Everybody has heard the sounds of a house creaking at some point. Maybe you hear a gentle groan from the ceiling in the middle of the night and blame it on the pipes. Maybe you simply tell yourself that the noises are due to your house being old. However, all houses creak. Even brand new houses will creak at some point. So, what is the main cause of creaking houses?
Wood.
As you know, houses have a lot of wood in their structure. Wood is very porous, and it can easily react to weather changes. Heat can cause wood to expand while cold makes it contract. As it changes shape, you will hear a creaking sound. Since temperature shifts throughout the day, you will hear creaking during these times as well.
From the wood inside your walls supporting your home to the wood in your floorboards, creaks can echo from all over.
The majority of the time, these sounds are nothing to be concerned with. However, when do these creaking noises become troubling?
If you ever hear something actually moving inside the walls, you probably have a tiny animal inside your home and need an exterminator. Unusual sounds in your pipes or strange electric sounds should always be checked out. Truly, any new sounds that concern you should have you calling a professional. Deep sounds emanating from your home can be a sign of possible damage to your foundation. If you suspect this might be the case, call a professional immediately for an inspection.
As always, if you have any questions, call us and we can set you up with a free inspection. We are happy to help in any way we can!
