October 13, 2020 Baird Foundation Repair
Is your house making spooky noises in the middle of the night? While this phenomenon can be terrifying, there is no need to worry about ghouls in the attic. Occasional pops, creaks, and whines can be normal and result from a variety of factors.
However, it is important to understand when and why your creaky house may be something to be concerned about like a foundation repair warning sign.
Thermal Expansion and Contraction
The most common reason for a house to make noises is temperature changes in the air, or what is known as thermal expansion and contraction. The temperature changes cause the wood, metal and other materials in the house structure to expand and contract, resulting in ominous creaks. Sometimes these creaks can be harmless, other times they can signal to you that your home needs foundation repair.
Weather
The external forces of nature play a role in thermal expansion and contraction, that’s why it’s important to always stay informed about your local weather. Hot, dry weather causes the soil beneath a house to contract and shrink away from the foundation. Alternatively, excess rain or flooding causes soil to expand, applying pressure to the foundation. Managing the ground around your house by watering the soil during hot, dry weather and setting up a drainage system to prevent water pooling are easy ways to maintain your foundation.
Temperature and Time of Day
Another factor of thermal expansion and contraction is temperature. During the day, warmer temperatures cause the house to expand. Cooler temperatures cause the structure of a house to contract. Therefore, sounds are often heard at night – after the sun has gone down and the house is cooling.
House Settling
As the soil beneath a house shifts and moves over time, the foundation naturally adjusts and gradually sinks into the ground in a process referred to as “settling”. Over the course of its lifetime, a house may occasionally or frequently produce noises due to settling. Although these sounds may seem ghastly, they can be completely normal. Excessive settling, however, can lead to major damage that requires foundation repair.
Foundation Shifting
While settling and thermal expansion and contraction are natural effects on a house, it is important to recognize the signs of foundation damage before it becomes a major problem. The constant battle of a house structure expanding and contracting can result in signs of foundation issues. A few things to look out for include stuck doors and windows anduneven floors. Excessive or uneven settling can cause cracks in flooring, walls and even the driveway. Addressing these issues at first notice will save you from costly foundation repair.
If your house is haunted by excessive creaking or signs of foundation shifting, contact the experts at Baird Foundation Repair for a free inspection.
concrete leveling , cracked walls , expansive soils , foundation repair , sinking floors , uneven floors
FAQs
The most common reason for a house to make noises is temperature changes in the air, or what is known as thermal expansion and contraction. The temperature changes cause the wood, metal and other materials in the house structure to expand and contract, resulting in ominous creaks.
When to worry about house creaking? ›
If there are loud, deep sounds emanating from beneath your house, you may want to get it looked at. Older houses may be more likely to have this problem, but this is where the misconception that age causes creaks comes from. As a house ages, it may be more likely to make these sounds.
Why does my house make a random cracking sound? ›
Groaning or cracking noises
Among the most common and often harmless household noises are gentle groaning, creaking sounds, or even a loud cracking noise in the house. These are often the result of changes in temperature and humidity throughout the day, week, or season.
Do houses make noise when they settle? ›
Settling Foundation
Settling refers to your home's foundation and framework shifting over time. We've already seen how temperature changes can cause settling by affecting your home's materials. Your home can make similar creaking noises due to shifting soil below the foundation.
How do you stop a house from creaking? ›
Surfboard wax and petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) work, but you can also just stop by your local hardware store and buy lubricating oil. As the name suggests, it's oil and it lubricates things.
Is it normal for a house to creak when walking in it? ›
Creaking floors and stairs are common occurrences in many homes. These noises can result from the natural expansion and contraction of wooden materials due to temperature and humidity changes as well as the shifting of the house's foundation over time.
When should I be concerned about creaking floors? ›
If the creaking persists or becomes bothersome, consult with your builder or flooring specialist to ensure there are no structural issues that need attention.
Why do houses creak more at night? ›
Do you notice creaking and cracking noises at night, when things are quiet? Most of the time, this is just the normal thermal expansion and contraction of your home's wooden structure and attic beams. It happens often when the air cools in the evening and the wood contracts.
When should I be worried about cracking my house? ›
They can vary in length, width and direction. Typically, larger cracks (those bigger than 15mm in width) are a cause for concern, as they could point to structural issues. You'll want to get these inspected by a structural engineer.
Do houses creak more in the winter? ›
During the cold winter it is normal for homes to do this, it is just basic physics. The reason why these creaking and popping sounds are so loud can also be explained by physics. The cold dense air and the lack of activity in the night allows sound to travel farther and sound louder than it would during the day.
The creaks, groans, and pops made by a home are sometimes caused by normal aging as the house settles. Other times, however, they're an early warning sign that your foundation is in serious trouble.
When should I worry about my house settling? ›
Foundation cracks; wall and floor cracks.
A 1/16-inch crack is quite common when a home starts to settle. These hairline cracks should be vertical and should be between 2-6 inches in length. Having horizontal and diagonal cracks of any size will indicate that you have more than just the “normal” settling.
Why do I hear creaking in my ceiling? ›
Temperature Expansion/Contraction: Mosty sounds happen early in the morning after the sun rises or in the evening after the sun sets. The heating and cooling of the various components in the roof (wood, metal, asphalt) causes slight expansion and contraction so occasionally creaks and pops are to be expected.
Are squeaky floors a structural problem? ›
Additionally, changes in humidity levels can cause the wood to expand or contract, exacerbating the issue. “Squeaky floors are generally not a severe structural issue, but are more of an annoyance or nuisance,” says Jan Gonzalez of Orlando Flooring Gurus.
Why does my house creak when the AC turns on? ›
Cracking and Creaking Sounds Coming From Ductwork
When your air conditioner turns on and shuts off, it is not uncommon for airflow or pressure to make the ductwork and other flexible parts creak and crack. Cracking sounds are usually nothing to concern yourself with unless you hear a crack followed by a thud.
How to stop creaking noise? ›
4 Hacks for Fixing Squeaky Items in Your Home
- Hack #1 – Lubricate It. This is perhaps the most common hack for fixing squeaks. ...
- Hack #2 – Tighten It Up. Another easy way to fix a squeak is to tighten any loose screws or bolts on the item in question. ...
- Hack #3 – Use Nuts & Bolts. ...
- Hack #4 – Get Some Glue.
While the creaking sounds you hear are normal, you might also hear creaking or popping sounds whenever the wind blows at night. In this scenario, you may need to look at your roof to see if you notice any warped areas, missing shingles, or other indicators of damage.
Is it normal for house to creak in cold? ›
During the cold winter it is normal for homes to do this, it is just basic physics. The reason why these creaking and popping sounds are so loud can also be explained by physics. The cold dense air and the lack of activity in the night allows sound to travel farther and sound louder than it would during the day.
Is it normal to hear creaking at night? ›
Do you notice creaking and cracking noises at night, when things are quiet? Most of the time, this is just the normal thermal expansion and contraction of your home's wooden structure and attic beams. It happens often when the air cools in the evening and the wood contracts.
Why does it sound like someone is walking in my house? ›
Just not a ghost. If you have an unfinished attic, odds are those footsteps you hear come from some rowdy ducks, mice, a cat or even a wily raccoon. Maybe they are looking for food or – perhaps – to escape from becoming food. Or maybe they are looking for an easy route inside your home.
