Issues with sticking doors and windows are, at best, annoying. Depending on the cause, however, they can also be a harbinger of more serious structural issues. That is why, when your doors and windows begin to stick, it is important to get to the bottom of the cause. Even if you don’t care much about the issues with the doors and windows, doing so could help stave off larger problems for your home.
What Causes Doors and Windows to Stick?
Basically, there are two general categories of problems that cause sticking doors and windows. The first is that the door or window has become too big for the frame. The second is that the alignment of the door or window is off, meaning that there will be gaps in some areas while others will “stick.”
There are three main causes of these problems.
1. Faulty Installation or Material Failure
This is probably the easiest to fix. If a door or window is sticking from day 1, something was likely wrong with the way it was installed. Similarly, if you notice that a hinge is cracked or warped, that is a possible culprit.
In this case, you might need to rehang the door or window, replacing any warped or broken pieces. If the extent of the problem lies here, this should be sufficient.
2. Humidity
Moisture can cause wood to expand. And if wooden doors expand slightly, they might no longer properly fit in their frame.
If your problem seems seasonal or, more specifically, centered around rain storms or very humid weather, moisture might be your problem. Lowering the humidity in your house with a dehumidifier or other method should work if the problem is with an interior door. On exterior doors, the solution might involve slightly sanding down the areas that are sticking.
3. Foundation Problems
Foundation settlement (or heaving if you are having problems with active soils’ shrink/swell cycles) can lead to assorted problems throughout your house, and sticking doors and windows are among them.
When a foundation settles unevenly, it can cause the frame of the house to shift or twist slightly. This can affect the alignment of any openings in the frame, such as those for doors and windows. In this case, the problem isn’t with the door or window but rather with the house surrounding them.
Foundation problems are the toughest of the causes to fix and the one that most homeowners should not try to DIY.
How to Solve Sticking Doors and Windows From Foundation Settlement
Because settlement-related problems are caused by portions of the house sinking, the solution must accomplish two things.
First, it must lift the foundation back to level so that the rest of the house is brought back into alignment.
Second, it must prevent the home from beginning to settle again.
While most foundation repair companies use either steel or concrete in their foundation repair methods, at Pierman our utility pier system combines the strength of both. Our piers consist of steel casing around a concrete core. We sink the piers into the ground until they reach either bedrock or a sufficiently strong, load-bearing strata of soil. Then, after raising your home back to level, the load of the home is transferred onto the piers.
The piers provide the strength and support that the soil below your house was lacking. This will prevent settlement problems from causing you any issues in the future.
Want to Find Out if Your Sticking Doors and Windows are Signs of Foundation Failure?
If you live in our Oklahoma service area, including such cities as Oklahoma City, Ada, Durant, Ardmore and Muskogee, contact Pierman today for a free estimate.