I run a garage door company. I'm going to tell you how to evaluate us — and everyone else.
This industry has a problem. The barrier to entry is low. A truck, a few tools, some springs, and a website — that's all it takes to call yourself a garage door company. Some of these outfits do great work. Some of them will rip you off, do dangerous work, or disappear the second something goes wrong.
I've been doing this in Central Oregon since 2016. I've seen what happens when people hire the wrong company. Bent tracks from sloppy installs. Cheap springs that snap after two years. "Technicians" who don't know the difference between a torsion and extension system. I've fixed a lot of other people's mistakes.
So here's how to tell who's legit and who's not. Use this on us. Use it on our competitors. I don't care. You deserve to know.
What to Check Before You Hire Anyone
CCB license. In Oregon, anyone doing construction work — including garage door installation and repair — must hold an active Construction Contractors Board license. This is not optional. It is the law. No license means no bond, no insurance requirement, and no recourse if something goes wrong. You can look up any contractor at search.ccb.state.or.us. If a company can't give you their CCB number or it doesn't show up as active, walk away. Period.
Insurance. Ask for proof of general liability and workers' comp. If a technician gets hurt on your property and they don't carry workers' comp, guess who's liable? You. A legit company will have at least a million dollars in general liability coverage and will show you the certificate without hesitation.
Google reviews — but read them right. Star ratings matter, but they don't tell the whole story. A company with 50 five-star reviews and zero detail? Suspect. Look for reviews that mention specific work: "replaced both torsion springs," "installed a new LiftMaster 87504," "fixed the bottom seal." Real customers describe real work. Also check the negative reviews. Every company gets a bad review eventually. What matters is how they responded. Did they ignore it? Get defensive? Or did they try to make it right?
BBB rating. Not every great company is BBB-accredited, but if a company has complaints filed against them, the BBB will show that. It's one more data point. Use it.
How long have they been around? Garage door work involves high-tension springs, heavy doors, and electrical systems. Experience matters. A company that's been operating in your area for five-plus years has a track record you can verify. A company that popped up last month? Maybe they're great. Maybe they're the same crew that burned a different customer under a different name last year. Longevity is not a guarantee of quality, but it's a strong signal.
Stocked trucks. This one's underrated. A company that keeps common parts on every truck — springs, rollers, cables, hinges, weather seals — can fix most problems in one visit. A company that has to "order the part and come back" is either underprepared or padding the bill with a second service call.
Do they answer the phone? Call them. Don't just fill out a form. If you get voicemail at 10 AM on a Tuesday, that tells you something about how they'll respond when your spring breaks at 7 AM on a Monday.
Clear warranty terms. Before you agree to anything, ask: what's covered, for how long, and does it include parts and labor? Some companies offer a "lifetime warranty" on springs but only cover the spring itself, not the labor to install it. That's not a warranty. That's a marketing trick.
Red Flags That Should Make You Hang Up
The "$29 service call." This is the oldest bait in the industry. They quote $29 to show up, then hit you with $400 in "diagnostic fees," "emergency surcharges," or wildly inflated parts prices. Think about it: a licensed, insured technician driving a stocked truck to your house costs more than $29 in gas alone. If the price sounds too good to be true, it is.
No license number on their website. If they're proud of their license, they'll display it. If they're hiding it, ask yourself why. In Oregon, a CCB number should be on every ad, every vehicle, every piece of marketing. It's required.
Won't give a ballpark over the phone. Obviously, a technician needs to see the door to give an exact quote. But if you call and say "my spring broke" and they won't even give you a range? They're either hiding their prices or planning to make them up when they see your house.
Pressure to decide right now. "This price is only good today." "If you don't replace both springs, your door could fall on your car." "I can't leave until we figure this out." These are high-pressure sales tactics, not professional service. A good technician will explain the situation, give you options, answer your questions, and let you decide. If you feel rushed, something is wrong.
Cash only, no receipt. I shouldn't have to explain this one. If they won't take a card and won't give you a written receipt with their license number on it, you're dealing with someone who doesn't want a paper trail.
How to Compare Quotes the Right Way
If you're getting multiple quotes — and you should, for any job over a few hundred dollars — make sure you're comparing the same thing. Ask each company:
What exactly is included? Parts, labor, disposal of old parts, warranty? Some quotes look cheap because they leave out half the work.
What brand and grade of parts? This matters most with springs. A 10,000-cycle spring costs less than a 20,000-cycle spring. The cheap one will need replacing in 5-7 years. The good one lasts 12-15. If one quote is significantly lower, ask what springs they're using.
Is there a trip charge or service call fee? Some companies roll it into the repair cost. Some charge it separately. Some waive it if you approve the repair. Just know upfront.
What's the warranty? In writing. Not what they say on the phone — what's on the invoice.
How We Stack Up
I'll be transparent. Here's our scorecard against everything I just listed:
CCB License: #209697, active since March 2016. Look it up.
Insurance: $1,000,000 general liability, full workers' comp coverage.
Google Reviews: 630+ reviews, 4.9-star average. Read them. They mention specific work, specific technicians, specific outcomes.
Years in business: 10 years in Central Oregon. Same name, same owners, same phone number since day one.
Stocked trucks: We carry springs, rollers, cables, hinges, openers, and weather seals on every truck. Most repairs are done in one visit.
Warranty: Written warranty on every job. Parts and labor. No asterisks.
We answer the phone Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM. 541-203-7676.
I'm not saying we're the only good option in Central Oregon. I'm saying: ask these questions. To us. To everyone. The good companies won't mind. The bad ones will.