Are You Licensed to Practice as a Garage Door Repair Contractor in Washington D.C.?

Garage door repair contractors that wish to conduct business in Washington D.C. must be licensed by the district's Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) before so, and the contractor's intended scope of work will determine the license category that they fall under:

• General Contractor/Construction Manager: contractors that are licensed under this category can perform construction, remodeling, and repair work on new and existing buildings and structures in the district and they can also supervise the actions of subcontractors and other workers involved in these projects
• Home Improvement Contractor: contractors that are licensed under this category can only perform repair and remodeling work on residential buildings in the district

Garage door contractors that wish to apply for any of these license types can do so by registering a user account on the DC Business Portal and subsequently submitting an application via this platform. Alternatively, contractor license applications can be made in person at the DCRA's office located at:

These applicants will also have to meet certain requirements before being issued these licenses, such as:

• Providing proof of tax registration
• Paying all stipulated licensing fees
• Providing proof of corporate registration, where applicable
• Providing proof of liability insurance coverage, as well as surety bonding, where applicable
• Obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy or Home Occupation Permit from the DC Office of Zoning
• Submitting any additional documentation that the DCRA may deem relevant at the time the license application is made

Garage door repair contractors that fail to obtain an appropriate license from the DCRA before conducting business in the district or provide services outside the scope of their licenses can face Class 1 Infraction charges. These charges carry a minimum penalty of $2,000 in fines for first offenders.

Additional information on the DCRA's contractor licensing procedure and requirements can be gotten by contacting the department online or via phone number (202) 442-4400. You can also confirm that your garage door repair contractor has been appropriately licensed for the job by using the department's Access DC portal. Note that you may be required to register a user account on this portal before doing this. However, you can also contact the DCRA at (202) 442-4400 to verify your intended garage door repair contractor's licensing status.

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

During your search for garage door services in Washington D.C., it is important to discuss the cost of your required services with your intended garage door repair contractor before they start any work on your property. Failure to do so can result in misunderstandings between you and the contractor and also gives dishonest contractors the opportunity to defraud you. To this end, you should also take it a step further by requesting and comparing written cost estimates from at least three different garage door repair contractors before making your final hiring decision.

Professional garage door repair contractors in the district typically factor in several variables when preparing estimates for jobs. These variables include:

• The extent of damage to the garage door
• The garage door style and design
• The types of components used for the garage door
• The garage door finishes
• The labor intensity of the job
• Service charges
• Your location within the district

It is important to note that you should not just hire that garage door repair contractor that provides the lowest cost estimate. Find out why their rates are cheaper than the competition, especially if there is a big price difference in these rates. You should also keep other suitability criteria in mind when selecting a garage door repair contractor for your project, like the contractor's local reputation, area of specialization, and level of experience.

Garage door repair contractors in Washington D.C. earn an annual average wage of $58,550. The list below compares the hourly average wages of these contractors with those of garage door repair contractors in other locations across the country:

What Kind of Garage Door Services Do You Offer?

Professional garage door contractors in Washington D.C. typically provide a variety of services to interested parties, from inspecting garage doors and replacing broken springs and cables, to installing new garage doors and garage door openers. While the specific nature of these services may vary, they generally fall under one of the following categories:

• Garage door installations and replacements: these services are mostly requested by homeowners that are either moving into new homes or are renovating their current residences, and they involve installing garage doors in these homes or replacing old or faulty ones with newer models. Depending on the type, brand, and model of the garage door used for the job, these services can cost as low as $350 or as high as $5,000, labor and materials costs inclusive. Some homeowners cut down some of these costs by repurposing components of their old garage doors. However, this can only be done for garage door replacements. Also, you should always get a go-ahead from a professional garage door contractor before doing this, as the old and repurposed parts may not be compatible with your new garage door system
• Garage door repairs: garage door repairs are mostly required by homeowners with malfunctioning or broken down garage doors who need these issues rectified so that their garage doors can continue operating safely and effectively. Typical issues with garage doors that call for repair services include:
  • Broken springs
  • Snapped cables
  • Slow operation
  • Noisy operation
  • Damaged garage door panels and frames
  • Bent tracks
  • Faulty/broken hinges and rollers
  • Faulty garage door openers

Keep in mind that sometimes, the damage to the garage door may be beyond fixing. In this case, the entire garage door will have to be replaced

• Garage maintenance: professional garage door contractors usually offer maintenance services that are intended to guarantee the smooth and ideal operation of garage doors, prevent unexpected and sudden failures of these door systems, and reduce the likelihood of accidents caused by malfunctions. These services typically include:
  • Garage door inspections and tune-ups
  • Auto-reverse and safety features testing
  • Garage door opener assessments
  • Safety sensor alignments
  • Spring balancing
  • Moving parts lubrication
  • Weather seal assessment and replacement
  • Hinge and roller assessments
  • Hardware tightening

Confirming that the garage door services your intended garage door contractor offers match your unique needs is an important step to take when searching for suitable professionals for your garage door projects in Washington D.C. Otherwise, you run the risk of hiring a contractor that is not experienced enough to expertly handle the task, which, in turn, can mean spending more time and money looking a more qualified garage door contractor to re-do the job.

The list below provides cost estimates for commonly requested garage door services in Washington D.C. Note that the actual cost of these services will largely be dependent on factors like the nature and scope of your required service, your location within the district, and your contractor's experience and local reputation:

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 component:

Estimates for garage door repair based on type of problem:

Will You Get the Garage Door Installation Permits as Required per the Washington D.C. Building Code?

DC Municipal Regulations stipulate that individuals that wish to carry out construction and home improvement-related projects in the district must obtain a permit from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) before doing so. However, even though garage-related projects are included in this permit requirement, exemptions are typically made for garage door repairs that do not alter the building's structure, egress, as well as its plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems.

Individuals that wish to obtain these permits are typically expected to establish the scope of their projects and determine whether any development restrictions may apply to their property before submitting their permit applications. This can be done by contacting the DC Office of Zoning at (202) 727-6311 or by using the DCRA's SCOUT portal. Once this has been done, permit applications can be submitted to the department via the following channels:

• The DCRA Permit Wizard Portal, for projects involving one or two-family residences
• The DCRA Citizen Portal, for commercial projects

Depending on the scope of the project, additional documentation like building plans and drawings may also be required. These additional documents can be submitted to the DCRA via its ProjectDox portal.

Once all submitted applications and documents have been reviewed and approved and stipulated permit fees have been paid, the DCRA will issue the requested permits. Note that the department may conduct inspections of the project at various stages to verify that the work being done complies with all pertinent provisions of the district's building and construction regulations.

Additional information on the DCRA's permit issuing and project inspection processes and requirements can be gotten by contacting the department via email, via phone numbers (202) 442-8959 or (202) 442-4400, or in person at

What Brands of Garage Doors Do You Work With?

After making sure that the garage door contractors you plan to hire provide the types of services that you need, you should also find out the brands of garage doors they work with and make sure that these brands fit your specific requirements. Several garage door manufacturers offer readily available brands that are favored by residents of Washington D.C., and these include:

These doors are usually manufactured with high-quality components and materials like composite wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass, wood, vinyl, and glass, and are also offered in a variety of styles and designs, such as:

• Roll-up garage doors
• Sliding garage doors
• Sectional garage doors
• Folding garage doors
• Carriage garage doors
• Tilt-up canopy garage doors
• Up-and-Over garage doors
• Paneled garage doors
• French-style garage doors
• Side-hinged garage doors

You can narrow down your options when contemplating the most suitable garage door brands, styles, and designs to install in your home by considering the following features:

• Security
• Safety
• Aesthetic appeal
• Cost
• Convenience/Ease of operation
• Durability
• Motor strength
• Availability of replacement parts
• Maintenance requirements
• Insulation
• Customization options

It should be noted that another important factor that will affect the efficiency and usability of your garage door is the type of garage door opener you install along with it. These garage door openers are typically provided separately from garage doors, can be tailored to your specific requirements, and come in four distinct types, which are:

• Belt driven openers
• Chain driven openers
• Jackshaft openers
• Screw driven openers

Some high-quality garage door opener brands favored by residents of the DC area for use in their homes include:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Garage Door Repair Contractors in Washington D.C.?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than half of the fatal work-related injuries that were recorded in Washington D.C. in 2020 occurred among building and construction-related workers in the district. Retaining the services of an insured garage door contractor provides you with financial and legal protection in situations where work-related injuries or other unforeseen circumstances, like property damages, occur during your garage project.

To this end, garage door repair contractors that operate in Washington D.C. are mandated to comply with certain insurance requirements, which are dependent on the type of DCRA-issued license that they hold:

• Garage door repair contractors that hold a General Contractor/Construction Manager License must maintain liability insurance coverage with a limit of no less than $500,000. Note that this minimum limit is contingent on the value of the projects that the contractor's license class authorizes them to work on
• Garage door repair contractors that hold a Home Improvement Contractor License must maintain liability insurance coverage with a minimum limit of $50,000 per person or $100,000 in aggregate for more than one person for bodily injury or death in any single accident, and $10,000 for property damage. These contractors must also post a home improvement surety bond of $25,000

Always verify your intended contractor's insurance and bonding status before they commence any work on your home or property. You can do this by requesting copies of their insurance and bond certificates and contacting the issuing organizations to validate these documents. You can also reach out to the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs at (202) 442-4400 to get additional information on its mandatory contractor insurance and bond requirements.