Garage door questions, answered
Everything we get asked, in one place, written by the people who do the work, not a content agency. If your question isn't here, call (786) 315-9238 and ask us directly.
Pricing, estimates and booking
What it costs, how quickly we can come out, and how the estimate works.
Do you offer financing on garage doors?
Yes. Financing is available so a new door, opener or gate can be spread over time instead of paid in full upfront. Call (786) 315-9238 and we will walk you through what is available for your job.
Is the estimate free?
Yes. Estimates are free and come with no obligation, and you get an upfront price before any work starts. No hidden fees.
What can be financed?
New garage door installation, opener replacement, and gate and operator work. Talk to us about the specific job and we will tell you what applies.
Do you offer any discounts?
We run offers from time to time. Recent examples include a discount on rollers and money off double-car door installations. Ask when you call and we will tell you what is current.
Which areas does CMC Door Service cover?
Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe County. That includes Miami, Hialeah, Kendall, Doral, Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Homestead, Cutler Bay and Miami Lakes; Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines and Weston; and Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Key West.
Do you charge a travel fee for outlying areas?
All three counties are core service areas and are priced the same. If your location is unusual, we will say so upfront rather than adding it later.
My city is not listed. Do you still come out?
Very likely yes. The listed cities are where we work most often, not the limit of our coverage. Call and ask.
Is same-day service available everywhere you cover?
Same-day service is available across all three counties subject to availability on the day. Travel time to the Keys can be longer, so call early if you are in Monroe County.
What areas does CMC Door Service cover?
Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe County, including Miami, Hialeah, Kendall, Doral, Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Homestead, Cutler Bay, Miami Lakes, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Key Largo and Key West.
Do you offer same-day garage door repair?
Yes, subject to availability on the day. Our trucks carry springs, cables, rollers and common opener parts, so most repairs finish in one visit. Call (786) 315-9238.
How much does garage door repair cost in Miami?
From our published Miami repair guide: springs run $350 to $600 on a single-car door and $750 to $1,200 on a double-car door, which runs two springs. A racked door is $450 to $600. Cable repair runs $200 to $300, rollers $150 to $250, panel replacement $350 to $700 and opener repair $200 to $350. Estimates are free and priced upfront.
Which garage door brands do you install?
We are a factory-authorized dealer for Clopay, Amarr, Haas and Raynor doors and LiftMaster openers, and we also service SEA, CAME and Linear gate equipment.
Are your garage doors hurricane-rated?
Yes. Installations in Miami-Dade High Velocity Hurricane Zone areas use 21-gauge aluminium with WINDCODE reinforcement and carry the product approval required for the wind loads at your address.
What are your hours?
Seven days a week, 8am to 6pm, including emergency calls.
Is the estimate really free?
Yes. Free and no obligation, with an upfront price before any work starts.
How quickly will you get back to me?
We aim to respond the same day during business hours, which are 8am to 6pm seven days a week. If it is urgent, calling is faster than the form.
Do you need to visit to give a price?
For most repairs we can give a good indication over the phone and confirm on site. For new doors and gates we measure in person, because headroom, wind-load requirements and site access all affect the specification.
What information helps you quote faster?
The type of property, roughly what is wrong or what you want fitted, the door size if you know it, and a photo if you have one.
What is the fastest way to reach you?
Calling (786) 315-9238. The contact form reaches the same team but the phone is quicker, especially for an emergency.
What are your opening hours?
Seven days a week, 8am to 6pm, including emergency service.
Where are you based?
14252 SW 140 Street, Suite #108, Miami, FL 33186. It is a warehouse rather than a showroom, so call before visiting.
Do you cover my area?
We cover Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe County including the Florida Keys. If your city is not listed on the site, call and ask, because it is very likely we do.
Something is wrong with my door
Diagnosing the fault from what the door is actually doing.
Why won't my garage door open but the motor runs?
The trolley has almost certainly been disconnected from the door, usually because someone pulled the red emergency release cord. Close the door fully, pull the cord back toward the door until it clicks, then run the opener once to re-engage. If the motor runs and you hear it spinning freely with plastic debris below, the drive gear has stripped instead.
How do I know if my garage door spring is broken?
Three tells: you heard a loud bang, the door feels enormously heavy if you try to lift it by hand, and there is a visible gap of an inch or so in the coiled spring above the door. Any one of those is enough to stop using the door.
Can I open my garage door manually if the spring is broken?
You should not. Without the spring the door is carrying its full weight, 150 to 400 pounds, with nothing counterbalancing it. It can drop. Leave it where it is and keep people and vehicles clear.
How quickly can you get to a door that won't open?
We aim for same-day service across Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe County, seven days a week from 8am to 6pm. Call (786) 315-9238 for availability today.
What does it cost to fix a garage door that won't open?
It depends on the cause. From our published Miami cost guide: springs run $350 to $600 on a single-car door and $750 to $1,200 on a double-car door, cable repair $200 to $300, opener repair $200 to $350. You get an upfront price before work starts and the estimate is free.
Why does my garage door close then immediately open again?
Two likely causes. If the opener light blinks, the photo-eye safety sensors are misaligned or blocked. If the sensors are fine and the door touches down before reversing, the close-limit is set slightly too low, so the opener thinks it has hit an obstruction. The limit is adjustable but easy to overshoot, so it is worth having set properly.
Where are the garage door safety sensors?
Near the floor on both sides of the opening, usually four to six inches up the track, pointing at each other. Each has a small LED. Both should be solid when the door is working.
Can I just disconnect the safety sensors?
No. They are the only thing that reverses the door if something is underneath it, and they are required by federal law on every opener sold since 1993. If they keep tripping, the cause needs fixing.
Why won't my garage door close in the rain?
Moisture on the sensor lenses, or a sensor bracket that has shifted. Water and the low winter sun angle both scatter the beam. Wipe the lenses and check both LEDs are solid.
How much does it cost to fix a door that won't close?
Sensor realignment is often a quick fix and we will tell you if it is something you can do yourself. If it turns out to be rollers, our published guide puts a full set at roughly $150 to $250; opener repairs run $200 to $350. The estimate is free.
Why is my garage door so loud all of a sudden?
Sudden noise usually means something has worn through rather than drifted: a roller that has lost its bearing, a hinge that has cracked, or a chain that has gone slack. A door that has gradually got louder is normally dry hardware and worn steel rollers.
What is the quietest type of garage door opener?
A belt-drive opener, and it is not close. Chain drives transmit noise through the rail. If there is a bedroom over or beside the garage, belt drive is worth the difference.
Can I use WD-40 on my garage door?
No. WD-40 is a solvent and displaces the grease you actually want in the bearings. Use a proper garage door lubricant, a silicone or lithium spray made for the job, on hinges, roller stems, bearings and the spring.
Will new rollers make my door quieter?
Usually dramatically. Worn steel rollers are the single most common cause of a noisy door, and nylon replacements are far quieter and hold up better in Florida's humidity and salt air. Our published guide puts a full set at roughly $150 to $250.
Is a noisy garage door dangerous?
Noise itself is not, but it is often the first sign of something that becomes dangerous: a failing roller, loose hardware, or a door drifting out of balance and overloading the springs. It is cheaper to deal with at the noise stage.
Why does my garage door reverse before it reaches the floor?
Something is breaking the photo-eye beam, or the opener is reading mechanical resistance as an obstruction. Check the sensor LEDs first; if they are solid, look along the track at the height where it stops.
Why does my garage door bounce back up after closing?
The close-limit is set slightly too low, so the door hits the floor before the opener expects to and reads it as an obstruction. It is a small adjustment on the motor unit, but easy to overshoot in the other direction.
Should I just turn up the force setting?
No. That setting is what makes the door stop if it closes on someone. Turning it up masks the real fault and removes the safety margin at the same time.
Why did this start after a cold night?
Temperature changes stiffen grease and contract metal, which raises the resistance the opener sees. A door already close to its force threshold will start reversing. It usually means the door needs lubrication and a balance check rather than a new opener.
How much does this cost to fix?
Sensor realignment is often quick and we will say so if it is something you can do yourself. Opener repairs run roughly $200 to $350 and a full set of rollers $150 to $250 from our published Miami guide. The estimate is free either way.
Repairs and parts
Springs, cables, rollers, panels, tracks and emergency work.
Do you offer emergency garage door repair in Miami?
Yes. CMC Door Service takes emergency calls seven days a week from 8am to 6pm across Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe County. Call (786) 315-9238 and we will dispatch a stocked truck for same-day service where availability allows.
What counts as a garage door emergency?
A door stuck open leaves your home or business unsecured, so that is always treated as urgent. Broken springs, snapped cables, a door off its tracks, and a door that has come down on a vehicle are the other common emergencies we respond to.
Should I try to force a stuck garage door open myself?
No. If a spring or cable has failed, the door is carrying its full weight with nothing holding it. Forcing it can drop the door. Leave it where it is, keep people and vehicles clear, and call us.
Will you have the parts on the truck?
Usually yes. Our trucks carry springs, cables, rollers, hinges and common opener parts, which is why most emergency repairs finish in a single visit rather than needing a return trip.
How much does an emergency garage door repair cost?
It depends on the failure. Our published Miami repair guide puts spring replacement at $350 to $600 on a single-car door and $750 to $1,200 on a double-car door, cable repair at $200 to $300, and off-track repair at $450 to $600. You get an upfront price before any work starts.
Why has my garage door opener stopped working?
The most common causes are a misaligned or blocked photo-eye safety sensor, a failed capacitor or logic board, stripped drive gears, or travel limits that have drifted out of adjustment. A blinking motor-unit light usually points at the safety sensors.
Is it worth repairing an opener or should I replace it?
If the unit is under roughly ten years old and the fault is a single component, repair is usually the better value. Our published guide puts opener repair around $200 to $350. Older units without rolling-code security or a battery backup are often worth replacing outright.
Which opener brands do you install?
We are an authorized LiftMaster dealer and fit the full range: chain drive, belt drive, wall-mount jackshaft, and models with battery backup, built-in camera and LED lighting.
Do new openers work with a phone?
Yes. We set up myQ on install, so you can open, close and monitor the door from your phone and get alerts if it is left open. Security+ 2.0 rolling code is standard.
Do I need a battery backup opener in Florida?
It is worth having. A battery backup keeps the door working through a power cut, which matters in storm season when a garage may be the only way in or out.
Can a single garage door panel be replaced?
Often yes, if the door model is still available and the rest of the sections and hardware are sound. Our published guide puts single panel replacement at roughly $350 to $700 depending on the door.
When is replacing the whole door the better option?
If several sections are damaged, the door is discontinued so panels cannot be matched, or the door is old enough that it is not wind-rated, a new door is usually the better spend, especially in a Miami-Dade HVHZ zone.
Will a replacement panel match the rest of my door?
On current models, yes. On older or discontinued doors an exact match may not exist, and weathering can leave a slight colour difference. We will tell you honestly before you commit.
How long does panel replacement take?
Once the panel is in stock the swap is usually a single visit. Lead time depends on the manufacturer and the model.
Does a dented panel actually need replacing?
Not always. Minor cosmetic dents may be fine to leave. A panel that is buckled, split, or has damaged the door's structural integrity should be replaced, because it puts extra load on the opener and the springs.
What causes a garage door cable to snap?
Fraying from age and cycles, rust from Florida's salt air and humidity, a door coming off its tracks, or a cable coming off the drum after a spring failure. Cables and springs work as a pair, so one failing often stresses the other.
Can I use my garage door with a broken cable?
No. With one cable gone the door is unbalanced and can drop or jam sideways in the tracks. Stop using it, do not park under it, and call us on (786) 315-9238.
How much does garage door cable repair cost in Miami?
Our published Miami repair guide puts cable repair and replacement at roughly $200 to $300. You get an upfront price before work starts.
Should both cables be replaced at once?
Yes, we recommend it. Both cables have done the same number of cycles and aged in the same conditions, so if one has failed the other is usually close behind. Replacing the pair keeps the door balanced.
How long does a cable replacement take?
Most cable replacements are completed in a single visit, because our trucks carry the common sizes.
What makes a garage door come off its track?
Usually a snapped cable, worn or seized rollers, a track bent by an impact, or loose track brackets. Hitting the door with a vehicle is the other common cause.
Can I put the door back on the track myself?
We would not recommend it. The door is heavy, the springs are under high tension, and forcing it back usually bends the track further or drops the door. It is also easy to get hurt.
How much does off-track repair cost in Miami?
Our published Miami repair guide puts off-track repair at $450 to $600, depending on whether cables, rollers or track sections also need replacing.
Can the door still be used until it is fixed?
No. Leave it where it is and do not run the opener. Operating an off-track door can jam it completely, damage the panels, or bring it down.
How quickly can you get to an off-track door?
We treat it as urgent because the opening is usually left unsecured. Call (786) 315-9238 and we will get a technician out the same day where availability allows.
How often should a garage door be serviced?
Once a year for a typical household door, and more often for high-cycle or commercial doors. Florida's salt air and humidity are hard on cables, rollers and hardware, so annual servicing matters more here than in a dry climate.
What is included in a garage door tune-up?
A 25-point inspection covering spring tension and balance, rollers, hinges, cables, tracks, opener force and travel limits, photo-eye safety sensors, lubrication of moving parts, and weatherseal condition.
Will a tune-up stop my door being noisy?
Usually. Most noise comes from dry or worn rollers, loose hardware and unlubricated hinges, all of which a tune-up addresses. Worn steel rollers can be upgraded to nylon for a quieter door.
Can a tune-up prevent a spring from breaking?
It cannot make springs last forever, but correct balance and lubrication reduce strain, and an inspection catches gaps in the coils or fraying cables before they fail without warning.
Do you service doors you did not install?
Yes. We service all brands and any age of door, whoever installed it.
Buying a new door
Styles, brands, materials, sizing and what suits a South Florida home.
Are hurricane-rated garage doors required in Miami-Dade?
Miami-Dade and Broward sit in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, the strictest wind-load region in the Florida Building Code. New and replacement garage doors in HVHZ areas have to carry the required approval for the wind loads at your address.
Why does the garage door matter so much in a storm?
It is the largest opening in most homes. If it fails, wind gets inside and pressurises the structure, which is what lifts roofs. Reinforcing the door protects far more than the garage.
What makes a garage door hurricane-rated?
A combination of gauge and bracing (we use 21-gauge aluminium with WINDCODE reinforcement) plus heavier tracks and hardware, and a product approval covering the design pressures for the location.
Can my existing garage door be reinforced instead of replaced?
Sometimes. Retrofit bracing exists for some doors, but it does not turn an unrated door into a rated one. We will assess your door and tell you whether reinforcement or replacement is the honest answer.
Does a hurricane-rated door lower my insurance?
Many Florida insurers offer wind mitigation credits for code-approved opening protection. Your insurer decides, but we can provide the product documentation for your wind mitigation inspection.
Can I see a door on my actual house?
Yes. The Clopay tool on this page lets you upload a photo of your home and preview real doors on it before you decide anything.
Is the design tool free to use?
Yes, and there is no obligation. The tools are hosted by the manufacturers; we quote on whatever you choose.
What if the door I design is not available in Florida?
Some finishes and models are not rated for High Velocity Hurricane Zone areas. Send us what you picked and we will confirm what is available and code-approved for your address.
What happens after I choose a design?
Call (786) 315-9238 or request a free estimate. We measure on site, confirm the wind-load requirement, and give you a written price.
Openers and gates
LiftMaster openers, smart control, gate operators and access control.
What kinds of commercial gates do you install?
Cantilever and track-mounted sliding gates, single and double swing gates, and barrier arm systems, for commercial properties, HOA communities, industrial sites and parking facilities.
Do you install the access control as well as the gate?
Yes. Keypads, card readers, telephone entry systems and remote access are all part of what we fit and program, so entry management is handled end to end.
Which gate operator brands do you carry?
We are an authorized LiftMaster dealer, including the CSL24UL and SL3000UL slide operators and the CSW24UL swing operator, and we also service SEA, CAME and Linear equipment.
Can you repair a gate that another company installed?
Yes. We service existing gates and operators regardless of who installed them, including motor replacement, logic board faults, safety loops and photo-eye alignment.
How long does a commercial gate installation take?
It depends on the gate size, the operator and the site groundwork. We start with a free consultation and a written proposal so you have a schedule before anything is ordered.
Hurricane, wind code and commercial
HVHZ requirements, wind ratings, and commercial rolling doors.
What types of commercial doors do you service?
Rolling steel service doors, insulated rolling doors, fire-rated rolling doors, sectional overhead doors, high-speed rapid doors, and loading dock equipment. We work on warehouses, distribution centres, retail storefronts, manufacturing plants and climate-controlled storage.
Can you service commercial doors outside business hours?
Our standard hours are 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. Because a failed dock door stops the whole operation, commercial breakdowns are prioritised for same-day response wherever we have availability.
Do you offer maintenance contracts for commercial properties?
Yes. Scheduled preventative maintenance covers lubrication, tension adjustment, roller and track inspection, and weatherseal replacement. Planned servicing is far cheaper than an unplanned shutdown.
Are your commercial doors wind-rated for Miami-Dade?
Where the application calls for it, yes. We install wind-load rated models such as the Model 3400 that meet Florida Building Code requirements, including Miami-Dade High Velocity Hurricane Zone approvals.
Do you work with property managers and national accounts?
Yes. Alongside local businesses we handle work for national brands, and we can invoice through property management and facilities teams.
Everything else
What is the minimum order for export?
There is no fixed minimum, but below roughly a pallet the freight starts to cost more than the goods. For a single door it is usually cheaper to buy locally. Ask us and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth shipping.
Do you export gates and gate operators?
No. Export is garage doors, rolling doors and the motors that drive them. Gate operators, dock equipment and service work stay inside our South Florida service area.
How long does it take?
Stock sizes are usually two to three weeks to be ready, made to order four to six. Sea freight from Miami to the Caribbean is typically under a week on the water, Central and South America one to three weeks depending on the port and the sailing.
Can you ship a hurricane rated door abroad?
Yes, and we can supply the Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval documentation with it. Whether your local authority accepts a Florida approval is a question for your building department, and we would rather you ask before you order.
Which Incoterms do you work to?
EXW, FOB Miami, CIF and DAP. If your broker works to something else, tell us and we will quote against it rather than making you translate.
Do you install outside South Florida?
No. We install in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe County only. Everywhere else, domestic or international, is supply and ship and your own installer fits it.
Can I pay in a currency other than dollars?
Quotes and invoices are in US dollars. How you fund the payment is between you and your bank.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Most of this export business is Latin America and the Caribbean, and you can deal with us in Spanish end to end. This page has a Spanish version.
¿Cuál es el pedido mínimo de exportación?
No hay un mínimo fijo, pero por debajo de aproximadamente una tarima el flete empieza a costar más que la mercancía. Para una sola puerta suele salir más barato comprarla localmente. Pregúntenos y le diremos con franqueza si vale la pena enviarla.
¿Exportan portones y motores de portón?
No. La exportación es puertas de garaje, cortinas enrollables y los motores que las mueven. Los operadores de portón, el equipo de andén y el servicio se quedan dentro de nuestra zona en el sur de Florida.
¿Cuánto tarda?
Las medidas de stock suelen estar listas en dos o tres semanas, las fabricadas a medida en cuatro a seis. El marítimo desde Miami al Caribe normalmente es menos de una semana de navegación, y a Centro y Sudamérica de una a tres semanas según el puerto y la salida.
¿Pueden enviar una puerta con resistencia a huracán?
Sí, y podemos acompañarla con la NOA de Miami-Dade o la aprobación de producto de Florida. Si su autoridad local acepta una aprobación de Florida es una pregunta para su departamento de construcción, y preferimos que la haga antes de pedir.
¿Con qué Incoterms trabajan?
EXW, FOB Miami, CIF y DAP. Si su agente maneja otro, díganoslo y cotizamos sobre ese en lugar de hacerle traducir.
¿Instalan fuera del sur de Florida?
No. Instalamos solo en Miami-Dade, Broward y Monroe. En cualquier otro lugar, nacional o internacional, suministramos y enviamos, y su instalador la coloca.
¿Puedo pagar en otra moneda?
Las cotizaciones y las facturas van en dólares estadounidenses. Cómo fondea el pago es entre usted y su banco.
¿Atienden en español?
Sí. La mayor parte de este negocio de exportación es América Latina y el Caribe, y puede tratar con nosotros en español de principio a fin.
Are these photos of your actual jobs?
Yes. Every image on this page is from a job our team completed in South Florida. We do not use stock photography to represent our work.
Can you do a job like the one in the photos?
Almost certainly. Call (786) 315-9238 with what you have in mind and we will give you a free estimate for your property.
Do you handle both residential and commercial work?
Yes. Residential garage doors and openers, and commercial rolling steel doors, high-speed doors, dock equipment and gates.
What the answers look like in practice
Springs, openers, rolling doors and gates, all finished by our own technicians.
Models and collections we install
The doors, finishes and hardware we fit across South Florida.
Still not sure what's wrong?
Describe it on the phone and we can usually narrow it down before we arrive. Free estimates, same-day service, 7 days a week.