Why Do Wood Doors and Drawers Stick in Summer?

DIRECT ANSWER:

Wood doors and drawers may stick more during humid summer weather because wood can absorb moisture and expand. Fit, finish, construction, ventilation and building movement can also contribute. Before removing wood, determine whether the problem is seasonal or permanent.

IT FIT PERFECTLY IN FEBRUARY.

NOW IT WON'T CLOSE IN JULY.

That doesn't automatically mean something broke.

Humidity may have changed the dimensions just enough to create interference.

WOOD MOVES ACROSS THE GRAIN

Changes in moisture can create dimensional movement.

Even relatively small changes can affect tight-fitting:

Doors

Drawers

Cabinet fronts

Frames

Furniture components

DON'T AUTOMATICALLY SAND IT DOWN

If a summer problem disappears during drier months, removing too much material may create a large gap later.

Understand the seasonal pattern first.

WHAT ELSE CAN CAUSE STICKING?

Possible contributors include:

Loose hinges

Sagging

Paint buildup

Finish buildup

Frame movement

Floor movement

Drawer-runner wear

Previous repairs

OLD HOUSES ADD ANOTHER VARIABLE

Older New England houses may have:

Uneven floors

Walls out of plumb

Frames that have moved

Historic doors fitted tightly to nonstandard openings

The problem may involve both the wood and the building.