Terms of Service

At Southern Garage Doors, professionalism is not a performance — it is a daily practice of self-control, respect, and stewardship.

We believe good business is built on clear boundaries that keep each project peaceful, safe, and fair for both the homeowner and the craftsman. These Terms of Service explain how we work, how we stay accountable, and what we ask in return so every interaction remains calm, consistent, and aligned with our values.

Every representative of Southern Garage Doors will:

• Communicate with courtesy, calmness, and clarity.
• Arrive on time, or notify you promptly if delayed.
• Present a clean appearance and a clearly marked service vehicle.
• Explain findings, pricing, and recommendations before work begins.
• Operate safely on every job site in compliance with UL 325 safety standards.
• Remain honest, even when honesty costs time or money.

Professionalism, for us, means diligence, humility, and care — not perfection, but steady effort offered in good faith.

Southern Garage Doors uses an AI-assisted phone system to handle inbound calls. When you call our business number, you may be greeted by an AI receptionist that can provide pricing, schedule appointments, and answer service questions.

All calls to Southern Garage Doors are recorded for quality assurance, training, accuracy, and recordkeeping purposes. By continuing a call after the recording disclosure, you consent to the recording of that call in accordance with Florida Statute § 934.03.

The homeowner or the homeowner's spouse must be physically present at the property for the entire duration of the appointment. This requirement ensures clear communication, proper consent, and accurate decision-making for safety-critical work. Service cannot be performed if only a child, tenant, guest, or other third party is present.

Southern Garage Doors advertises same-day service as a general capability, not a guaranteed commitment. This section explains what same-day service means, when it is available, and what happens when it is not.

Definition. "Same-day service" means that a technician appointment is scheduled and completed on the same calendar day the customer's service request is received by our office.

Availability conditions. Same-day service is available when all of the following conditions are met:

• The service request is received during standard business hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern Time, or Saturday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
• The property is located within our service area (Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Florida).
• A qualified technician with the required parts and equipment is available for dispatch on that date.
• The scope of the requested service can reasonably be completed within the remaining hours of that business day.

Not a guarantee. Same-day availability is subject to technician scheduling, parts inventory, and call volume on the date of the request. During high-demand periods — including severe weather events, holiday weekends, or peak season — same-day slots may be fully booked. Southern Garage Doors does not guarantee same-day service on any specific request.

Sunday and after-hours requests. Our office is closed on Sundays. Service requests received on Sunday, or outside of business hours on any day, will be scheduled for the next available appointment. Same-day service is not available for after-hours requests.

When same-day is unavailable. If same-day service cannot be provided on the date requested, we will communicate the next available appointment time. The customer is under no obligation to accept and may reschedule at no charge.

No same-day surcharge. Same-day service is provided at our standard published rates. No additional fee is charged for same-day scheduling. All pricing is disclosed before work begins, consistent with Section 7–8 of these Terms.

Planned and discretionary closures. Southern Garage Doors reserves the right to temporarily suspend or limit service availability for any operational reason at the company's discretion, including planned closures for vacation, company observances, or staff scheduling, and unplanned closures due to illness, staffing shortages, or equipment issues. We will make reasonable efforts to notify affected customers in advance of planned closures and as promptly as possible for unplanned ones, and will work to reschedule any confirmed appointments at the earliest available time at no charge to the customer.

Force majeure. Extreme weather conditions, road closures, natural disasters, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control may prevent same-day service even when a slot was previously confirmed. In such cases, we will contact the customer as promptly as possible to reschedule.

Payment is due upon completion of service unless otherwise arranged in writing. We accept cash, check, and major credit or debit cards. A processing fee of 3% or our actual cost of card acceptance, whichever is less, applies to credit card transactions; no fee applies to debit card payments.

A returned check incurs the service charge permitted by Florida Statute § 68.065: $25 if the face value does not exceed $50; $30 if it exceeds $50 but not $300; $40 if it exceeds $300; or 5% of the face value, whichever is greater. If a payment is reversed and the underlying invoice remains unpaid, the balance remains due and warranty service may be paused until it is resolved.

Garage door systems involve high-tension springs, heavy panels, and electrical components that require diligence and care. While service is underway, the workspace is considered a controlled safety zone. We ask that homeowners refrain from entering the work area without permission and keep children, pets, and others at a safe distance.

Southern Garage Doors is not responsible for pre-existing defects, concealed damage, or conditions caused by prior unauthorized work, weathering, structural settling, or normal wear and tear.

Warranty terms are described in our Warranty Policy and vary by service type. General terms include:

• Service call warranty: 14 days from the date of the original service for the same issue.
• Labor warranty: 14 days standard; 1 year for spring replacement and opener installation.
• Parts warranty: 30 days on parts replaced or installed; 1 year on springs.

Warranty coverage does not extend to failures caused by modification, adjustment, or repair of the covered components by anyone other than Southern Garage Doors, to issues unrelated to the original work, or to invoices that remain unpaid. Use of another service provider does not void this warranty except to the extent that provider's work caused the failure.

The Customer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Southern Garage Doors, Inc. from claims arising from the Customer's breach of these Terms, negligence, failure to follow safety instructions, or false information provided regarding the property or service history.

We shall not be liable for delays resulting from circumstances beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, severe weather, pandemics, supply chain disruptions, or utility failures.

We protect the safety, dignity, privacy, and professional integrity of every technician and representative who enters your home.

Customers agree not to:

• Solicit, recruit, or hire any Southern Garage Doors technician or representative for private, side, or off-the-books work — whether related to garage doors or any other service.
• Request a technician's personal phone number, personal email address, social media accounts, or any contact information other than the Company's official channels.
• Offer or provide compensation, gifts, or incentives to a technician outside of the standard payment process for authorized Company services.

All service requests must go through Southern Garage Doors' official business phone ((941) 356-4334), text, or email. This protects the homeowner (ensuring proper licensing, insurance, and warranty coverage), protects the technician (ensuring proper compensation and working conditions), and ensures all work is documented and covered by our policies.

If a customer contacts a technician directly for unauthorized work, Southern Garage Doors may decline to provide future service. Warranty coverage for prior work is affected only as described in Section 16 — that is, only where unauthorized work caused the failure.

Southern Garage Doors employs proprietary service methods, including but not limited to custom spring cutting and calibration techniques. The Customer agrees not to photograph, record, or reproduce the Company's proprietary methods, techniques, or custom tooling for commercial use without written consent.

This section does not restrict the Customer's right to photograph completed work for personal records or review purposes.

We serve with quiet excellence — never noise, pressure, or pretense. We commit to communicating truthfully, performing work to UL 325 safety standards, correcting genuine workmanship errors within warranty, and declining work that is unsafe or unethical.