Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about garage door repair, springs, openers, installation, and coastal garage door issues in Pacifica and along the San Mateo County coast. If your question isn't here, call us at (650) 777-8776 and we'll answer it on the spot.
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General Questions
We charge between $150 and $350 for most garage door repairs. Spring replacements run $200 to $350 for a pair, cable and roller repairs $150 to $250. We give you a free estimate first, and you approve the price before we start.
Yes. We're on Palmetto Ave in Pacifica, so we can usually get to you in under 30 minutes. Broken springs and doors that won't close get priority, but we can often handle non-urgent repairs the same day too.
Yes. We hold CA License #1073948 and carry general liability insurance and workers compensation coverage. Every technician on the crew is trained and covered.
We serve Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, Daly City, and the surrounding communities along the San Mateo County coast. Our shop is on Palmetto Avenue in Pacifica, so we can reach most local addresses in under 30 minutes. Sharp Park and Rockaway Beach are minutes from our door, and the towns south toward Half Moon Bay are a short drive down Highway 1.
Yes, every on-site estimate is free. We come out, inspect the door, diagnose the problem, and hand you a written quote. You decide from there, and you approve the exact price before any work starts.
Garage Door Spring Questions
Around here, springs typically last 5 to 7 years, shorter than the 7 to 10 you'd get inland. The fog and ocean moisture corrode the coils faster. Regular maintenance with rust-resistant lubricant helps slow that down.
We strongly recommend against it. Torsion springs are under extreme tension and cause thousands of injuries every year. It's a job for specialized tools and training, so call a licensed technician instead.
We charge $200 to $350 for a pair of torsion springs, parts and labor included. We always replace both at the same time since the second one has the same wear and will fail soon after. That price includes coastal-grade lubricant.
A door that suddenly feels heavier is the most common sign. Watch for the door opening crooked, visible gaps or stretching in the spring coils, and loud squeaking or grinding. Rust on the springs is a warning too, especially in Pacifica where the coastal air speeds up metal fatigue. Catch a worn spring early and you avoid the sudden break that leaves the door stuck shut.
Garage Door Opener Questions
We recommend LiftMaster and Chamberlain. They hold up in coastal conditions and the warranty support is solid. Belt-drive models are our go-to because the belt doesn't corrode like a steel chain.
Yes. We install LiftMaster myQ-enabled openers that let you open, close, and monitor your garage door from your phone. They'll alert you if the door is left open and let you grant access remotely.
Usually it's a worn gear, stripped sprocket, or lack of lubrication. The coastal moisture can also corrode the chain or screw drive. We'd recommend getting it looked at before a failing gear burns out the motor entirely.
Typically 10 to 15 years with regular maintenance. On the coast it can be shorter if the opener is exposed to the elements without care. Belt-drive models hold up better than chain-drive in our climate.
Garage Door Installation Questions
We recommend insulated steel with a factory corrosion-resistant finish for most homes here. It's strong, low-maintenance, and handles wind well. Aluminum is another good option since it doesn't rust, though it dents more easily. We help you pick the right fit during a free consultation.
A single door takes us four to six hours. That covers removing the old door, installing tracks and hardware, hanging the new sections, connecting the opener, and testing everything. Add an hour or two if we're replacing the opener too.
Yes, we install insulated garage doors from Clopay, Amarr, and CHI. An insulated door keeps the garage warmer and runs quieter, which matters in a foggy town like Pacifica, especially with living space attached to the garage. The insulation core also stiffens the panels against coastal wind loads.
We install raised panel, carriage house, modern flush, and full-view glass doors. We carry Clopay, Amarr, Wayne Dalton, CHI, and Raynor. We'll walk you through what works best for your home and the local conditions.
Coastal Garage Door Questions
Salt, fog, and wind. Salt in the ocean air corrodes springs, tracks, hinges, and cables at roughly three times the inland rate. Fog leaves a thin film of moisture on the metal that keeps rust going even on dry days. Add the wind loads on exposed streets, and a garage door in Pacifica can need major maintenance or new parts years earlier than the same door in an inland city.
We recommend every six months for coastal homes. Inland you can get away with once a year, but the fog and ocean moisture out here cause corrosion two to three times faster. Our visit covers lubrication, spring tension, track alignment, rollers, weather seals, and corrosion treatment.
It is the set of steps that slow salt and moisture damage on garage door hardware. In practice that means corrosion-resistant lubricant on springs, hinges, and rollers, galvanized or stainless steel hardware, nylon rollers instead of steel, and protective coatings on exposed metal. Done regularly, these steps add years to a garage door in Pacifica and along the Coastside.
Yes, on every job in Pacifica and the coastal towns. Standard lubricant washes off fast in damp, salty air and leaves the parts bare. Marine-grade products form a longer-lasting barrier that keeps salt, fog, and moisture off the metal. It is a small thing that makes a real difference this close to the water, and a big reason to hire a company that works on the coast every day.
Still Have Questions?
Call and you'll talk to someone who works on garage doors, not a call center. Ask about a repair, coastal maintenance, or a new door, and you'll get a straight answer.