Sticky Doors and Windows? Your Home May Be Shifting
If doors and windows are jamming or no longer closing properly, it could be more than wear and tear—it might be foundation movement.
What Do Sticky Doors and Windows Really Mean?
What’s below the surface.
When doors and windows start sticking, dragging, or refusing to latch, most people assume the frames are warped or the hardware’s worn out. But in many cases, especially when multiple areas are affected, it’s a sign your home’s structure is shifting due to foundation movement.
At Foundation Solutions, we help homeowners identify whether these signs point to subsidence—and if so, we fix the problem at its source with engineered underpinning and structural correction.
Why Are Your Doors and Windows Sticking?
These symptoms are often your home’s early warning system.
Differential Foundation Movement
When one section of your home’s foundation settles more than another, it causes the frame to twist or warp—leading to stuck doors and misaligned window frames.
Soil Shrinkage or Swelling
Reactive soils beneath your slab can shrink during dry periods or swell when wet, causing your foundation to heave or sink unevenly. The movement transfers directly to door and window openings.
Poor Water Management
Stormwater runoff or leaking pipes can affect soil moisture levels and cause instability. This often shows up first as minor door and window issues before more visible cracks appear.
Aging or Inadequate Footings
Older homes or poorly built footings can struggle to cope with soil movement over time. As the foundation weakens or shifts, frames begin to jam or pull out of alignment.
How We Solve the Problem for Good
Realignment starts with stabilisation.
Planing a door or adjusting a latch might work temporarily—but if the structure keeps moving, the problem will return. Similarly, resin injection can be a viable solution in some cases, but depending on your soil conditions, you may just be paying a lot for a temporary fix. Our approach is different:
- We start with an expert Home Checkup to assess whether the cracks are superficial or structural.
- If movement is confirmed, we recommend a forensic structural engineering report to identify the cause and recommend a fix.
- If foundation repair is deemed necessary, we design and install screw pile underpinning to re-stabilise or re-level the home, removing the cause of ongoing movement.
- Only once the structure is stabilised do we suggest cosmetic repairs—because then, they’ll actually last.
If doors or windows in your home are no longer working as they should, it might be time to investigate what’s really going on.
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