A static gasket assembly having a grid-like carrier (10, 10') formed as a mesh of overlapping strands. Openings (16-22) are created strategically in the carrier (10, 10') with the severed ends of the strands forming cantilever stems (12) projecting inwardly. Any one of a variety of specially configured sealing elements (24, 30, 32, 36, 38) are pressed into the respective openings (16-22) with the cantilever stems (12) engaging a peripheral groove (26) in each sealing element to retain the respective sealing elements in position. The gasket assembly is then placed over a surface to be sealed (40) and the carrier (10, 10') can either be removed, or remain as a permanent fixture of the gasket assembly.