Did you know that the creaks you hear your house makes are not simply caused by your house being old?
One common misconception that many people have about houses is that creaking is just caused by the house being old. Then why is it that newer houses have creaks and noises too?
Do these sounds mean something bad or are they normal?
Do you need to worry about them?
As kids, these sounds were probably pretty terrifying. It can be scary to be lying in bed in the middle of the night and to hear a creak when everybody is supposed to be asleep. Is something awake in the house? What’s making that sound?
But why does this happen?
What causes these creaks in houses?
Almost every house is made with a lot of wood. Wood is very porous and reacts to the temperature and weather. The humidity, heat, and cold can all have an affect on wood. The change in temperature causes wood to expand and contract throughout the day. When this happens, the wood creates a sudden creaking sound. This is one of the most common reasons that houses creak.
While it is normal for wood to change and react to the weather, if this is coming from the floorboards, they may be slightly loose. When stepped on, the boards will squeak together, creating a loud noise. If the floorboards expand from humidity, the same thing can happen without anybody ever touching them. Floorboards can be fixed to avoid these sounds. This is one of the easier fixes.
The land beneath your house may react to the weather as well. As the temperature changes, the dirt contracts and expands, creating the creaking sound that we all know.
Sounds could also be coming from the pipes in your walls. This may just be normal for your house. When you turn off the water, you may suddenly hear something in your pipes. If this happens all the time, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
The majority of the time, sounds are simply coming from changes in the temperature.
However, when do the sounds that your house makes become concerning?
What we want to avoid is having a problem with the foundation of the house. 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. However, creaking should never just be blamed on the house being old. If you hear a sound that is not normal for your house, it is important to look into it.
Another noise that you might hear is something moving in the walls. It is easy for small animals to creep inside the walls and live there. This is when it is time to call an exterminator or set traps.
Any sounds that are electrical, that you aren’t used to, should immediately be called in to professionals. The same goes for any sounds that come from within the pipes that are out of the ordinary. These should never be ignored.
When the wind blows against your windows, you might hear a whistling sound. This can be normal, or it might be a sign that it is time to get your windows looked at. Again, it depends on the house. If there is a sound you don’t recognize, get it looked at.
Your safety and happiness is a priority to us. The more you know about how houses work, the better off you will be. We are experts when it comes to roofing, windows, doors, gutters, storm damage, and repairs to the exteriors of houses. We know what sounds are normal and which ones are cause for concern. We want you to be able to easily pick up on the same warning signs, and fix things as soon as they need to be addressed.
Now remember, it is normal for a house to have some sounds, but anything that is out of the ordinary is important to check. If you are ever concerned with a noise you are hearing, you should definitely call a professional and ask. We are always here to answer any questions that you might have.
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