Common Causes of Garage Door Side Gaps + Easy Fixes

If you’ve ever noticed a visible gap along the side of your garage door—even when it’s fully closed—you’re not alone. Many homeowners in The Woodlands and nearby areas spot this issue and wonder: “Is that supposed to be there?” The short answer? 

No. A side gap in your garage door is more than just an eyesore. It can let in hot Texas air, pesky critters, and moisture. More importantly, it may signal a deeper problem with the way your garage door is positioned, aligned, or sealed.

The good news? Most causes of garage door side gaps are simple to identify and, in many cases, can be fixed with a few adjustments or part replacements. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most common reasons side gaps form—and more importantly, the easiest ways to fix them.

Why Are Side Gaps a Problem?

Let’s start with why side gaps deserve your attention. Here’s what can happen if left unaddressed:

• Energy Loss: Any gap allows outside air in and inside air out, making your HVAC system work harder.
• Pest Entry: Mice, insects, and even snakes can squeeze through surprisingly small openings.
• Water Damage: During storms, water can easily seep into your garage, causing rot and mold.
• Security Risks: Gaps can be an easy weak point for break-ins.

Now, let’s dig into what causes those gaps—and how to close them.

Common Causes of Garage Door Side Gaps

1. Worn or Misaligned Tracks

Garage doors run on metal tracks. If those tracks have shifted, aren’t level, or have been bumped, it may cause the door to lean slightly to one side, creating a gap.

• Why it happens: Over time, vibration, impact, or poor initial installation can loosen the brackets that hold your tracks in place.
• How to spot it: Look down the side of your door while it’s open and check if the track curves outward or isn’t running straight vertically.

Fix: You can try to adjust garage door tracks yourself if it’s a minor alignment issue. However, for significant misalignments, it’s safer to call a professional, especially if the problem affects the tension springs or door alignment.

2. Warped or Damaged Door Panels

Garage door panels, especially wooden ones, can warp over time. Even steel or aluminum panels can suffer dings and bends from impact or weather exposure. When this happens, one side might not close cleanly against the frame.

• Why it happens: Humidity, age, and dents from vehicles or objects can all damage door panels.
• How to spot it: Stand outside and look at your closed garage door—do all the panels line up straight?

Fix: Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need to repair or replace just one panel—or in some cases, the entire door. 

Panel replacement is best handled by professionals to ensure alignment stays intact.

3. Misaligned Door

Sometimes the door itself is sitting unevenly in the frame, causing one side to reach the ground before the other. This is usually due to an issue with the spring tension or cables.

• Why it happens: Torsion or extension springs are responsible for balancing your garage door. If one is worn or broken, it can cause the door to hang unevenly.
• How to spot it: As the door closes, notice whether one side meets the ground slightly before the other.

Fix: Spring and cable adjustments should never be DIYed unless you’re trained. These components are under significant pressure and can cause serious injury. Reach out for professional garage door repair services if you’re seeing uneven door alignment.

4. Poor Installation

Not all garage doors are installed equally. A door that wasn’t properly leveled or aligned from day one might always have a bit of a side gap.

• Why it happens: Inexperienced installers may not have ensured the floor, track, and door were perfectly aligned.
• How to spot it: If you’ve noticed the side gap from day one, this might be the case.

Fix: Evaluating the installation may require detaching and re-installing parts of the door system. If your garage door is fairly new, ask the original company about warranty service. If you suspect this is an issue you’ve inherited with the house, it could be worth investing in an expert garage door installation to get things properly aligned.

5. Worn Weatherstripping

Garage doors include rubber seals that run along the sides and bottom to create a tight closure. If those seals wear out, they stop making full contact with the floor or frame—creating a visible side gap.

• Why it happens: Exposure to sunlight and temperature changes in Texas can cause rubber seals to crack, warp, or shrink over time.
• How to spot it: Check for brittle or peeling weather seals along the side and bottom of the door.

Fix: Weatherstripping is relatively simple to replace on your own if you’re handy. Most home improvement stores sell compatible options. For more watertight or insulated options, you might want a pro install.

6. Settling Foundation or Uneven Garage Floor

Though less common, sometimes the garage itself is the culprit—not the door. If your foundation shifts or the concrete settles, one side may become lower than the other, causing the door to hover unevenly.

• Why it happens: Soil erosion, foundation shifts, or cracking concrete can lead to an uneven surface beneath your door.
• How to spot it: Lay a straight board across the garage entry threshold to spot uneven flooring.

Fix: In minor cases, adjustable weather seals can close the gap. If your floor has sunk significantly, though, it may need to be ground down or leveled. That’s a larger job requiring a contractor’s expertise.

How to Prevent Side Gaps from Forming

Fixes are great. But preventing garage door gaps in the first place? Even better.

That’s where routine garage door maintenance really pays off.

Regular checkups help identify early signs of door misalignment, seal deterioration, or spring wear—often before you notice a visible gap. Here’s what you or your technician should look out for:

• Loose or rusted track bolts
• Frayed or drooping cables
• Cracking weatherstripping
• Signs of water or pest intrusion near the corners of the door
• Noisy or jerky door movement

Early detection keeps repairs less expensive and prevents bigger issues down the road.

Quick Repairs You Can Try Today

If your garage door has minor side gaps and you want to try some fast DIY-friendly fixes, here are a few starting points:

• Inspect your tracks: Use a level to see if the vertical portion is plumb.
• Replace any cracked weather seals: Especially along the side rails.
• Check for visible warping in the panels: If any are bent or bowed, you may need a pro to replace them.
• Watch the door open and close: Notice any jerky movement or one side closing faster than the other.

Just keep in mind: When it comes to springs and cables, leave those fixes to the pros.

Still Seeing Gaps in Your Garage Door?

If you’ve tried everything—or you’d rather not risk poking around your springs and tracks on a Saturday afternoon—2Quick Garage Doors Woodlands is here to help.

We’re proud to serve homeowners across The Woodlands, Tomball, Spring, Cypress, Magnolia, Conroe, and surrounding areas. Our experienced techs are trained to quickly diagnose your garage door problems and provide long-lasting, honest solutions.

Whether it’s a small weather seal replacement, a full realignment, or new track installation, we handle it all. And we do it quickly, so your garage stays secure and energy-efficient—no more worries about critters or leaks.

Not sure what’s causing the issue? Just give us a call at (346) 574-0359 or visit our website to schedule an inspection. You don’t have to guess—we’re happy to take a look and walk you through your options with no pressure.

Conclusion

A side gap in your garage door may seem like a small detail, but it can open the door—literally—to bigger problems like pests, water damage, and higher energy bills.

The most common culprits? Misaligned tracks, uneven or warped doors, worn weatherstripping, and sometimes even the garage floor itself. While some fixes are simple and safe to DIY, others (like spring or track adjustments) should be handled by a seasoned technician.

So whether you’re reviewing your garage door for peace of mind or dealing with an annoying draft you can’t seem to seal, don’t ignore those gaps. Fix them early, and you’ll avoid bigger headaches later.