A complete garage door installation quote names the exact door (size, material, insulation, windows, color), the springs and hardware, removal and disposal of the old door, the opener connection, permits, the warranty, the total price and the work dates. If a line is missing, ask for it in writing before you sign.
Start with the door itself
Two quotes with the same total can describe two different doors. The quote should say exactly what you are buying, so you can compare line by line.
- Width and height of the opening, and the size of the door
- Material (steel, wood, composite, aluminum and glass) and the model or series name
- Insulated or not, and the panel style
- Windows: how many, which glass, which pattern
- Color and finish, and whether custom color is extra
- Wind load rating if your area or HOA asks for one
Springs, tracks and hardware
The parts that make the door work are where a low quote often saves money. Ask that the quote lists them.
- Spring type (torsion or extension), size and cycle rating
- New tracks, rollers, hinges, cables and brackets, or which of them are reused
- Weatherstripping and the bottom seal
- Struts or reinforcement on wide doors, and the lock or handle
If you are unsure what a spring cycle rating means, read how long garage door springs last.
Removal, disposal and finishing
Taking the old door out is real work, and some quotes leave it out. Ask who removes it, who hauls it away and who repairs the trim or jamb if it is damaged. Also ask whether paint or touch-up is included. The next table shows the lines to check.
| Line on the quote | What to look for | Ask this if it is missing |
|---|---|---|
| Old door removal and disposal | Named as included, with haul-away | Is removal in the total or extra? |
| Opener connection | Opener type and whether it is reused or replaced | Does my opener meet the battery backup rule? |
| Permits and HOA approval | Who applies and who pays the fees | Is the permit fee in the total? |
| Trim, jamb and paint | Repairs and paint named | Who fixes damage found behind the old door? |
| Warranty | What is covered, for how long, parts and labor | Can I have the warranty terms in writing? |
| Start and finish dates | A start date and a finish date | What happens if the door is a special order? |
Use the table as a checklist. A line that is missing is a question to ask before you sign.
The opener and California's battery backup rule
A new door often means a new opener. Under California Health and Safety Code section 19892, a replacement door cannot be connected to an older residential opener that lacks a battery backup. That rule took effect for sales and installs on or after July 1, 2019. So the quote should say whether your current opener stays, and if it goes, what replaces it and what it costs.
Our typical price for an insulated steel door, 16x7, installed is $1,800 to $3,600, and a belt-drive opener installed with battery backup is $550 to $900. Final prices are confirmed after we see the door. See new garage doors and why a new door needs a new opener.
Contract terms to check
Many door jobs are home improvement contracts, and the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) lists what a homeowner should check before signing. Garage door and gate work falls under the D-28 classification, which covers overhead and sliding doors and power-operated doors and gates.
- Check the contractor's license status with CSLB before you sign
- A detailed description of the work, with start and end dates
- Permits required before work starts, with the fees included
- A down payment of no more than 10 percent of the contract price or one thousand dollars, whichever is less
- A 3-day right to cancel, or 5 days if you are 65 or older
- Payments tied to work completed, not paid ahead
- Changes and additions in writing
How to compare two quotes
Put the quotes side by side and compare the door, the springs and hardware, the removal, the opener and the warranty before you look at the total. A quote that is much lower often leaves out removal, the opener, permits or better springs. Why garage door estimates differ explains the usual gaps.
Where we come in
Emil Garage Doors installs garage doors and openers across Southern California, for example in Lake Forest and Santee, and our city pages also cover Foster City. Call (213) 340-4232 or send the estimate form with your opening size and the door you like, and we will write the quote with every line above.
Questions people ask
What should a garage door installation quote include?
The exact door (size, material, insulation, windows, color), springs and hardware, removal of the old door, the opener connection, permits, the warranty, the total price and the work dates.
Should old door removal be in the quote?
Yes, ask for it as a named line. If it is left out, you may pay for removal and disposal later.
How much deposit is normal for a garage door installation?
CSLB's homeowner checklist says a down payment should be no more than 10 percent of the contract price or one thousand dollars, whichever is less.
Do I need a new opener with a new garage door?
Not always, but a replacement door cannot be connected to an older residential opener that lacks a battery backup in California. Ask the installer to check your opener's model.
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