What to Check Before You Hire Anyone for Garage Door Service in Charleston

Vetting a garage door company in Charleston and South Carolina

Under South Carolina Code Title 40, Chapter 59, the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) Residential Builders Commission licenses Residential Builders and registers Residential Specialty Contractors (including carpenters), and requires a $5,000 surety bond on file with the Commission whenever the combined cost of materials and labor for a residential specialty undertaking exceeds $5,000 (S.C. Code § 40-59-240(D)). Before hiring for a door replacement or major structural framing repair, verify the company's SC LLR license or registration status, local City of Charleston or Charleston County business license, and current general liability and workers' compensation certificates.

Be cautious of national call-center dispatchers operating under generic "local" ads that quote a $29 or $49 service call fee over the phone and then demand $800 to $1,500 on site for a single pair of standard torsion springs or rollers. Ask for a written flat-rate estimate before any parts are removed from your door, and for full door replacements confirm in writing that the installer will pull the City or County building permit and leave the permanent ANSI/DASMA 108 / ASTM E330 wind-load label attached to the door.

Sources: South Carolina LLR — Residential Builders Commission Licensure & Specialty Registration · S.C. Code § 40-59-240 — Residential Specialty Contractors & $5,000 Bond Requirement · City of Charleston — Applications & Permitting Rules

Questions worth asking

• Will someone look at the job in person before giving a price?
• Is the price written down, with what's included and what isn't?
• Who pulls the permit, if one is needed?
• What happens if you find something unexpected once work starts?
• How is cleanup handled?
• Can I see proof of license and insurance?

We're happy to answer every one of those before you decide.