A Simple Fix For Garage Door Drafts When The Floor Is Uneven

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Keeping a garage warm in winter can be a challenge, especially with an uneven floor. A non-level surface can create a gap between the floor and the garage door (even with weatherstripping), allowing cold air to enter. This forces your garage heater to work overtime, increasing energy costs. But an uneven floor doesn't always require an expensive fix. A simpler, DIY solution can save you from costly repairs and reduce winter heating bills.

A threshold seal is a budget-friendly find that'll level up your garage by closing the gap between the door and an uneven floor. This long, raised rubber strip runs along the floor, and you can install it yourself. Plus, this fix doesn't involve complicated steps like removing your garage door. Not only can a floor-mounted threshold help seal a drafty garage, but it can also keep out water and debris (especially useful if you have a flat driveway in an area that receives heavy rains).

You can use one like the Weather Defender Original Threshold Seal Kit, available in lengths from eight to 20 feet, and in heights of 0.5 or 0.8 inches. It includes adhesive to secure it to the floor and features an optional tear-off strip for the best seal with your garage door. The Home Depot Wellco Rubber Seal Strip is a more economical alternative that's half an inch tall, but it's only available in a few lengths, so you might have to cut it to size.

While a floor-mounted threshold seal can help warm up your garage during freezing cold winters by preventing heat escape, it is not a replacement for a good garage heater. Additionally, it doesn't fix the underlying problem: the uneven garage floor. For a floor-mounted threshold to work properly, it needs to create a good seal with the weatherstripping on the bottom of your garage door. A garage floor that is too crooked might prevent this and could even damage the door from repeated, uneven contact.

There are other ways to fix an uneven garage floor yourself, although they are a little more hands-on (and less economical) than a floor-mounted threshold. First, you can repair any large dips or cracks with concrete. For larger uneven areas, consider using a self-leveling compound to level out the surface. This works similarly to concrete but is easier to use, dries faster, and doesn't require you to completely resurface your garage floor. Another option is to grind down any raised areas. This is useful when a high spot, such as one corner of the doorway, prevents the door from sitting level when closed.

Finally, if you have dealt with the uneven floor but your garage is still letting cold air in, you should inspect your door more closely. First, examine the garage door's weather seal. Look for cracks, tears, or other wear that could prevent the weatherstripping from creating a tight seal. If the rubber stripping on the bottom of your garage door is damaged and letting cold air in, it is time to replace it. Another culprit could be the door itself. Check that the door's rollers are on track and that the track isn't warped or bent. An off-track garage door can tilt, creating a gap at the bottom that lets air in even if your floor is even.