How to Check a Garage Door Contractor on Long Island

1. Get the license number and look it up

New York doesn't license garage door companies statewide. Nassau and Suffolk do it at the county level, through home improvement contractor licenses. The license is tied to the county where the work happens, so a Suffolk job needs a Suffolk license.

• Suffolk County: search the county's consumer affairs license lookup by business name or license number.
• Nassau County: use Consumer Affairs' search for businesses with valid licenses, or call (516) 571-2600. The County says a contractor that isn't listed isn't currently licensed. Its who must be licensed page explains the rules.

2. Insist on a written price before work starts

Ask for the total installed price, not a "service call" or "starting at" figure. It should name the parts (spring size and cycle rating, cable type), the labor and any trip charge. Nassau County's consumer checklist for home improvement also recommends a written contract that lists the contractor's license number.

3. Know the common upsells

• "Your whole door needs replacing." A broken spring or cable rarely means the door is finished. Ask what's actually damaged, and get a second price if the answer is a new door.
• "Your springs are unsafe" on a routine call. Springs do wear out, but ask how many cycles they're rated for and how old they are.
• A low phone price that grows in the driveway. Compare the written total with our Long Island price survey.
• Pressure to decide now. Unless the door is stuck open or a car is trapped, you have time to compare.

4. Check for a permit when the job needs one

Repairs don't normally need permits, but changing the opening does, and some villages review new door styles. See garage door permits by town.

5. Never adjust a spring yourself

Torsion springs hold enough tension to cause serious injury. If a company tells you to "just tighten it," that's a red flag. More: broken spring replacement.