Home improvement retailers can provide a convenient and cost-effective option for purchasing services, materials and equipment needed for home improvement projects, including repair, replacement and installation of garage doors, openers and springs. However, for the affirmed specialized garage door projects, customers may want to avoid these retailers for the following three reasons.

1. Degraded Garage Door Openers

Home improvement retailers have a great selection of retail garage door openers that often come with an attractive price tag and may also include “impressive” features such as 1-1/4 HP motors. However, what appears to be a great deal at first glance, can be quite deceptive for the inexperienced consumer.

Although some of these garage door openers may include a powerful motor, the opener’s assembly as a whole isn’t designed nor capable to support heavy loads and could fall apart under pressure.

2. Outsourcing Repair and Installation Projects

Home improvement retailers don’t employ their own repairmen and installers. They outsource their garage door repair and installation projects that would otherwise be handled by in-house staff to an external hiring company. While the key reason for outsourcing their garage door projects is often to cut costs, this outsourcing practice has many downsides, including quality control issues, communication challenges and unfulfilled warranty claims.

Furthermore, third party hiring companies don’t employ their own garage door technicians. They as well outsource the projects and dispatch independent gig workers who aren’t local, aren’t require to have a valid insurance, contractor license nor undergo background checks, so customers never know who will show up at their doorstep.

3. Inadequate Compensation

These third-party hiring companies not only dispatch unlicensed gig workers but also take a commission from the worker’s compensation in order to generate profits. The result is a very poor compensation that is insufficient to meet the basic needs of the repairman or installer. This usually leads to dissatisfaction, low morale, and reduced productivity, which can have a negative impact on the worker performance overall.

The downside is that projects like repair and installation of garage doors, openers and springs may be completed incorrectly. Another major downside is warranties; a gig worker who hasn’t been properly compensated for his work won’t be incentivized to go back and repair defects or malfunctions that may have occurred during the service. In many cases, warranty claims may get ignored altogether.

So Who Should You Hire?

While home improvement retailers may offer repair and installation services that seem more attractive in terms of price, purchasing professional products like garage door openers and springs, and hiring an actual garage door contractor have proven to be more effective for handling garage door projects. The benefits of using a licensed garage door repair company rather than a home improvement retailer include:

• Quality of Work: A reputable and licensed garage door company employs in-house technicians who are trained, tested and certified to perform repairs on your garage doors and openers. They have undergone extensive training and passed rigorous tests that ensure they are up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices in garage door repair, maintenance and installation.
• Access to Quality Products: A licensed garage door contractor has access to garage door openers, springs and equipment parts that are built to endure heavy loads and operate under extreme conditions. These products, which aren’t being sold by home improvement retailers, have been proven to be more durable, lasting, reliable and safe.  
• Access to Information and OEM Parts: A licensed garage door company has access to a wide range of information and resources, including technical service bulletins, repair manuals, and diagnostic tools. This enables them to properly repair and install garage doors, openers and springs, as well as complete projects more efficiently, saving you time and money in the long run.
• Safety: One of the most key benefits of using a licensed garage door repair company is safety. A licensed technician will be able to identify and fix safety issues that may affect your garage doors, such as incomplete or improper installation, before they become serious problems. Given the garage door weight and size, this can help to prevent accidents and keep the surroundings safe.