t
Sticking Windows & Doors

Sticking Windows & Door Repair Contractor Near Richmond, Lexington, Georgetown

A window that is cracked at the corner and separating from the brick foundation wall in Wilmore

Window damage due to foundation settlement in London.

Any opening made in a wall represents a weak point. This is especially true for load-bearing exterior walls. That's why foundation settlement will often cause cracks around window and door openings, as shown above.

The Problem:

Your windows and/or doors are sticking, jamming, or your doors have non-functioning locks.

Telltale Signs:

  • Doors don't open or close properly.
  • Floors Are Uneven, Or Dip & Sag
  • Windows need extra force to open & close.
  • Door & Window Openings Out Of Square
  • Diagonal cracks that start at top corners of windows & door openings

How to Fix It:

Settlement and crawl space supports that have settled, shifted, or deteriorated are the leading foundation-related causes of sticking windows and doors. 

Foundation piers can be used to repair settlement issues, while crawl space jacks are a good solution for sagging floors over crawl spaces.

Get a FREE Quote!
Schedule A Free Estimate

We can help you fix your foundation with our solutions! Call us for a free foundation repair quote today!

We serve Georgetown, Richmond, Lexington, and many nearby areas in Kentucky.

Identifying Problems With Windows & Doors

Any problem with a home can be distressing, and doubly so when there's a problem with your foundation. Foundation problems related to sticking windows and doors are among the most obvious and inconvenient of them all.

Symptoms Of Sticking Windows & Doors

We depend on windows and doors for ventilation, security, and aesthetic appeal. So when they don't operate correctly or don't look good because of skewed openings or cracks around openings, it's clear that something must be done.

Below are images of windows and doors we've encountered that have been damaged due to foundation issues.

(Click each photo to enlarge.)

Stair step cracking starting at a window in a Lebanon homeSliding doors that are crooked and jamming due to a foundation issue in Lebanon home A long foundation crack that begins at a doorway of a Nancy home. A long drywall crack beginning at the corner of a doorway in a Cynthiana home.
A long, diagonal crack that begins at a window corner of a Wilmore home long jagged cracks starting at the corner of a window along a brick wall on a Corbin home A large settlement crack on interior drywall in a London home. A gap in a window along the outer wall due to foundation settlement of a Harrodsburg home.

What Causes Windows And Doors To Stick Or Jam?

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.

Window and door cracks that are connected to foundation problems have two common sources:

Illustration of a severe foundation settlement issue

Settling Foundations

Uneven settlement causes sections of a foundation or slab to crack and shift, while other sections remain in their original positions.  This is because of the varying soil characteristics. 

Foundation settlement is never uniform which causes foundation slab cracks to be extremely unpredictable.  The wood framing of your home is likely to bend or twist due to soil settlement, resulting in skewed openings for windows and 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 window 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

More about foundation settlement issues.

Illustration of a completed installation of a foundation push pier system

The Solution:

We install foundation piers at key locations to address foundation settlement issues.  Our specialists at The Basement Doctor of Central Kentucky will repair your foundation so that further settling issues are prevented and your foundation can even be jacked back to its original position. 

The piers that we install extend to stable, load-bearing soil and are attached to the foundation with steel brackets.  Once this is complete and the foundation is raised back up, cracks in will close, locks, windows, and doors may return to functionality, and further settlement damage will come to a halt.

We offer two different types of foundation piers to address foundation settlement: push piers and helical piers.

More about foundation piers.


Illustration of a severely sinking crawl space structure.

Sinking Crawl Space Supports

There are many issues that contribute to a sinking crawl space.  They are often poorly designed with too few support columns, rotting floors, joists and girders, and weak supporting soils. 

When a crawl space sinks, there are many problems that coincide.  The floor will start to sink, uneven surfaces underfoot will be created, and the interior walls that are attached to the crawl space structure will be pulled downwards.

As the walls sink, they pull apart, leaving cracks in your interior walls. And as the home warps, doors inside the home will jam and become difficult to open or shut.

More about sinking crawl spaces.

Illustration of a repaired crawl space structure with crawl space jacks

The Solution:

Our solutions begin with the installation of crawl space support jacks.  To start, we will excavate a hole for each support and create a base of engineered fill.  Next, a pre-cast concrete base will be installed on top of the fill and the support jack will be mounted on top.

This installation will stop your floor from sinking and sagging, creating a safe place for your family.  The adjustable jacks can also be modified to attempt to lift your floors and walls back to their original, level position. 

Installing a crawl space jack system is quick and can be complete in about a day.  Our trained experts will provide a superior solution to other repairs as well, such as concrete columns, shimming, and light-duty jack posts.

More about crawl space jacks.

Which is Which?

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.

If you have exterior cracks, jamming doors, and windows, then the problem is most likely not sinking crawl space supports. These cracks are most often caused by foundation settlement.

Identifying The Source Of Window & Door Issues

  Potentially Caused By:
Structural Problem Crawl Space Structural Issue Foundation Settlement
Jamming Exterior
Or Entryway Doors
  green checkmark
Jamming Interior Doorways green checkmark green checkmark
Sticking Windows   green checkmark
Cracks Along Windows
& Entryway Doors
  green checkmark
Cracks Along Interior Doorways green checkmark green checkmark
Sinking, Sagging Floors green checkmark  

Your Local Foundation Repair Experts in KY

Any problem with a home can be distressing, and doubly so when there's a problem with your foundation. However, it's good to know that a foundation contractor can have the damage quickly and permanently repaired -- restoring value and stability to your home.

If you have a problem with your foundation, we can help. At The Basement Doctor of Central Kentucky, we offer free, no-obligation foundation repair quotes within our Kentucky service area. Each free quote includes an on-site inspection, personal consultation, and written estimate.

To schedule your free quote, call or e-mail us today! We proudly serve Georgetown, Richmond, Lexington, surrounding areas such as Nicholasville, Frankfort, Danville, Shelbyville, Berea, Middlesboro, Somerset, and nearby.

Looking for a price? Get a no cost, no obligation free estimate.

our service area

We serve the following areas

  • Allen
  • Auxier
  • Banner
  • Beaver
  • Betsy Layne
  • Bevinsville
  • Blue River
  • Boons Camp
  • Burdine
  • Bypro
  • Dana
  • Drift
  • Dwale
  • East Point
  • Eastern
  • Flatgap
  • Grethel
  • Hagerhill
  • Harold
  • Hi Hat
  • Isonville
  • Ivel
  • Jenkins
  • Keaton
  • Lackey
  • Langley
  • Martin
  • Mc Dowell
  • Meally
  • Melvin
  • Minnie
  • Oil Springs
  • Paintsville
  • Prestonsburg
  • Printer
  • River
  • Sitka
  • Staffordsville
  • Stambaugh
  • Stanville
  • Teaberry
  • Thelma
  • Tram
  • Tutor Key
  • Van Lear
  • Weeksbury
  • West Van Lear
  • Wheelwright
  • Williamsport
  • Wittensville
Our Locations:

The Basement Doctor of Central Kentucky
22 Reilly Rd
Frankfort, KY 40601
1-859-795-5068