Garage Door Has a Gap on One Side
A gap on one side of your garage door usually means the door is hanging unevenly, most often from a stretched or broken lift cable, an out-of-balance spring, or shifted/bent track on that side. Start by closing the door and looking at the bottom rubber seal: if one corner doesn't touch the floor, the door is tilted and the cable or track on the high side is the prime suspect. Don't keep forcing it open and closed, since an uneven door puts extra strain on the opener and the remaining good cable.
Step by step
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1
Close the door and check where the gap actually is
Put the door fully down and look at the bottom seal against the floor, plus the gaps along both vertical tracks. A gap at the bottom corner means the door is tilted; a gap along the side of the door (between the door edge and the frame/weatherstrip) usually means the track has shifted outward or the weather seal is worn. Note which side sits high and whether the gap is at the top, middle, or bottom, since that tells you where to look next.
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2
Inspect the lift cables on both sides
With the door closed, look at the steel cables running from the bottom roller bracket up to the spring or drum. A frayed, loose, or fully snapped cable on one side lets that corner sag or ride up unevenly, creating the gap. If one cable is hanging slack while the other is taut, that's your answer. Do NOT touch the springs themselves, and don't try to unwind, re-seat, or replace a cable yourself, since both cables and springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury.
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3
Check the rollers and track alignment on the gapped side
Look for a roller that has popped out of the track, a bent or dented section of track, or loose lag bolts where the vertical track mounts to the wall. A track that's drifted away from the door frame opens a side gap. If the bolts are just loose, snug the track mounting brackets with a wrench so the track sits the correct distance from the door (typically a consistent gap top to bottom).
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4
Look at the spring balance
Disconnect the opener using the red emergency release cord and lift the door by hand to about waist height. A balanced door stays put; if it drops or jerks toward one side, a spring is weak, broken, or out of adjustment. Spring problems are a top cause of one-sided gaps and are not a safe DIY repair, so note this for the technician rather than attempting to adjust the spring tension.
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5
Replace or reseat worn weatherstripping if the gap is just the seal
If the door panel itself looks square but you see daylight along one side, the vinyl weather seal in the track stop molding may be cracked, compressed, or pulled loose. This is the one fix most homeowners can safely do: pry off the old strip, measure, and nail or screw on a new section of stop weatherstripping so it presses lightly against the closed door.
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6
Re-test the balance and seal before relying on the door
After any adjustment, run the door up and down a couple of times by hand (opener still disconnected) and watch that both bottom corners meet the floor evenly and both tracks stay clear. Only reconnect the opener once the door moves smoothly and sits level. If the gap comes right back, stop using the door and call a pro.
When to call a pro
Call a professional right away if a cable or spring is frayed or broken, if the door won't sit level after tightening the track, or if one side drops when you lift the door by hand, since spring and cable repairs are high-tension jobs that cause serious injuries every year and should be left to a trained technician.
Call (888) 290-7421Frequently asked
Is it safe to use my garage door if it has a gap on one side?
It's fine for a quick close to secure the garage, but you shouldn't keep operating it. An uneven door means one cable, spring, or track is doing more than its share of the work, which accelerates wear and can lead to a sudden cable snap or the door coming off the track. Stop using the opener and get it looked at promptly if a corner is clearly sagging.
Why does my garage door only have a gap when it's fully closed?
That points to a tilt at the bottom of the door, almost always a stretched or broken lift cable, a worn bottom roller, or a spring that's lost tension on one side. Because the top of the door is still held square by the curved track, the unevenness shows up most at the floor. Check the cables on both sides first, since a slack cable on the high corner is the most common culprit.
How much does it cost to fix a garage door that's uneven on one side?
It depends on the cause. A new section of weatherstripping is usually a $15 to $40 DIY job. A professional cable replacement typically runs about $150 to $250, and a spring replacement commonly falls in the $200 to $350 range, often done in pairs. Track realignment is often bundled into a tune-up. Getting an exact quote means having a tech diagnose which part actually shifted.
Can I fix an uneven garage door myself?
You can safely tighten loose track bolts and replace worn weatherstripping. But anything involving the springs or cables should be left to a professional, because they're under enough tension to cause severe injury if they let go. If lifting the door by hand shows it's out of balance, that's a clear sign to call rather than DIY.
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