Garage door a panel is dented or creased
This is almost always a impact damage to one or more sections. Repair costs $250 to $600 and takes 60 to 120 minutes. Safe to operate: Yes, if it still runs true.
Check this first — it may cost you nothing
Open and close it once while watching from inside. If it runs smoothly and the rollers stay in the track, the dent is cosmetic and you can take your time.
Why this happens
A dent that has not broken the section usually affects looks rather than function. A crease across the full width is different — it weakens the section and the door begins to flex where it should be rigid.
A dent that has not creased the section across its width is cosmetic — the door will run for years with it. A full-width crease is structural.
Less likely, but possible
- A bent strut behind the section, which matters more than the skin
- A section pushed out of square, which will bind in the tracks
- Hidden hinge damage at the ends of the section
What happens if I ignore it?
A creased section flexes on every cycle, working the hinges either side of it loose. Cosmetic dents can wait indefinitely; creases that reach the ends of a section should not.
The repair: panel repair
Garage door panel replacement costs $250 to $600 per section installed. A single damaged section can usually be swapped on doors made in the last twenty years, but colour match and panel availability decide whether it is worth doing.
Read the full panel repair guide →Get a tech dispatched
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