The garage door to your home should close completely without any gap between it and the garage floor. And if it doesn't close all the way, it can leave your garage susceptible to pest infestations, wildlife intrusion, and damage from weather conditions. But what's the best way to fill a gap between the garage door on the floor? We've looked into this for you, and in this post, we will propose several options.
There are several ways that you can fix the gap between your garage door in the floor. Here are the most common methods:
- Check the door stops
- Inspect the door tracks
- Install a threshold
- Make adjustments to the limit switches
- Replace the door seal
- Add or replace weather stripping
- Raise the floor
Sometimes a bad installation job or foundational shifts can cause a gap between the floor and the garage door. When this happens, it's best to fix the gap as soon as possible to prevent intrusion from theft, wildlife, and extreme weather conditions. You may be surprised to find that it doesn't take a huge project to fix this issue, and there are ways to close the gap without breaking the bank.
Ways To Fill The Gap Between Garage Door And Floor
Check the door stops
Your garage door has strips of trim running along both sides of it from the top of the door all the way down to the floor. Sometimes, if this trim isn't cut properly, it will cause a gap between the door jamb and the edge of the door. You can easily cut down the trim to fit the area properly.
Inspect the door tracks
If your garage is over 7 to 10 years old, it could be that the door tracks have lost their alignment, resulting in the door not being able to close completely. To see if this is the case, open up the garage door and close it. As the door closes, look at the vertical sections on the roller tracks.
You may need to loosen up the mounting bolts on the track so that the door comes closer to the stop upon closing. When making this adjustment, be sure not to loosen them too much, as it can cause misalignment.
Install a threshold
And of course, you can always install a threshold on the garage floor so that the door can rest on it upon after closing. Not only will this eliminate the door gap, but it'll also prevent precipitation from seeping into the garage from the driveway. The only downside to this is that it can create a small barrier when you're sweeping or hosing off the garage floor.
Make adjustments to the limit switches
You can also make adjustments to the limit switches if the door is in closing all the way. The limit switches control the final position of the garage door, and they are usually located at the top of the door opener.
This is one of the easiest ways to fix the gap. And if you have trouble locating the switches, you can check your owner's manual to see how to do it.
Replace the door seal
Often, the door seal itself can cause a gap between the floor, and garage door seals are bound to become worn, thin, or damaged from everyday wear and tear. When this happens, it's best to simply replace the door seal with the new one to prevent potential hazards.
You can purchase a door seal from your local hardware store or online and replace it yourself within about 30 to 45 minutes. Or you can have a contractor do it for you for anywhere from $75 to $150, depending on the size of your garage.
Add or replace weather stripping
Replacing the weather stripping on your garage door can help to close the gap between it and the floor as well. It's best to measure the length of the garage door before purchasing your weather stripping. You'll also want to determine the best type of weather stripping for the door, as you can buy one of two kinds.
The first is a bulbous seal weatherstripping that becomes compressed once the door closes. The second type is more of a U-shaped weather stripping that slides along to channels on the bottom of the door. The great thing about weatherstripping is that it's relatively inexpensive and super easy to install.
Raise the floor
There are some scenarios where it may be best to add a few inches of concrete to the garage floor. This may be the case if there have been significant foundational shifts beneath your home due to weather conditions or natural disasters. An experienced contractor may best use this method, especially if you aren't familiar with laying concrete.
You'll need to establish the appropriate height for the concrete as well as use a leveler to ensure that the door closes properly on top of the new floor. Keep in mind that this method can be rather expensive if you choose a contractor. It can range anywhere from $500 to over $800, depending on the size of your garage.
How do you seal the bottom corner of a garage door?
You can seal the bottom of your garage door with weatherstripping. Weatherstripping is typically made from rubber or vinyl and can be installed on the door using adhesive or caulk.
Find this weatherstripping on Amazon.
Why does my garage door close crooked?
There can be a few reasons why your garage door doesn't close straight. Let's look at a few of the most common ones.
Damaged torsion springs
Damaged torsion springs on the opening and closing mechanism can cause the garage door to close and improperly. Over time the strings can loosen or break with everyday wear and tear. But when they begin to break down, you may also notice that the garage takes longer to open or close. Replacing the broken springs may be best done by an experienced technician.
Damaged lift cables
The cables responsible for lowering and lifting the garage door can also weaken and eventually fray over time. If you notice that the garage door begins to lower crookedly or that it becomes difficult to open and close, this may be the reason why. Often, you'll see this in addition to worn springs on the garage door opening as well.
It's best to replace the parts as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the door and personal injury. In most cases, you may need just to replace the components. However, if the door is over 10 to 15 years old, it may need to be replaced entirely.
Damaged tracks or rollers
The tracks and rollers on the garage door allow it to open and close. If they become loose or damaged at any point, the garage door will not sit properly, and it might get stuck while opening or closing.
If you notice the tracks starting to come away from the surface of the ceiling, chances are the tracks will need to be tightened or replaced. It's best to hire a qualified technician to replace the tracks as soon as possible.
How do I level my garage door to the floor?
There are a few ways that you can level your garage door to the floor. However, the method that you should use depends on why the door is unlevel.
If the garage door tracks are loose, they will need to be tightened to correct the door's alignment in the frame. If there have been foundational shifts in the ground beneath the door, you may need to hire a contractor to sand down the door, the door jamb, or add additional concrete to the floor to correct the issue --also known as slab jacking.
Read more details about this leveler on Amazon.
Should garage door rails be level?
The rails of the garage door are typically level to the track runners and the garage floor. If the rails become loose, they can alter the door's alignment, causing it to close crookedly or fail to close at all.
How much does it cost to seal a garage door?
It can cost anywhere from $150 to well over $500 to seal a garage door. Cost factors include the size of your garage door, the size of the gap, and your location.
How long does a garage door seal last?
For the most part, a garage door seal can last anywhere from two to four years, depending on the type of seal and environmental conditions.
Wrapping Things Up
We hope that this post has helped illustrate how to fix the gap beneath your garage door. Note that the process for doing so can be easy or complex, depending on the cause of the gap.