How much does a new garage door cost in Virginia?

There is no official Virginia price for a new garage door, and any single number you see online is an average of very different jobs. Your price depends on the door you choose and what the installer has to do around it. The reliable way to find it is to collect written quotes for your own opening.

What drives the price

Size and style. Single and double doors, and standard against tall or custom heights, are priced differently. The more custom the opening, the more the door and hardware cost.

Material, insulation and windows. Steel, aluminum, wood and composite doors cost different amounts, and so do insulated panels and window inserts. Clopay's manual for its Avante residential door says a door may weigh up to 800 lbs.,^[2] and a heavier door needs heavier springs and hardware.

Springs and track. Ask what kind of springs the quote includes and whether the track is new. Clopay's instructions say never to reuse old track or hardware,^[2] so a quote that keeps old parts is a different job from one that replaces them.

Removing the old door. Clopay tells the homeowner that if the old door uses torsion springs, a qualified door repair service should remove them.^[2] Hauling the old door away is another line to look for.

The opener. Clopay says the top section of the door must be reinforced to give a strengthened mounting point for an automatic opener.^[2] A quote may include only that reinforcement, or a new opener on top. See how the opener fits into the job.

Wind and weather. Clopay notes that doors installed in high wind regions may require additional reinforcement beyond the standard instructions.^[2] Ask whether your door is rated for your area.

Framing repair. If the wood jambs are rotten, Clopay says they should be replaced,^[2] which adds labor and materials before the door goes in.

Warranty. Clopay says its warranties apply only to doors installed using original, factory-supplied sections, parts and hardware installed in strict accordance with its instructions.^[2] A cheap, off-spec install can cost you the warranty.

Permit costs

A like-for-like replacement often needs no permit. Virginia's building code exempts the replacement of windows and doors with windows and doors of similar operation and opening dimensions that do not require changes to the existing framed opening.^[5] If you are changing the size of the opening, check with your locality, and ask each bidder to state whether a permit and its fee are in the price.

Comparing bids

DPOR advises getting at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors.^[1] Beware of any bid substantially lower than the others; it probably indicates that the contractor has made a mistake or is not including all the work quoted by his or her competitors.^[1]

Put these on every quote: door model, size and insulation; spring type; new track and hardware; opener work; removal and disposal of the old door; framing repairs; permit; and labor and parts warranty.

Deposits and the contract

DPOR's rule of thumb is an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less;^[1] if the job requires custom-made items or special orders, a reasonable deposit could be as high as 30% of the total contract value.^[1] Under Board for Contractors rules, a residential contract must state the total cost, the amounts and schedule for progress payments including the down payment, and the contractor's licence number and class.^[4]

When to call a licensed pro

For the installation itself, spring work in particular. Licence classes in Virginia depend on contract value: Class C contractors are those whose single contract is over $1,000 but less than $30,000, or whose total work in any 12-month period is less than $250,000.^[3] Check the licence before you pay, and read what to look for in a garage door installer.

Browse garage door services on Loclis or read more garage door answers. For a repair rather than a replacement, see how much garage door repair costs.

To get prices for your own garage, describe the job once and local garage door businesses quote it.