Serving Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and beyond
Serving Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and beyond
Sticking Windows & Doors
While there are many issues that can lead to sticking doors and windows, the two most common foundation-related causes are:
If your windows and/or doors are sticking and jamming, or your doors have non-functioning locks, you could have a foundation problem.
If these sound like familiar problems, call LRE Foundation Repair to get an expert evaluation and foundation repair solution.
Any problem with a home can be distressing, and even more so when there's a problem with your foundation.
Foundation problems related to sticking doors and windows are among the most obvious and inconvenient of them all.
There are common signs of foundation problems that show up around windows and doors:
Cracks that extend along window and door openings can be a symptom of a much larger foundation settlement issue. If ignored, it's possible that the foundation problem that caused these cracks will get worse, potentially leading to more severe damage to your home.
If floors near door openings or windows begin to feel uneven, it's another sign of a foundation problem. Uneven floors may lead to doors not closing and locks not working properly.
There are two primary causes for sticking doors and windows, as well as cracks and uneven floors near doors and windows: settling foundations and sinking crawl space supports.
Are you experiencing any of the following at your home?
Your problems are most likely being caused by foundation settlement issues.
Because of varying soil characteristics, foundation settlement is never uniform. Uneven settlement causes sections of a foundation or slab to crack and shift, while other sections remain in their original positions.
While foundations and slabs crack due to soil settlement, the wood framing supported above is more likely to bend or twist. This results in skewed openings for windows, as well as doors and floors that dip.
The drywall fastened to wood framing is not as flexible, so it's more likely to crack, especially at the corners of windows and doors.
When a house has a brick or stone exterior, a settled foundation is likely to have cracks in these upper masonry surfaces due to a lack of flexibility.
At LRE Foundation Repair, we address foundation settlement issues by installing foundation piers at key locations. The piers extend to stable, load-bearing soil, attached to the foundation with steel brackets.
This repair work prevents further settling and can even allow the foundation to be jacked back to its original position.
Once the foundation is raised back up, cracks in the wall will close. Doors, locks, and windows may return to functionality, and further settlement damage will halt.
We offer two different types of foundation piers to address foundation settlement: push piers and helical piers. With either installation, there's a 25-year manufacturer's warranty, as well as our own performance warranty.
Crawl spaces are often poorly designed with too few support columns, rotting floor joists and girders, and weak supporting soils causing the supports to sink. These are typically signs you need crawl space repair:
As the crawl space structure sinks, the floor that it supports will sink as well. This creates uneven surfaces underfoot. The sinking floor will pull the interior walls attached to it downwards.
As the walls sink, they pull apart, leaving cracks in your interior walls. As the home warps, doors inside the home will jam and become difficult to open or shut.
We repair crawl space structural issues with crawl space support jacks.
We begin by excavating a hole for each support and creating a base of engineered fill. A pre-cast concrete base is installed on top of the fill, and the support jack is mounted on top.
Once installed, our crawl space supports will stop your floor from sinking and sagging. These adjustable jacks can also be modified to attempt to lift your floors and walls back to a level position.
Crawl space jack systems install quickly, an installation is usually completed in about a day. They provide a superior solution to other repairs, such as concrete columns, shimming, and light-duty jack posts.
When pinpointing what kind of foundation repair you'll need, it's important to note whether the visible problem in your home is centered around the interior of the structure or the exterior.
While a problem with your home's foundation can be daunting, it's good to know that a foundation contractor can have the damage quickly and permanently repaired -- restoring value and stability to your home.
Your sticking doors don't need to stay stuck. Your windows have a shot at opening easily again!
If you have a problem with sticking doors and windows, we can help.
At LRE Foundation Repair, we offer free, no-obligation foundation repair inspections within our Florida service area. Each free inspection includes an on-site inspection, personal consultation, and written estimate.
To schedule your free inspection, call 1-352-796-0229 or email us today! We proudly serve Saint Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando, surrounding areas such as Sarasota, Spring Hill, Hudson, New Port Richey, Daytona Beach, and nearby.
