Are Cracks Around Windows & Doors Serious?

No one likes to see a crack in their wall, and cracks around doors and window frames are no different. At minimum, they detract from the look of your home. But regardless of cosmetic damage, the more important question is whether the cracks are signs of serious structural problems.

The answer, like so much with cracks around your home, is “It depends.”

Why Do Cracks Form Around Doors and Windows?

Many homes develop some measure of cracking over the years, and window and door frames are among the most common locations.

This is because the window or door frame had to be “cut out” of the wall, meaning the wood framing, block or other material doesn’t extend all the way from floor to ceiling. The window and door frames, therefore, represent weak points where cracks from stress caused by settlement or other issues is likely to occur.

Windows and door frames are also susceptible to problems caused by weather. Expansion and contraction from temperature changes and varying levels of humidity can also cause cracking.

Finally, the same problems that can cause issues in other portions of your wall can also cause them around doors. These include drywall installation problems and water damage.

How Can You Tell If a Crack is a Sign of Serious Structural Problems?

First let’s get one cause out of the way: Is there staining around the crack? If the wall is drywall, does it feel damp or soft. If so, water problems are the likely cause. Structural problems might or might not be contributing to the water getting into the walls, but either way, finding the source of the water and stopping it is crucial.

It is isn’t water, next turn your attention to the direction and size of the cracks. If the crack is just a hairline, it might be caused by settlement, but minor enough settlement not to constitute foundation problems. In these cases, properly patching the crack will likely be enough. Just watch to see if the cracks reopen or widen, because that is a sign of an ongoing problem.

Also, if the crack is in an exterior basement or foundation wall, ensure that the crack is properly filled, not just cosmetically covered up. That is key because these cracks can cause water problems rather than be caused by them. Foundations on the Level offers crack filling services in San Diego and Orange counties in California.

Cracks around doors and windows that indicate serious settlement and foundation problems are usually wider than a hairline and extend diagonally from the frame. Another test is to try the door or window itself. Doors and windows that stick and seem misaligned are a sign of foundation or structural problems.

How Do You Fix Cracks Around Doors Or Window Frames?

This depends on the severity. If the crack is just a surface level issue, implement a surface level, cosmetic fix, albeit one done the right way so the crack doesn’t reopen on its own.

If foundation problems are causing the cracks, however, repairing the cracks is only papering over the real problem. And that repair won’t last in most cases because the cracks will just reopen.

Instead, the foundation problems themselves must be dealt with. There is a good chance that your home needs underpinning. At Foundations on the Level, we employ push piers or helical piers to stabilize and level a building’s foundation permanently. Because while no one wants to need foundation repair, you really don’t want to need foundation repair twice.

Need Foundation Repairs in Southern California? Contact Foundations on the Level

If you think the cracks around your doors and windows might be foundation problems, contact the foundation pros at Foundations on the Level.