How do I stop water from running under my garage door?

First figure out whether water is getting past a worn seal or being sent toward the garage by the driveway. A compatible bottom seal or threshold seal can close small gaps and cut down wind-driven rain and minor seepage. It cannot redirect runoff from a sloped driveway, and no garage door seal works as a flood barrier.

Check where the water comes from

• Look for daylight under the closed door. Gaps at the corners or in the middle point to a worn or mismatched seal.
• Check the bottom seal for cracks, tears or a hard, flattened profile.
• Watch during rain. Water that sheets down the driveway toward the door is a grading or drainage issue.
• Note whether water enters at the sides, which can mean worn side weatherstripping.
• Check whether the door closes fully and sits evenly on the floor.

What seals can do

• Bottom seal: a new seal matched to your door's retainer closes gaps between the door and the slab.
• Threshold seal: a strip fixed to the floor under the door adds a small raised edge where the door closes.
• Side and top weatherstripping: limits rain blowing in around the frame.

When it is a drainage problem

If the driveway slopes toward the garage or water pools at the door, seals alone will keep losing. A drain across the driveway, regrading or redirected downspouts may be needed, which is site work rather than door work. On a visit, we inspect the seal and where the water is coming from and tell you plainly which part of the problem a seal can solve. See whether a cracked bottom seal is worth fixing.

Read more

• Garage door bottom seal guide
• Garage door repair in Rescue
• Garage door repair in Placerville

Related questions

• Is a cracked garage door bottom seal worth fixing?
• Do you replace garage door weatherstripping and trim?
• Are insulated garage doors harder to maintain?
• Is an insulated garage door worth it in a hot garage?
• Can I insulate my existing garage door instead of replacing it?

Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.