Tricks to Even Out Your Garage Door

Done with your garage door not being even with the ground? Here are some tricks to get your garage door level and fix this issue once and for all.

You like this look? This garage door is a Standard+ Classic XL, 9' x 7', American Walnut, Clear windows.

The garage door is one of the most visually prominent aspects of a house’s exterior, taking up a lot of room and drawing eyes to it as an entrance. If your door isn’t quite touching the ground, people will notice.

Even a gap that just stretches a few inches or less can still spell trouble when contaminants and outdoor materials like water, debris, pebbles, and more can leak into the interior of your garage. Water, dirt, leaves, and other debris can get into the garage. Along with these materials, pesky vermin might also find their way inside, which is the last thing you want.

Why is my garage door not level?

You like this look? This garage door is a Standard+ Vog, 9' x 7', Black, window layout: Left-side Harmony.

If you’re wondering what the root of this issue of unevenness is, you’re already taking the right first step. Leaving this issue alone isn’t really an option, as it can only grow worse over time. To address it, first, you’ll need to understand why the issue has cropped up in the first place.

What is the most likely reason for an uneven garage door?

Over time, when the garage door is frequently opened and closed, the spring tension can wear out. Springs are what move the garage door across its trajectory as it opens and closes, so should a spring suffer from wear and tear, it will grow less efficacious in its function.

The track of the garage door as it opens, and closes must be completely level with the ground for general safekeeping of your home and your garage.

In addition to a torsion spring, an extension spring can only handle a certain amount of weight. If the extension spring is subject to too much weight, it can reduce the functionality of the entire door and even prevent the door from opening and closing altogether.

If you’re dealing with this issue now, you must address it in a timely manner. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that your only course of action will be to install a completely new garage door, which will mean that you’re spending effort and money that you might not have to otherwise.

How to Balance a Crooked Garage Door

You like this look? This garage door is a Princeton P-21, 18’ x 7', Chocolate Walnut door with Ice White overlays, 4 vertical lite Panoramic windows.

So now you know that extension springs can be a central culprit in a crooked garage door. So what do you do now?

It can never hurt to use the tools and tricks of a garage door expert in the process of fixing your garage door, both for your safety and for the expertise they will lend.

Before you attend to anything else, check the balance of your garage door to know what kind of fixes you should be considering and in what direction.

First, disconnect the garage door from its opener and see how it balances unassisted.

Move the door along its track a few times to assess whether it is moving correctly. If it doesn’t, that’s where you should start your repair. If it moves correctly, move on to the next step.

Evaluate what the door does when it is opened halfway and then left in that position. Does it fall down, stay in its position, or move up?

If the door falls right after it is stopped halfway, the springs are likely the issue behind it all, in which case they should be replaced by a professional.

How to Fix a Misaligned Garage Door

To work well through the years, garage doors must be maintained properly. Image: Pixabay

Now that you’ve assessed the issue, you can go about solving it.

● Shut down the power

Make sure that all of the power transmitted to the garage door is turned off so that you do not get shocked or injured at any point during this troubleshooting.

● Assess the condition of the cables and wires

Cables and wires can be easily worn out over time, necessitating a replacement. If the cables are sufficiently damaged in the form of fraying, ripping, or tearing, they should be fully replaced by new ones.

● Solicit assistance from an expert

No one knows how to get your garage door even with the ground quite like a garage door professional, so in order to keep yourself safe, it’s best practice to hire a tried-and-true expert.

How to Better Seal Your Garage Door

Don’t wait until it's too late to take care of your garage door! Image: Pixabay

Weatherstripping does not sit at the root of the issue of an uneven garage door but maintaining the airtight seal between the door and the outside world is still crucially important.

The weatherstripping might need a complete replacement if any light is peaking in from the outside through a crack at the bottom of the garage door.

New weatherstripping might be necessary to guarantee that the seal between your garage door and the ground perseveres over time. Use a knife to chop up the weatherstripping into the correct size for your garage door, then use galvanized nails or screws to install it.

Align the door side of the weatherstripping with the door so that the seal can remain effective and unbroken.

All you need to do is clean and maintain the springs, tracks, hinges, and rollers so that your garage door can hold up over long-term usage.

What to Do If the Garage Door Cannot Be Leveled

You like this look? This garage door is a Cambridge CM, 8’ x 7’, Ice White door and overlays, 4 lites Panoramic windows.

If all else fails, a complete replacement of your garage door with a new door will be your last remaining option, and we encourage you to take it.

A wide catalog of designs, looks, and feels for your garage door are available for purchase, so you won’t have to worry about finding a door that will complement the existing features of your home’s exterior.

There’s no reason to fret about your new garage door, even if you’re afraid of the financial implications. With today’s market as it is, garage doors have never been this affordable, and they can be installed in a pinch, making the replacement process seamless and effortless.

Is It Time for a New Garage Door?

Contact your local garage door dealer to check out a bevy of options perfect for a complete replacement.

Overhead Door of Nova Scotia can send along a quotation, keeping things nice and easy in the process of your new purchase.

Get a sense of the 3 styles available for purchase to see if your style lines up with what you can buy.

Just give us a call at 902-455-5469, and we’ll be ready, willing, and able to tackle whatever garage door issue you might be having.

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