Why Are My Doors and Windows Jammed?

Jammed doors and windows are a common sign of foundation settling. Foundation settling occurs when the soil layer under the foundation erodes and becomes uneven. There are different types of settling and the one that causes jammed doors and windows is differential settling. Differential settling refers to a house that is settling sideways while part of the foundation is breaking off the rest of the house. Because the foundation is tilting sideways, the rest of the house is too, which is what causes the jammed doors and windows.

As the house tilts, the door and window frames warp, making it very difficult to use the doors and windows. If the house is settling, the floor might be affected too. If the floor is uneven and one part of it is raised enough to graze the bottom of the door, it could be another reason why it’s so difficult to open and close it. Jammed doors and windows are a huge indicator that the settling has been going on for a while, so before things get worse, you need to think about contacting your local experts for foundation repair solutions.

The best way to repair a settling foundation is with the use of helical and push piers. Helical and push piers are installed deep underground and attached to the foundation so that they can transfer the weight of the house over to denser soils. The rods are made of steel and are coated in zinc to protect from corrosion. Both these systems are permanent solutions to foundation settling, so they don’t require replacing every few years. They also have the potential to lift your house back in place, so you won’t have to worry about the unevenness ruining your doors and windows any longer.