How does emergency repair pricing work?

We charge a flat hourly labor rate plus parts, with no emergency surcharge - our rate is the same whether we come out at 2pm Tuesday or 7pm Saturday. We give you a firm quote before any work begins, and we will tell you on the phone roughly what to expect once we know what is wrong. If you would like a ballpark before we head out, just ask.

My garage door will not open and it is freezing outside. What should I check first?

Before calling, try three things: (1) check whether the rubber bottom seal has frozen to the concrete - pour warm water along the edge to melt the ice; (2) try the wall button instead of the remote, since cold drains remote batteries fast; (3) pull the red emergency release cord and try lifting the door by hand. If it is extremely heavy or will not budge, you likely have a broken spring and should not keep trying the opener - call us. If it lifts smoothly by hand, the issue is the opener or tracks.

Is my garage door safe to operate if a spring just broke?

No. A garage door with a broken torsion spring is dangerous to operate. The springs counterbalance the door's full weight (often 150-300 pounds for a typical residential door), and without them the opener will strain or fail, cables can snap, and the door can fall. Leave it where it is and call us. If your car is trapped inside, we can usually get the door open manually on arrival.

How fast can you get here?

After-hours response is typically 60-90 minutes within Steamboat Springs, 90 minutes to 2 hours for Hayden, Oak Creek, Stagecoach, Clark, and Milner, and 2-3 hours for Craig and outlying areas. We will give you an honest ETA when you call. Weather and current calls affect timing, especially during winter storms.

Do you fix all garage door brands?

Yes. We service all major residential garage door brands and openers, including Clopay, Amarr, Wayne Dalton, Raynor, Midland, LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Genie, Sommer, and more. If you are not sure what brand you have, we can identify it on arrival - parts compatibility is part of what we handle.

What should I do while waiting for the technician?

If your door is stuck open, move valuables out of view and lock the interior door from the garage to the house. If your door is stuck closed with a car trapped inside, you can usually still exit on foot through the side door - do not try to force the garage door. If you hear or see a broken spring (loud bang, visible gap in the spring coil), do not pull the emergency release cord while the door is in the up position - the door can fall. Wait for us; we will handle it safely.