My Doors and Windows are Sticking Now that it’s Cold—Is it a Foundation Problem?
As winter settles into the Dallas-Fort Worth area and temperatures drop, you might notice something annoying: your doors and windows are sticking. Before you panic about foundation damage, it’s important to understand that not all sticking doors mean your foundation is failing. In fact, many instances of winter stickiness are completely normal seasonal adjustments that disappear when warmer weather returns. However, some cases do signal genuine foundation problems that require professional attention. At Steady House Foundation Repair, we help homeowners distinguish between harmless seasonal movement and symptoms of serious structural issues. Our transparent approach means we assess your specific situation honestly—sometimes the fix is as simple as tightening a hinge screw, and sometimes you need professional foundation evaluation. Understanding the difference can save you unnecessary worry and help you address real problems before they worsen.
Seasonal Movement: Why Winter Makes Doors Stick (And That’s Okay)
Winter in North Texas brings cold temperatures and variable humidity that cause normal, temporary door and window sticking. Here’s the science: wood responds to moisture and temperature changes by expanding and contracting. When cold weather arrives, several things happen simultaneously in your home:
Temperature-Related Changes: Cold causes materials to contract. Your door frame and door panel both shrink, but they don’t always shrink at exactly the same rate. This misalignment can cause sticking that disappears when spring arrives.
Humidity Fluctuations: Winter air tends to be drier than other seasons, but indoor heating creates moisture imbalances. Your door absorbs moisture from humid indoor air while the frame loses it to the cold exterior, creating different expansion rates.
Hardware Loosening: Constant temperature swings cause metal hinges, screws, and strikes to loosen slightly from thermal cycling. Loose screws are the single most common cause of seasonal door sticking.
Frost Heave Effects: When soil around your foundation becomes saturated with melted snow or ice, then freezes solid, it expands slightly. This normal seasonal heaving is typically minor and resolves as temperatures warm.
The Good News: If your doors stick only during winter and return to normal operation in spring, this is almost certainly normal seasonal movement. The seasonal sticking should resolve within weeks of warmer weather arriving.
Red Flags: When Door Sticking Indicates Foundation Problems
Not all sticking doors are seasonal. Some indicate genuine foundation issues requiring professional evaluation. Watch for these warning signs that suggest something more serious:
Year-Round Sticking: If doors stick consistently throughout the year, regardless of season, foundation settlement may be the culprit, not weather. Normal seasonal sticking comes and goes; foundation problems persist.
Sticking That Never Resolves: Seasonal sticking vanishes when weather changes. If your doors continue sticking months after winter ends, the issue likely isn’t weather-related.
Accompanying Damage Signs: Look for these additional indicators of foundation problems:
- Cracks above door frames or window frames on walls
- Uneven or sloping floors
- Cracks in drywall or brick that widen over time
- Windows that won’t close properly even after adjustment
- Diagonal cracks in corners of rooms
Progressive Worsening: If sticking or misalignment gets worse each year despite your attempts to fix it, foundation shifting is probably occurring.
Frost Heave Damage: In extreme cases, saturated soil freezes and creates significant upward pressure on your foundation. This severe frost heave pushes the foundation up, misaligning door and window frames severely. You’ll notice multiple doors sticking simultaneously, often accompanied by cracks above them.
How to Diagnose Your Specific Situation
Start with simple troubleshooting before assuming foundation problems:
Check Hardware: Tighten all hinge screws on sticking doors. Use a screwdriver to ensure hinges are secure and hinges haven’t come loose.
Inspect the Strike Plate: If the door won’t latch, the strike plate (metal piece on the frame) may be misaligned. Adjust it slightly so the latch engages properly.
Monitor Seasonality: Keep track of when sticking occurs. Does it appear in December and resolve in April? That’s seasonal. Does it persist year-round? That’s concerning.
Look for Companion Symptoms: Check your home for other foundation damage signs—cracks, unlevel floors, stuck windows—not just doors.
Document Changes: Take photos of any cracks and note if they widen over months. This documentation helps professionals assess whether movement is progressive.
If seasonal adjustments aren’t the problem and you notice multiple warning signs, professional evaluation is warranted. Steady House Foundation Repair provides free inspections where we assess your doors, windows, foundation condition, and soil stability. We tell you honestly whether you have a seasonal issue or a genuine foundation problem requiring repair.
Getting Professional Help When You Need It
Not every homeowner is comfortable diagnosing foundation issues. If you’re uncertain whether sticking doors signal serious problems, professional assessment removes guesswork. Steady House Foundation Repair serves the Dallas-Fort Worth area with transparent evaluation and honest recommendations. We don’t recommend repairs you don’t need, and we won’t overlook problems that require attention.
Schedule your free foundation inspection today. Let’s determine whether your sticking doors are just winter blues or signs of something requiring professional foundation repair. Contact Steady House Foundation Repair for honest expertise and peace of mind about your home’s structural integrity.