When the weather changes, strange things happen to your house. The floors may begin to creak, windows become more challenging to open, sticking doors force you to work harder to open and close them. A stuck door is typical and will go away once the seasons change.
The bad news is that occasionally, there could be a more significant issue. In these cases, your doors will remain stuck even after the seasons change. According to structural repair contractors, sticky or misaligned doors signify that your foundation may need to be repaired.
Gaps in the top of a door, whether exterior or interior, are frequently caused by settling foundations. The misaligned doors of your home can be solved by leveling the foundation. Many people do not associate these problems with a sinking foundation and instead attempt to fix them by adjusting the door jamb or window frame. This may temporarily repair the door or window, but you may have a more serious underlying foundation problem.
Do you believe your foundation is to blame? Here are some more warning signs to look for, as well as some tips on how to fix those sticky doors.
Misaligned Doors Can be an Indication of Foundation Settlement
Misaligned doors can be caused by various factors, including foundation problems in your home. The instinctual expansion and contraction of wood can cause doors to stick from time to time, resulting in misaligned doors. This is not concerning, but it may indicate the need for foundation repair.
People frequently discover that their doors do not close properly immediately following a rain. This is because high humidity or an abundance of moisture in the air due to rainfall can cause wood to swell, causing your doors to stick. When the humidity level drops, the wood size decreases, and the issue usually goes away.
Another reason your doors may be sticking is that the door hinges are out of alignment. This is frequently caused by loose screws or something as simple as kids swaying on the doors. Extra weight on the door, over time, will cause it to become misaligned. A quick fix for this minor issue of misaligned doors would be to install new screws, hinges or merely trim the bottom or top of the door so that it opens and closes quickly.
If the condition worsens over time, you should have your foundation inspected. If your home has problems with sticking or misaligned doors and windows that don’t open and close correctly, it could be a sign of foundation problems. Other common indicators include uneven floors, cracks in the floor, walls, ceilings, a broken chimney, cabinets that don’t hang properly, and many other things. If you discover that you have many of these conditions, you ought to have your house foundation inspected by foundation repair experts as soon as possible.
Sticking or Misaligned Doors and Their Causes
Sticking or misaligned doors are not only inconvenient; they also indicate that something is wrong.
Luckily, most of these causes aren’t life-threatening.
Common Causes of Sticking Doors
THE CLIMATE AND THE SEASONS
Do you live in an environment with four distinct seasons? If this is the case, you may notice that some seasons end up causing your doors and windows to cling.
The warmer seasons have more humidity levels, causes the wood to swell. Even during warmer months, you may realize sticking doors and windows.
The wood shrinks during the winter months because it is more dry and relaxed. The environment and humidity affect your home if your doors and windows return to normal.
WEATHER AND HUMIDITY
After a heavy rain, your doors may become stuck. Following a rainstorm, the humidity and moisture in the air rise, starting to cause the wood in your home to swell. As the wood swells, your doors and windows will be harder to open and close.
When the humidity level drops, the wood will dehydrate and shrink back to its original size.
ALIGNMENT OF THE HINGE
The continual use of your doors can end up causing your hinges to become misaligned. When this happens, you may notice sticking doors, squeaks, or latching problems.
Screws will start to come loose after a while of use. Young kids may swing on the doors, twisting and bending the hardware.
Sticking doors caused by an alignment problem can be repaired by replacing screws or hinges. To keep the door from sticking, cut the top and bottom.
Is your Foundation in Danger?
Misaligned doors and windows in your home can also be a source of concern. Many homeowners who have sinking foundations discover that their windows are also undergoing some issues in the form of gaps and misalignment. We can level the foundation using our tried-and-tested piering system, which will help realign the frames and make your windows work correctly.
See Helical Pier Installation in Lincolnton, NC
Some of the foundation repair products available from HydroHelp911 include helical piers, wall anchors, push piers, helical tiebacks, and plate anchors. Leveling up the foundation can solve the problem of misaligned or sticky doors and windows.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF FOUNDATION DAMAGE?
A wide range of factors can cause foundation damage. Frequent temperature changes, earthquakes, overly wet or dry soil, loose soil, poor drainage, and poor construction are some of the more frequent causes of foundation damage. Foundation damage symptoms can be both subtle and obvious. They are as follows:
- Foundation wall or brickwork cracks.
- Wall sections that have sagged.
- Gaps and cracks in unexpected places.
- Plumbing, electrical, and gas lines are subjected to stresses and strains.
- Finished walls that are misaligned.
- Doors and windows that are misaligned.
- There is a space between the chimney and the house.
- Walls and ceilings with cracks.
- Floors with slants.
- Floor cracks in tile and concrete.
- Gaps around the fireplace and on the wall.
HOW IS THE ISSUE OF MISALIGNED DOORS AND WINDOWS FIXED?
Helical piers by HydroHelp911 can be used to repair misaligned doors and windows. To support the foundation, helical piers are screwed deep into stable soil. A torque anchor bracket connects the pier. It contributes to closing the gap around the windows and doors.
Steel piers are another foundation repair product we offer. Steel piers are pushed into the ground to stabilize and support the foundation. The structure’s weight is transferred onto the piers after they are installed. This returns the home to its original position.
Both piers are advantageous because they provide long-term solutions to foundation issues. These solutions use cutting-edge technology to provide your home with the security it requires.
The products will aid in the restoration of your home, increasing its resale value and preventing future damage.
HOW DO HELICAL PIERS HELP SOLVE THE MISALIGNED DOORS?
The house tilts to one side when a foundation settles, resulting in the warped window and door frames. Helical piers not only prevent the house from sinking further, but they may also level the house. When the home is evened out again, the weight of the house is distributed equally, and the stress on the door and window frames is relieved.
The frames will stop warping by releasing the pressure and may function normally. Of course, this is dependent on the extent of the damage and how far the settlement had progressed detecting damage early on increases your chances of saving the frames and avoiding their destruction.
WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO FOUNDATION DAMAGE?
Water is frequently the most frequent cause of foundation damage. When the soil components begin to swell or shrink due to moisture, a movement starts in the foundation. Damage can also occur when the area around the foundation lacks sufficient drainage. When there is a plumbing leak beneath the structure or if the structure has been damaged by natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, or droughts, the foundation suffers as well. When the soil has a high percentage of clay, it is more prone to foundation damage.
WHAT ARE HELICAL PIERS?
Helical piles are factory-manufactured steel foundation systems and consist of a central shaft with one or more helix-shaped bearing plates, usually referred to as blades or flights, fused to the lead section. With or without extra helix blades, extension shafts are used to lengthen the pile to competent load-bearing soils and accomplish design depth and capacity. Brackets are used at the tops of piles to attach them to structures, whether it’s new construction or retrofit. On the application of torque, helical piles are screwed into the ground.
Specifiers frequently use the terms helical piles, screw piles, helical piers, helical anchors, helix piers, and helix anchors interchangeably.
