In short
- One replacement section runs $350–$900 on HomeStars' Canada-wide repair guide, depending on material.
- Makers discontinue panel profiles and colours, so on a door ten to fifteen years old a matching section often cannot be sourced, HomeStars' replacement guide says.
- One door manufacturer puts a single section at about 30–40% of a new door's price in Canada.
- The City of Ottawa exempts doors replaced in the same size opening from a building permit, except on designated heritage properties.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| One section, basic vinyl | $350–$600 | HomeStars repair guide, Canada-wide |
| One section, steel | $400–$700 | HomeStars repair guide, Canada-wide |
| One section, insulated steel | $500–$900 | HomeStars repair guide, Canada-wide |
| One section, wood | $700–$900 | HomeStars repair guide, Canada-wide |
| Panel material alone: steel, aluminum, wood | $150–$300, $250–$500, $300–$800 | One Ottawa firm’s published list, January 2025; labour on top |
| Labour to fit a panel | $100–$200 | Same Ottawa firm’s list |
| New single door, installed | $1,000–$5,000 | HomeStars installation guide, Canada-wide; for comparison |
Sources. HomeStars, How Much Does Garage Door Repair Cost?, Canada-wide, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Garage Door Replacement Cost in Canada, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Garage Door Installation Cost in Canada, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Garage door installation pros in Ottawa, cost section, seen 29.10.2026. One Ottawa firm’s published panel cost list, published 28.01.2025, seen 29.10.2026. Manufacturer guidance: garaga.com, panel repair and replacement and clopaydoor.com, Can I replace my garage door panels?, seen 29.10.2026. Permits: City of Ottawa, projects not requiring building permits, seen 29.10.2026. Contracts: Ontario, guide for home renovation businesses, updated 25.09.2024, seen 29.10.2026.
Which section, and what else took the hit
To order a section, one manufacturer says a dealer needs the door model, the section size, the colour and its position: top, bottom or middle. Your request can carry most of that in one line: “bottom section of a white single door, dent about 30 cm wide, label photo attached.”
A bumper or a snow blower that dents a section can also bend a track or pop a roller. If the door now hangs crooked or stops partway, say so: that adds a door off its track repair.
Patch, one section, or a new door
- Repair the dent. One manufacturer says scratches and small dents can often be repaired, though the panel may still show slight marks.
- Replace one section. The same manufacturer estimates a single section at about 30–40% of the price of a new door in Canada. The rest of the door stays as it is.
- Replace the door. A new single door runs $1,000–$5,000 installed on HomeStars’ Canada-wide guide. You get one colour, current insulation and, the manufacturer notes, full warranty coverage.
HomeStars’ installation guide treats one damaged panel on a door under about ten years old as a case for repair. It tips toward a new door when repairs approach half its cost, or when the door lacks pinch-resistant panels. Our repair or replace page covers that decision.
Matching an older door
The section has to match the door’s model, size and colour. HomeStars’ replacement guide says makers discontinue profiles and colours regularly, so a door ten to fifteen years old often has no matching panel left to buy.
Identification starts with the label. One manufacturer says the serial number is the easiest way to pin down the model, and on its doors built in the last ten years that number sits inside the bottom section. If the label is gone, photos of both faces help the search. Custom carriage-house styles are harder to match, the same maker notes.
What moves the panel price
- Width. A double door is typically 16 feet wide against 8 to 9 feet for a single, so each section is roughly twice as long.
- Brand and style. One Ottawa firm’s published list notes pricier panels from some brands and higher prices for custom designs.
- Labour. The same firm lists $100–$200 to fit a panel in Ottawa, on top of the part.
- Extras. HomeStars flags emergency service fees, disposal of old parts and travel outside the service area as easy-to-miss charges.
If looks matter for a sale or a strict condo board, price the whole door at the same visit; our new door cost page has the Ottawa figures.
What the quote should list
HomeStars advises Ottawa homeowners to get an itemized written quote. For a panel job: the model and section ordered, its colour, whether hinges and rollers are reused, a balance and safety reverse check, removal, travel and HST as lines, and the part’s arrival date.
Ontario requires a written agreement for any contract over $50. With an estimate in the contract, the bill can be at most 10% above it unless you signed a change. The province recommends deposits of no more than 10% of the total, and a contract signed at home carries a 10-day cooling-off period.
Heritage streets, condos and insurance
The City of Ottawa lists replacing doors in the same size opening as exempt from a building permit. Designated heritage buildings and properties in a Heritage District Overlay fall outside those exemptions; the City asks those owners to call a Building Client Service Centre first. In a condo, check the rules on door colour first. For an insurance claim, ask for the itemized quote and damage photos before the old section leaves.
Who you are dealing with
Ottawa Garage Door Desk is a request service. Your request goes to one independent local garage door company, which calls you, identifies the door, prices the section or the alternatives, and does the work.
Questions to ask the company
- Can you identify my door's model, and is this section still made in my colour?
- Does the price include fitting, moving the hinges and rollers, and testing the balance after?
- Will the new section's colour differ from the faded ones, and how much?
- If my model is discontinued, what are my options, and what would a whole new door cost next to the repair?
- Are removal of the old section, any travel charge and HST written into the quote?
Have this ready for the call
- A photo of the whole door and a close-up of the damaged section
- A photo of any label or sticker on the inside of the door, starting with the bottom section
- Which section is damaged, counted from the ground, and the door's width: single or double
- Whether the door still opens and closes, and any new lean or noise
- The door's rough age, and whether it has windows or insulation
- Heritage designation or condo corporation, if either applies
Questions people ask
Our door went in around 2005. Can a matching section still be found?
Sometimes. HomeStars’ replacement guide says manufacturers discontinue panel profiles and colours regularly, so on doors older than ten to fifteen years a matching panel often cannot be sourced. If nothing matches, the choice is a section that looks different or a whole new door.
Will the new section look different from the rest of the door?
It can. One door manufacturer lists it as a drawback of a single section: the new panel may not match sections that have faded or worn. Ask the company to judge the gap on site before you order.
A dent is shallow. Can it be fixed without a new section?
Small dents can often be repaired, the same manufacturer says, though slight marks may remain. A major bend or a break usually means a new section. A tape measure in the close-up shows the scale.
Two sections are damaged. Is it still worth fixing them one at a time?
Two insulated steel sections at $500–$900 each come to $1,000–$1,800, already the low end of a new single door installed. HomeStars suggests replacing when repairs approach half the cost of a new door. Ask for both prices in writing.
How long does a replacement section take to arrive?
HomeStars notes that a new door in a custom colour or window layout can take four to eight weeks. A section follows the supplier’s schedule; the company confirms it once the model is known.
