How To Adjust A Garage Door Gap (7 Easy Steps)

If you discover a gap in your garage door when it’s closed, you may need to make an adjustment.

In this article, you will discover how to adjust a garage door gap step-by-step and learn why it’s important to fix sooner than later.

How to Adjust a Garage Door Gap

A gap in your garage door is unsightly at best. It’s particularly irritating if you’re looking to sell your home, and it’s affecting your curb appeal. There are lots of other reasons why you’ll need to get it fixed as soon as possible, too.

Firstly, you’ll need to fix the gaps as they are a major security risk to your home. Those gaps are an invitation to burglars to try and prise that door open and get inside. The garage door is one of the main entrances to your home, so you want it to be as secure as possible. Fixing that gap as soon as possible means you won’t have to worry about people trying to get in.

It’s not just people you need to worry about, either. Gaps are tempting for pests, too. Your garage is the perfect place for them to set up home, and that gap gives them the perfect entrance. Once they’re in your home, they’re difficult to get out. You want to stop them before they get the chance to try and get in.

1. Check the Stops

The stops on your garage door are rubber seal that runs along the edges of your garage door. They’re there to create a seal when your garage door is closed, keeping the door from staying open and keeping the weather out of your garage. If there are gaps, it could be that the stops aren’t aligned correctly on the door. They’ll need to be moved to move them closer to the gaps or replaced.

2. Look at the Tracks

When the door is closed, is it perfectly vertical? If not, this will be creating gaps around your door. This is a simple fix you may be able to do yourself. You’ll want to take a look at the vertical tracks that your garage door travels on. Are they holding the door at a consistent distance from the stops? If not, you can loosen the mounting bolts and move them slightly, so the door sits closer to the stops. If you’re not confident in doing this, then you can ask a garage door repair service to handle it for you.

3. Adjust Your Limit Switches

Your limit switch for your garage door dictates where your garage finishes when you shut it. If it’s not quite right, it will leave a gap. It can also be affected by the flexible seal at the bottom, which is tempting for animals to chew away at. You want to adjust the limit switch so the seal is compressed to the floor, making it harder for it to be accessed and sealing the gap. You can usually find the limit switch with the opener. It’s best to read the instructions for your particular door opener, as many have different settings.

4. Replace the Seal

The seal itself may be the problem, not sitting flush with the floor. It could also be down to wear and tear that’s quite normal with garage doors. You can easily replace the seal yourself. Pick up a new seal and follow the instructions to ensure that it closes the gap correctly.

5. Trim the Door to Fit

Settling is a problem for garage doors, as it changes the way the door sits in the frame. If you have a wooden garage door, then you can trim the door down to make it fit properly. You can do this with a jigsaw or a circular saw, sanding off the bottom and replacing it in the frame, so it sits properly. If you don’t have a wooden garage door, you may be looking at a garage door replacement.

6. Add More Concrete to the Floor

It’s possible that the concrete floor of your garage has settled over time, leaving a gap between it and the bottom of the door. If this has happened to you, you can add more concrete to the floor in order to bring it back up to the right level. This will help you create a flat and level surface, so the gap will close.

7. Install a Garage Door Threshold

If there’s a slight gap at the bottom of your garage door, then a garage door threshold is a great option. You can buy them in any DIY store, and they’re very easy to install. They come with a rubber threshold and glue, and sometimes a caulking gun too. All you have to do is glue the threshold to the garage floor, creating a permanent barrier for the bottom of the door. They’re great, but be aware that they can create a slight barrier when you’re sweeping or hosing your garage out.

Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Door Gaps

Our garage door repair technicians hear a lot of questions and concerns from homeowners in need of help. We thought it might be helpful to share a few of the most common questions we hear regarding garage door gaps and adjustments.

Take a look …

Conclusion

These points have covered most of the issues you’ll have with your garage door, but sometimes you won’t be able to tell what’s wrong with your door. If you’ve carefully inspected it and you’re stumped, it’s time to call in the experts. If you do know what’s causing the problem, but you don’t know how to fix it, it’s also a good time to call in a repair company. If you’re ever in doubt, don’t be afraid to call for help.

With these tips, you’ll be able to solve any gap issue with your door and make it secure again.

Now that you know how to adjust a garage door, it’s up to you to decide if it’s best to call a professional garage door service provider. Garage door repair can be a challenge for even the most experienced DIY homeowner, so be sure you’re up for the task before you start.

Be careful and take your time.

And, as always, give us a call if you believe the job requires a professional.