Springs and cables, replaced same day.
The torsion spring above your garage door is the single most-stressed component in the entire system — it's the one doing the lifting, not the opener. Springs are rated for a number of cycles (typically 10,000 to 25,000) and they will eventually fail. When they do, you'll usually hear a loud bang followed by a door that suddenly feels twice as heavy.
Overhead Master carries the most common residential spring sizes on every truck, so most spring replacements are completed in a single visit, often within the same day. Cable replacements are similar — fast, predictable, and not very expensive when caught early.
Torsion vs. extension springs
Torsion springs
The horizontal spring(s) mounted on a shaft above the door. Modern Ottawa homes almost all use torsion. They're safer and last longer than extension springs. Most residential doors have one or two.
Extension springs
The long stretched springs running along each horizontal track. Older homes often still have them. We always install safety cables through extension springs — code requires it for a good reason.
How to tell yours apart
If you can see one or two big horizontal springs above the door — torsion. If you see two long springs running along the side rails — extension.
Why springs break
- Cycle count reached — most common. Springs are wear items.
- Cold weather — Ottawa winters concentrate failures into a few weeks each year.
- Rust — accelerated by humidity and salt spray.
- Wrong-spec spring — a previous repair installed the wrong spring for the door's weight.
Cable failures
Garage door cables are the steel cables that connect the bottom of the door to the spring drum. They typically last 8–15 years and fail from rust, fraying, or sudden shock from a spring break. When one cable fails, the door usually hangs crooked. We always replace cables in pairs and inspect the drums and bottom brackets at the same time.
Transparent pricing
Below are common starting prices for garage door spring & cable replacement. Final price is confirmed on-site after diagnosis. We never start work without your approval.
Single torsion spring
Standard residential 9×7 ft door, one spring.
Pair of torsion springs
Both springs replaced together — recommended; they wear at the same rate.
Extension spring set
Both extension springs + safety cables.
Cable replacement (pair)
Both cables, with bottom-bracket inspection.
Prices are estimates only. HST extra. Custom or commercial work quoted separately.