Worn bottom seal
Seals crack and flatten with sun and use.
Weather and sealing
Garage Door Has a Gap at the Bottom
A gap under the closed door lets in dust, insects, heat and water. It can come from a worn seal, an uneven slab, a door that is not closing fully or a door that sits crooked.
Short answer
Check the bottom seal for cracks or flattening and see whether the gap is even across the door. An even gap often means a worn seal or a close limit that stops short. A gap at one end may mean an uneven floor or a door out of level. A new seal or threshold often fixes it.
Likely causes
Uneven floor
Settled slabs leave gaps at one side.
Close limit too short
The door stops before meeting the floor. See limit adjustment.
Door out of level
A cable or spring problem can tilt the door.
In many Inland Empire neighborhoods, slabs and driveways have settled over decades, so a door that sealed well when installed may now leave a wedge-shaped gap at one end. A taller bottom seal or a floor threshold can close it without changing the door. If the gap appeared suddenly, check for a door that now sits crooked.
Safe checks you can make
- Look at the gap with the garage lights off
- Check whether the gap is even
- Inspect the bottom seal
- Look for one side sitting higher
Stop and call a technician if
- The door sits crooked
- A cable looks loose
- The door reverses at the floor
What a technician may inspect
- Bottom seal and retainer
- Floor and threshold
- Close limit
- Door level and cables
Describe what the door is doing when you call. A provider may ask follow-up questions, but a reliable price normally needs an on-site look rather than a phone-only quote.
Services that address this problem
Garage Door Weather Seal Replacement
Most doors have a bottom seal in a retainer along the bottom panel and perimeter stops along the sides and top of the frame.
Opener Safety and Force Adjustment
Travel limits tell the opener where fully open and fully closed are.
Garage Door Cable Repair
On a torsion system, cables wind around drums at each end of the shaft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Worn seals, uneven floors, a close limit set too short or a tilted door are common causes. Checking whether the gap is even helps narrow it down.
A threshold seal on the floor can fill gaps from uneven concrete and help block water.
Any gap that lets in daylight, dust or water is worth addressing. Larger gaps may also let in pests.
If the door is stopping short, adjusting the close limit may help. If the seal is worn, it needs replacing.
Yes. If one side is lower, the other may leave a gap. That can signal a cable or spring issue.
Rarely. A new seal, a floor threshold or an opener adjustment usually solves it without replacing the door.
Get your garage door working safely again
Call to schedule a technician visit with an independent provider who serves your area.