How To Fix Garage Door Gaps On Sides

You stand in your dark garage. The heavy door is completely closed. You see a bright line of sunlight shining down the left side. Cold winter wind blows right through that big crack. Scary black bugs crawl under the rubber seal. Rain water puddles on your clean concrete floor. Your bad door literally lets the outside in. We will show you how to fix garage door gaps on sides. We will trap the warm air inside where it belongs. A good seal saves you tons of money. Your heating bill goes down very fast. We will fix this annoying problem together right now.

Why Is My Door Not Touching The Wall

Loose Metal Tracks

Your heavy door rolls up and down on long metal tracks. Thick metal brackets hold these metal tracks to your wooden wall. A heavy door vibrates a lot every single day. This constant shaking loosens the small metal bolts. Loose bolts make the metal tracks pull away from the flat wall. This ruins your garage door alignment fast. The heavy wooden door leans far away from the frame. You suddenly see huge garage door gaps on sides of your house. The big crack lets cold wind blow inside your house. You must push the metal tracks closer to the wall to fix it.

Bad Weatherstripping Rubber

Your house has a long strip of rubber on the outside frame. Roofers call this rubber part weatherstripping. This long rubber strip touches the closed door. It seals the crack tightly. Freezing winter weather makes this soft rubber very hard. The cold rubber shrinks and cracks into tiny pieces. It peels completely away from the wooden door. You must see how to seal garage door gaps with brand new rubber. We will nip it in the bud right now. A fresh rubber strip stops the nasty bugs and cold rain fast.

Plan Your Sealing Budget

You might want to buy new rubber strips today. You do not want to guess the total price. We built a free online tool for you. You can use our garage door calculators tool right now. It shows you standard local prices. You see prices for new rubber seals. You see prices for metal track repairs. Try this easy tool today. See what you will pay before you go to the big hardware store. This tool protects your wallet from big surprises. You will know the exact cost of the job.

Sealing Parts And Costs

Broken Part	Main Job	Expected Lifespan	Estimated Part Cost	Estimated Professional Labor
Side Weatherstripping	Seals the long side cracks	5 to 8 years	$20 to $40	$100 to $150
Bottom Rubber Seal	Stops water on the floor	3 to 5 years	$15 to $30	$75 to $125
Metal Track Brackets	Holds the door to the wall	15 to 20 years	$10 to $20	$100 to $150
Steel Track Bolts	Keeps the metal tight	20+ years	$5 to $10	$75 to $100
Nylon Rollers	Rolls the door smoothly	10 to 15 years	$30 to $50	$125 to $175

How To Move The Metal Tracks

Safety First

You must stay safe inside your garage. You must unplug the automatic ceiling motor first. Read the CPSC Garage Door Safety guide for strict rules. A moving door will crush your soft fingers. Grab a basic socket wrench from your red toolbox.

• Find the thick metal brackets on the wall.
• Look for the small bolts holding the long metal track.
• Do not take the small bolts completely out.
• You just want to make them a little bit loose.

Read our Garage Door Stuck In Manual Mode guide to read about the red pull cord. Pull the red cord to free the heavy door. A free door keeps your fingers totally safe.

Pushing The Tracks Closer

You can push the loose track gently with your bare hands. Push the long metal track closer to the wooden wall.

• The heavy door will follow the metal track.
• The heavy door will press tightly against the wooden frame.
• Tighten the small bolts back down with your heavy wrench.

This easy step shows you how to adjust garage door gap problems fast. The bright sunlight will disappear. The cold wind will stop blowing inside. This simple fix is a total piece of cake. Your heavy wooden wall will sit perfectly straight. The big crack will vanish completely from your sight.

Putting On Brand New Rubber

Removing The Old Junk

You must throw away the old cracked rubber right now. Grab a small hammer from your toolbox. Use the back of the hammer to pull the old rusty nails out. Pull the old stiff rubber completely off the wooden frame. Throw the dirty junk in the trash can. Look at the raw wooden frame. Make sure the wood is dry and clean. You cannot nail new rubber onto wet rotting wood. The heavy rain will rot the bare wood fast. Clean wood holds the new nails very tight.

Tapping The New Strip

You must buy a roll of thick vinyl weatherstripping. Check the Energy.gov Weatherstripping Guide for help. They show you exactly what thick material to buy. Place the new soft rubber strip flat against the wooden frame. Make sure the soft edge touches the heavy closed door. Tap a small shiny nail into the rubber every few inches. The soft rubber traps the hot air inside your warm house. It stops bugs from creeping inside your clean space. Check the EPA Indoor Air Quality page today. This new rubber blocks the bad outdoor air fast.

When The Ground Moves

Cracks In The Floor

Sometimes the metal tracks are perfectly fine. Sometimes the rubber seal is completely brand new. You might still see a big crack on the side. This happens when the concrete floor sinks down. The heavy concrete floor can crack and drop in the winter. The earth moves under your house. A sinking floor creates a massive gap under your door. The door cannot reach the dropped floor. The cold air rushes under the bottom edge. Water flows right into your warm house.

Adding A Bottom Seal

You cannot lift the heavy concrete floor back up easily. You must add a thick rubber seal to the bottom of the door instead. This thick rubber fills the new empty space. Read our How To Adjust Garage Door Springs guide today. You must unplug the motor before you touch the bottom edge. Slide a thick new rubber tube onto the bottom panel. The thick tube smashes against the uneven concrete floor. It blocks the freezing wind completely. Your house stays warm all winter long. It stops the nasty bugs from crawling inside.

FAQ

Why is there suddenly a massive gap on the sides of my garage door?

A massive gap usually appears on the sides of your garage door because the heavy metal tracks have vibrated loose over time. The constant daily shaking of the heavy wooden panels causes the small mounting bolts to loosen, which allows the vertical tracks to pull away from the wooden wall frame. Extreme freezing weather can also cause your exterior vinyl weatherstripping to shrink, crack, and peel away, leaving a wide open space for cold air and bugs to enter your home.

Will fixing the metal track alignment eliminate the cold drafts in my garage?

Yes, properly adjusting your metal track brackets will push the heavy wooden panels firmly against the exterior wooden frame to eliminate cold drafts. When you loosen the mounting bolts and gently tap the tracks closer to the wall, you close the physical gap that allows freezing winter wind to blow inside. You must ensure that the door does not rub too tightly against the frame, as extreme friction will eventually burn out your automatic ceiling motor.

How often should I replace the vinyl weatherstripping around my garage door frame?

You should completely replace the exterior vinyl weatherstripping around your garage door frame every five to eight years for the best weather protection. The intense summer sun slowly bakes the soft rubber material, while freezing winter temperatures cause it to become incredibly brittle and stiff. Once the rubber loses its natural flexibility, it can no longer press tightly against the moving door panels to create a proper seal against rain and wind.

Can I push the metal tracks closer to the wall without removing the heavy door?

You can absolutely adjust the vertical metal tracks and push them closer to the wall without physically removing the heavy wooden door from its hinges. You simply need to loosen the small hex bolts on the track brackets with a socket wrench and gently tap the metal rail inward with your bare hands. However, you must always pull the red emergency release cord to disconnect the automatic motor before making any adjustments to prevent severe crushing injuries.

Does a perfectly sealed garage door actually lower my winter heating bills?

A perfectly sealed garage door will significantly lower your expensive winter heating bills by trapping the warm air inside your home where it belongs. When cold winter wind blows through large cracks on the sides of your door, it rapidly drops the temperature of any rooms located directly above or adjacent to the garage. By installing new vinyl weatherstripping and adjusting the metal tracks, you stop this heat loss completely and save a substantial amount of money on your monthly energy costs.

Conclusion

A big crack ruins your warm house. Cold wind freezes your pipes. Bugs make a nasty mess on your floor. You must move the metal tracks closer to the wall. This makes the heavy door hug the frame tightly. You must rip off the old hard rubber. You must nail fresh soft rubber to the wood. A tight seal stops all the bad drafts. Call our expert team for fast Garage Door Repair Services. Use our Contact Us page or call us directly to schedule a track adjustment today. We will keep your house warm and totally bug free.