Doors Stick

In the summer, when relative humidity is high, doors are prone to sticking. The moisture causes the wood to expand, causing your doors to become too tight in their frames. Because cooler air cannot hold as much moisture as warmer air, humidity levels are typically lower in the winter.

What is causing my doors to become stuck?

Incorrectly installed or sagging door hinges can cause your door to stick open or close in an unexpected manner. That is what happens when the screws in the hinges become loose, causing the door to become lopsided (this will commonly happen in homes with children who love to hang off the door handles). This is a relatively simple problem to solve.

Do squeaking doors indicate a problem with the foundation?

Upheaving foundations are characterized by squeaking doors and windows, as well as warped and twisted hallways. If you look around in your crawl space, you may notice large cracks in the walls and floor of the foundation that need to be repaired.

When it's cold outside, why do doors stick?

This is one of the most common problems that entry doors encounter during the winter months. Your door binding in the upper corner of the jamb is caused by the door pulling down at an angle from the top corner of the jamb, as shown in the illustration. Because of changes in the weather, the door or its frame may expand and contract, resulting in the door becoming stuck.

What is causing my house's doors to become stuck all of a sudden?

It is possible for wood to swell if it has recently rained or if the humidity is excessive, resulting in "sticking" doors. As the humidity levels drop, the wood will begin to shrink once more, and the problem will be resolved. If you notice that the door does not stick throughout the year, this is most likely what is happening to it.

What is the best way to fix a door that sticks when it rains?

Many squeaking doors can be resolved by simply tightening the screws. If, on the other hand, the screws appear to be loose in their holes, the repair may only be temporary. Remove the old screws one at a time and replace them with screws that are the same diameter but one-half inch to one inch longer in length. This will ensure a more long-lasting repair.