Here's the question most homeowners never ask until it's too late: "Is my garage door rated for a hurricane?" Because your garage door is the largest opening in your house — and in a hurricane, it's the weakest point. If that door blows in, the wind pressurizes your house like a balloon, and that's when roofs come off. It's not just a door. In Boca Raton, it's structural protection. I'll come look at yours, tell you straight what you've got, and give you a real price to fix it. Free estimate, priced in person.
I'm Joe. I run Onel Construction right here in Boca Raton. Fifteen years in this business. I install and replace garage doors — wind-rated doors, openers, the whole system — and I do it under Onel Construction LLC's general contractor's license (CGC1511492), which means the permit, the inspection, and the installation are all handled by one guy who answers his own phone.
Your Garage Door Is a Hurricane Decision
Florida building code requires garage doors to meet wind-load ratings — and for good reason. An older unrated door, or a rated door with worn-out hardware, is the failure point engineers worry about most. Here's what I check on every door:
- Wind rating — is the door actually rated for our wind zone, and is the rating label still on it? No label, no proof.
- Track and hardware condition — reinforced tracks, proper brackets, intact rollers. A rated door on rotted tracks is a rated door in name only.
- Opener — is it lifting smoothly, does the safety reverse work, is the rail aligned? A struggling opener is telling you something.
- Seals and weatherstripping — bottom seal, side seals. Water intrusion during a storm starts at the gaps.
I had my own wind mitigation done in 2022, so I know exactly what the inspectors document and what the insurance companies credit. A properly rated garage door isn't just protection — it's part of the wind mitigation picture that can lower your homeowner's insurance. Ask me about it when I come out.
Replacement, Repair, or Opener — What's the Right Call?
Full replacement makes sense when the door is unrated, rotted at the bottom (steel doors rust from the ground up in Florida), dented beyond dignity, or the opener system is obsolete. A new wind-rated door transforms the front of the house — it's the single biggest visual surface on most Boca homes, and a new door plus fresh paint is the fastest curb-appeal upgrade there is.
Repair makes sense when the door itself is solid — new springs, new rollers, new cables, new weatherstripping, opener repair or replacement. Springs are the big one: a broken torsion spring is a 200-pound door you can't lift, and it's dangerous work. Don't YouTube this one — springs under tension can seriously hurt you. I mean that.
Opener replacement — if your opener is 15+ years old, loud enough to wake the house, or missing modern safety features (auto-reverse, battery backup, smartphone control), it's time. Today's openers are quiet, smooth, and you can check the door from your phone. Small upgrade, big daily difference.
I'll tell you honestly which one you need. I've talked homeowners out of full replacements when a repair was the right call — because I'd rather have your trust than your money.
Styles That Work on Boca Homes
Carriage-house style, modern flush panels, traditional raised panels, glass-and-aluminum contemporary — the door should match the architecture, not fight it. I bring samples and photos of doors I've installed on houses like yours, and we pick what fits. Color matters in Florida sun — darker doors run hotter, and I spec the right insulation so your garage isn't an oven. Insulated doors also run quieter and hold up better. On most Boca homes, the upgrade pays for itself in daily comfort.
The Permit Question
Yes, I pull permits. Garage door replacements require permits in Florida — it's a structural component with a wind rating, and the city inspects the installation. The permit is also your proof: when you sell the house or file a wind mitigation, the permitted, inspected door is documented. An unpermitted door replacement is a liability that surfaces at the worst possible time — during a claim or a closing. I permit every replacement, every time.
What Goes Wrong With Cheap Garage Door Contractors
- Unrated door sold as "hurricane" door — the word "hurricane" in the pitch, no rating label on the product. If there's no label, there's no rating.
- No permit — the most common shortcut in this trade. No inspection, no documentation, problems at sale or claim time.
- Reused old tracks and hardware — new door hung on worn tracks and tired springs. It looks new for six months.
- Wrong springs — springs matched to the door's actual weight matter. Wrong springs mean a door that slams, strains the opener, or won't stay up.
- No-show warranty — the door business is full of companies that rebrand every two years. Onel's license number (CGC1511492) doesn't rebrand. I'm here.
A garage door cycles up and down a thousand times a year. It's a machine, not furniture. Install it like one.
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How the Job Works When You Call Me
1. You call or text (561) 462-9293. Tell me what's going on — broken spring, old door, new opener, or "I have no idea, just come look."
2. I come out myself. I check the door, the tracks, the opener, the rating. Written price, in person.
3. We pick the door. Style, color, insulation, opener — I'll show you options on houses like yours.
4. Permit pulled, door ordered, installed. Lead times run about 6–8 weeks on custom doors right now — I'll give you the real timeline for your order.
5. City inspection, final walkthrough. I test every safety feature with you watching.
Financing
A wind-rated door with a new opener is a real investment in your house. Through Acorn Finance I can offer financing — typical door jobs often land in the low $200s to $300s a month, with approved credit — rates as low as 4.49% APR with approved credit. Ask me when I come out. Straight financing, no deferred-payment gimmicks.
Why Me and Not the Other Guy
Fifteen years doing this. Onel Construction LLC is licensed and insured — CGC1511492. I don't send a salesman — I come out myself, I inspect your door myself, and I price it in person. I install wind-rated doors with permits and inspections, I match the springs to the door, I test the safeties with you watching, and I talk you out of a replacement when a repair is the honest answer. Your garage door protects everything under your roof — I install it like it matters.
Related Services
- Impact Windows & Doors — the door is one opening; the windows are the rest. Harden the whole house.
- Painting — new door plus fresh exterior paint: the full curb-appeal reset.
- Pavers — the driveway leads to the door — upgrade both.
- Electrical — opener wiring, dedicated circuits, and garage lighting.
FAQ
Does my garage door need to be hurricane-rated in Boca Raton?
Yes — Florida building code requires wind-rated garage doors, and for good reason: the garage door is the largest opening in your home and the most common failure point in a hurricane. If your door is old enough to predate the rating, it's time.
Can you just replace the spring?
Usually, yes — if the door itself is in good shape. Springs are a repair, not a replacement trigger. But I'll check the whole system while I'm there, because a new spring on a dying door is money you'll spend twice.
How long does a replacement take?
The install itself is usually one day. Custom-ordered doors are running about 6–8 weeks of lead time right now — I'll give you the real number for your door when I quote it.
Will a new garage door lower my insurance?
A wind-rated door is part of the wind mitigation picture — I had my own wind mitigation done in 2022, so I know what gets documented and credited. Ask me about it when I come out and I'll explain exactly how it fits.
Get a Real Number for Your House
Call or text (561) 462-9293. I'll inspect your door, tell you straight what you've got, and give you a real written price — free in-home estimate, licensed and insured (CGC1511492). Or visit onelconstruction.com.