Garage Door Won't Close All the Way
Why does my garage door stop a few inches from the ground?
What is actually causing it
Most likely first, based on what our crews find on the call.
01Down-travel limit set short
The opener believes the door is closed when it is still a few inches up, so it stops and does nothing further. The most common single cause of a persistent gap, and a straightforward limit reset for a technician.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
02Obstruction in the track near the floor
A bolt head, a bent track lip or a lump of hardened grease near the bottom of the vertical track stops the roller short.
Safe to check yourself, with the door closed and the opener unplugged.
03Worn or missing bottom weather seal
Sometimes the door is closing correctly and the gap is a perished astragal seal. A new seal is inexpensive and also keeps out the rodents and the winter runoff.
Safe to check yourself, with the door closed and the opener unplugged.
04Uneven or heaved slab
Older California slabs settle and lift, especially where a driveway apron has been re-poured or a tree root is at work. A threshold seal absorbs an uneven floor better than any adjustment can.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
05Cable slack letting one side sit high
Uneven cable tension leaves one corner off the floor. Cable work happens with the springs unloaded, by a technician.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
06Bowed bottom section
A wide door with an under-reinforced bottom section can bow upward in the middle over time, leaving a crescent of daylight even when the door is fully down. A strut fixes it.
Do not attempt this yourself. It is under spring or cable load and it injures people every year — this one is a licensed-technician job.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does my garage door stop a few inches from the ground?
Is this safe for me to fix myself?
How much will the repair cost?
Are you licensed?
Describe the noise. We will tell you what broke.
Most calls are diagnosed in under two minutes, with a price range before anyone drives out.
CA-GARAGEDOOR California — California contractor licence CSLB #1098234. Licensed, bonded and insured. 1-year parts & labor.