you offer financing?+
Yes, on new door installations and major opener upgrades over $1,500. We partner with Financeit for 0% APR financing on approved credit, with terms from 12 to 60 months. Application takes about 10 minutes online and decisions are typically same-day. Repair work doesn't qualify for financing.
Will you work with my insurance company?+
Yes — and we have direct experience with most major Ontario insurers including Intact, Aviva, TD Insurance, Belairdirect, Economical, Allstate, and Co-operators. We provide adjuster-ready documentation, photographs, and itemized estimates. We're often paid directly by the insurer, with you only responsible for the deductible.
Can I claim a garage door on home insurance?+
It depends on the cause. Damage from accidents (vehicle impact, falling tree limbs, hailstorm) is typically covered. Wear-and-tear damage (springs that fail with age, opener motors that burn out) is not covered. We can help assess whether your situation is claim-eligible during the on-site diagnosis.
06 — About the company

Who we are.

Family-owned, employees not subcontractors, properly licensed and insured.

Are you licensed and insured?+
Yes. ECRA/ESA license #ON-2847 (Electrical Safety Authority of Ontario), $2,000,000 commercial general liability through Intact Insurance, plus WSIB coverage on all technicians. Documentation available on request. We display the license number on every truck and invoice.
How long has Garage Door London been in business?+
Garage Door London (a service of Garage Door Solutions Inc.) has been operating in the London region since 2009 — over 17 years. Our lead technician Ray McAllister has 20+ years of garage door experience, including 8 years before founding the company.
Are your technicians employees or subcontractors?+
All technicians are direct employees, not subcontractors. They drive company trucks, wear company uniforms, carry company phones, and answer to our internal QC standards. We don't farm work out to independent contractors who happen to be available — every job is done by our own team.
07 — Specific repairs

What's actually wrong.

Common diagnoses, what they mean, and how we approach each one.

What's the most common garage door problem?+
Broken torsion springs, by a wide margin. About 40% of our service calls are spring-related. Springs typically last 7 to 12 years depending on cycle count, and they fail without warning — usually leaving the door stuck closed with the car inside. Cold weather accelerates spring fatigue.
How do I know if I need a new opener vs just a repair?+
If your opener is over 15 years old and starts showing major issues (won't reverse, motor smells burnt, gear is stripped), replacement usually makes more financial sense than repair. If it's under 10 years old and the issue is a single component (capacitor, gear, logic board), repair is almost always cheaper. The diagnostic call is free.
Can a damaged panel be replaced without replacing the whole door?+
Yes, in most cases. Single-panel replacement runs $380–$960 and matches the existing door's color and style with factory-ordered panels. About 80% of impact-damaged doors we see are single-panel jobs. Some doors that are 25+ years old or discontinued models can't be panel-matched and require full replacement — but it's rare.
How long do garage door springs last?+
Standard residential torsion springs are rated for 10,000 cycles, which translates to 7–10 years for an average household opening the door 4–6 times daily. High-cycle springs (15,000 or 20,000 cycles) last 12–18 years and are recommended for households opening the door more than 8 times a day.
Why is my garage door so loud?+
Most loud-door issues come down to one of four causes: worn rollers (replace with nylon rollers, $80–$150), under-lubricated hinges and tracks (free fix during any service call), loose hardware (we tighten it as part of any visit), or a worn-out opener belt or chain (replacement varies by opener type).
Can I install a smart garage door opener with my existing door?+
Yes, in most cases. Modern smart openers (LiftMaster myQ, Chamberlain Smart, Genie Aladdin Connect) work with virtually all existing residential doors made in the last 25 years. Installation runs about $480–$650 including the smart opener unit and Wi-Fi setup. We register the app and walk you through first-time setup.
08 — Safety & DIY

When to not DIY.

What's safe to handle yourself, what isn't, and what to do if your door fails unexpectedly.

Should I try to fix a broken spring myself?+
No. Garage door springs are under enormous tension — a typical residential torsion spring stores 25,000–30,000 lbs of force. They've caused serious injuries and deaths to homeowners attempting DIY repair. The cost of professional spring replacement ($220–$380) is far less than the medical bills or property damage from a failed DIY attempt.
Is it dangerous to use a garage door with a broken spring?+
Yes. With one or both springs broken, the door's full weight (typically 150–250 lbs for residential) is unsupported. The opener can't safely lift it, the cables are under uneven load, and the door can fall freely if released. Don't attempt to operate it. Disconnect the opener (red emergency release cord), leave the door closed, and call us.
What should I do if my door is stuck closed and I need to leave?+
Pull the red emergency release cord on the opener trolley to disconnect the door from the opener. If a spring is broken, do not attempt to lift the door manually — it weighs hundreds of pounds. Call (519) 933-3384 for emergency dispatch. If you must access your car, our average emergency arrival is under 90 minutes.
Can I use my garage door if it's hanging off-track?+
No — using an off-track door risks further damage to the rollers, tracks, panels, and potentially the opener. It can also fall unexpectedly. Disconnect the opener, leave the door in place, and call for service. Off-track repairs typically run $180–$350 and we can usually arrive within 90 minutes.
How often should I have my garage door serviced?+
Annual maintenance is recommended, especially before winter. Service includes lubricating hinges and tracks, tightening hardware, balancing the door, inspecting cables and springs for wear, and testing safety reverse on the opener. Our annual maintenance call runs about $129 and prevents most major failures.
Do you do background checks on technicians?+
Yes. All technicians pass a criminal background check before hire and re-check every 3 years. We're a family-friendly company entering family homes — we take it seriously.
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