Garage door has a gap at the bottom when closed?
Read the gap's shape: even across the full width points to the bottom seal or the travel setting, while a wedge at one side points to the floor, the door's level, or one cable riding differently on its drum. The shape decides which fix path applies, so note it before calling.
Read the gap's shape: even across the full width points to the bottom seal or the travel setting, while a wedge at one side points to the floor, the door's level, or one cable riding differently on its drum. The shape decides which fix path applies, so note it before calling.
Possible Causes
- 01 Worn, cracked, or shrunken bottom rubber seal (astragal)
- 02 Uneven or sloped concrete floor leaving a gap on one side
- 03 Opener down-travel limit set too high, stopping the door short
- 04 Bent or damaged bottom section of the door
- 05 Worn or off-track rollers letting the door sit unevenly
Safe First Checks
Stick to what you can see and what your door’s own manual asks of an owner — nothing more. Do not adjust springs, cables, drums, brackets, force, travel, or an unstable door.
- Inspect the bottom seal for visible cracks, gaps, hardening, or separation
- Record whether the gap is even or concentrated on one side; the pattern is useful but is not a diagnosis
- Use the exact operator manual before reviewing or changing any owner-adjustable travel setting
- Measure and photograph the gap to help identify the seal, floor, alignment, or door condition
When to Stop and Request Service
If the gap survives a seal check and the door also sits uneven or binds, the cause is deeper — alignment, sections, or travel settings. Worth one visit to fix properly; chasing it with weatherstrip rarely ends the draft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a gap under my garage door?
A gap across the whole bottom is usually the seal or the floor; a gap on one side means the door itself is sitting uneven — and that deserves attention, because uneven doors have a reason. Which one is yours tells us where to look.
Can a gap let pests or water in?
Yes — daylight under the door is an open invitation for rain, dust, and everything that crawls. A seal fixes some gaps; others need the floor or alignment addressed, or the draft just moves. Fix the cause and the weatherstrip finally gets to do its job.
What affects the scope of a gap under the door?
Whether the fix is a new seal, an adjustment, or something structural. A worn seal is quick; a settled floor or a leaning door takes more thought. The inspection tells us which story your gap is telling.
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