Foundation Repair in IN, including Fort Wayne, South Bend & Gary.
Foundation Repair

Jamming, Sticking Windows & Doors

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

Window damage due to foundation settlement in Huntington.

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:

How to Fix It:

While there are many issues that can lead to sticking windows and doors, the two most common foundation-related causes are settlement and crawl space supports that have settled, shifted, or deteriorated.

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

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

We serve Gary, South Bend, Fort Wayne, and many nearby areas in Indiana.

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 Columbia City homeSliding doors that are crooked and jamming due to a foundation issue in Columbia City home A long foundation crack that begins at a doorway of a Chesterton home. A long drywall crack beginning at the corner of a doorway in a Plymouth home.
A long, diagonal crack that begins at a window corner of a Highland home long jagged cracks starting at the corner of a window along a brick wall on a Hammond home A large settlement crack on interior drywall in a Huntington home. A gap in a window along the outer wall due to foundation settlement of a Hobart 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

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 -- 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:

At Foundation Supportworks, Inc., 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.

More about foundation piers.


Illustration of a severely sinking crawl space structure.

Sinking Crawl Space Supports

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.

As the crawl space structure sinks, the floor that it supports will sink as well, creating uneven surfaces underfoot. And as the floor sinks, it will pull the interior walls that are attached to it 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:

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 -- with an installation usually being completed in about a day. They provide a superior solution to other repairs, 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 IN

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 Foundation Supportworks, Inc., we offer free, no-obligation foundation repair quotes within our Indiana 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 Gary, South Bend, Fort Wayne, surrounding areas such as Elkhart, Valparaiso, Mishawaka, Goshen, Crown Point, Michigan City, La Porte, and nearby.

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

  
Serving IN including the Greater Fort Wayne area
Our Indiana Service Area
Cities in Allen County, IN
Fort Wayne
Grabill
Harlan
Hoagland
Huntertown
Leo
Monroeville
New Haven
Spencerville
Woodburn
Yoder

Cities in Dekalb County, IN
Ashley
Auburn
Butler
Corunna
Garrett
Saint Joe
Waterloo

Cities in Elkhart County, IN
Bristol
Elkhart
Goshen
Middlebury
Millersburg
Nappanee
New Paris
Wakarusa

Cities in Fulton County, IN
Akron
Kewanna
Rochester

Cities in Huntington County, IN
Huntington
Roanoke

Cities in Jasper County, IN
Demotte
Fair Oaks
Rensselaer
Wheatfield

Cities in Kosciusko County, IN
Burket
Claypool
Etna Green
Leesburg
Mentone
Milford
North Webster
Pierceton
Silver Lake
Syracuse
Warsaw
Winona Lake

Cities in La Porte County, IN
Hanna
La Crosse
La Porte
Michigan City
Mill Creek
Rolling Prairie
Union Mills
Wanatah
Westville

Cities in Lagrange County, IN
Howe
Lagrange
Shipshewana
Topeka
Wolcottville

Cities in Lake County, IN
Cedar Lake
Crown Point
Gary
Griffith
Hammond
Highland
Hobart
Lake Station
Lowell
Merrillville
Munster
Saint John
Schererville

Cities in Marshall County, IN
Argos
Bourbon
Bremen
Culver
Plymouth
Tippecanoe

Cities in Miami County, IN
Macy

Cities in Newton County, IN
Brook
Lake Village
Morocco

Cities in Noble County, IN
Albion
Avilla
Cromwell
Kendallville
Kimmell
Laotto
Ligonier
Rome City
Wawaka

Cities in Porter County, IN
Chesterton
Hebron
Kouts
Portage
Valparaiso

Cities in Pulaski County, IN
Francesville
Medaryville
Monterey
Star City
Winamac

Cities in St Joseph County, IN
Granger
Lakeville
Mishawaka
New Carlisle
North Liberty
Notre Dame
Osceola
South Bend
Walkerton

Cities in Starke County, IN
Grovertown
Hamlet
Knox
North Judson
San Pierre

Cities in Steuben County, IN
Angola
Fremont
Hamilton
Hudson
Orland
Pleasant Lake

Cities in Wabash County, IN
North Manchester
Roann
Urbana

Cities in Wells County, IN
Markle
Ossian

Cities in Whitley County, IN
Churubusco
Columbia City
Larwill
South Whitley

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