I recently mentioned to a few colleagues that my front door had become so stiff I was struggling to shut it on my way to work. It turned out I wasn’t alone: several of them were having the same exact problem. And I do mean shut the front door literally, not colloquially. Since the weather began to cool after our long, hot summer, it seems our homes have started playing up in some peculiar ways.
Houses do move a little as temperatures and moisture levels change. But lately, more of us seem to be noticing the effects: swollen doors, cracks in the ceiling and gaps appearing around window frames. It’s unsettling – and, when you’re trying to leave for work, decidedly inconvenient.
So what’s making our homes change, and when should we be concerned? Cameron Archer-Jones, a chartered structural engineer from Insulationadvice.co.uk, explains what could be behind it, what you can check yourself and when it’s time to call in a professional.
Why can’t you close the front door?
A door that suddenly won’t close properly may be catching because the door or its frame has moved. That doesn’t automatically mean there’s a serious structural problem: changes in temperature and moisture can cause materials to expand or contract, and timber (one of the most common materials used in the UK) can swell when it absorbs moisture.
As Cameron explains, ‘All materials expand and contract due to change in temperature, and some also change with change in moisture content’. In a home, different materials can react at different speeds. A sun-warmed window frame, for example, may expand before the surrounding wall does, creating pressure at the joint. Cameron says this can cause a hollow cracking sound as the frame moves against its seal. So if your home is feeling and sounding a little creaky – this could be why.
The movement is usually small, and homes are designed with joints to allow for it. But those joints can deteriorate, or movement may not reverse perfectly as temperatures change. Cameron describes this as ‘a ratcheting of the movement’. In simpler terms, small shifts can build up over time, potentially creating cracks or making a door or window harder to use.
Moisture can play a part, too. ‘With increased humidity, there is a greater risk of increased condensation inside the home if the surface temperature is too low, leading to moisture absorption and expansion of timber/wood products in the home.’
Ground movement is another possibility. ‘This is particularly problematic when it does not occur uniformly and is a common cause of cracking in walls and malfunctioning of tight tolerance doors/windows in more extreme cases,’ says Cameron. Changes in the moisture content of clay or silt beneath a house – after heavy rain, a leak or a long dry spell, for instance – can cause the ground to move. If this happens unevenly, it may affect the foundations and lead to cracks or doors and windows that no longer fit as they should.
Could this year’s changeable weather be making it worse?
It could, says Cameron. A wider range of temperatures, changes in humidity and moisture, and shifts in the ground can combine to make movement more noticeable. That doesn’t mean every sticking door or new crack is caused by the weather, but a sudden change in conditions may bring an existing weakness or problem to the surface.
Some homes are more vulnerable than others. Cameron says a structural engineer would look at the foundations and ground beneath the property, any extensions or alterations, and how well the home manages heat and moisture. Older houses and homes built on clay or silt may need particular attention, as may the join between an extension and the original building.
Ways you can ease the strain
Check the door first. Look for visible damage and check whether the hinges are loose. If the sticking is slight and doesn’t seem to be getting worse, it may be seasonal. Cameron says, ‘The most reliable way to determine if it is seasonal is to leave it and monitor it over a year.’
Don’t keep forcing it. Once you’ve checked the hinges and door for damage, Cameron says ‘the edge that is catching can be planed (shaving for timber).’ But if the door keeps sticking, take that as a sign to get advice: ‘a carpenter, builder or structural engineer should be contacted.’
Keep an eye on cracks and gaps. Check around doors and windows, and where an extension meets the original house. Cameron says internal plasterboard may first crack at the corners of a window. Take photos as you go, too: ‘Keep photos of any signs of damage that occur, noting the date and location within the house.’
Reduce excess moisture. Use extractor fans and or dehumidifiers while cooking and showering, keep window trickle vents open and leave internal doors open to encourage airflow. Cameron says, ‘The simplest way to reduce humidity is by increasing ventilation’. If you spot a leak or rain getting in, arrange to have it fixed promptly; get professional help if it’s difficult to reach.
Get advice if signs are worsening. Cameron advises calling a building professional if cracks are growing in width, length or number, or if there’s significant damage. ‘Cracks over 2 to 5mm width, or material has fallen off’ are key according to Cameron. A single crack doesn’t prove there’s a structural problem, but several signs appearing together or worsening over time should be checked. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors also lists new or expanding cracks and doors or windows sticking for no obvious reason among possible signs of subsidence.
Takeaway: Cameron’s advice is to monitor small, stable changes, but get a professional to inspect damage that is significant or progressing. That can help establish whether the cause is a minor seasonal adjustment or something that needs a proper repair.