Does your roof make an annoying popping sound when it’s windy? When you go to bed at night, do you hear a creepy creaking noise like suspense building in a horror movie? Relaxing can be difficult when you feel like the ceiling will collapse on you at any moment. If you’re wondering why a roof makes a creaking noise, it’s worth bringing a professional to your home to take a look.
Here, we’ll talk about the two most common reasons for a creaky roof.
Roof Makes Creaking Sounds at Night
Do you only hear the creaking noises at night? This is not because it’s otherwise quiet and you want to sleep. Creaking, wheezing, or popping sounds happen at nighttime due to cooler weather.
The wood frame under your roof experiences temperature changes from the outdoor air because the attic does not receive much heating or air conditioning. During the day, the wood expands. At night, the outdoor temperature lowers and the wood contracts. The wood makes an intermittent popping sound as it contracts, or creaks with even the slightest movement.
Fortunately, there’s nothing to worry about. The roof will not collapse or break down because of this.
How to fix it: If you’re losing sleep or just cannot stand the noise, it’s possible to reduce or eliminate it with insulation. Spray foam insulation added to the attic ceiling, immediately opposite the roof, will keep the wood frame and rafters at a more steady temperature. That will mitigate the wood contraction that causes creaking sounds from the roof.
Roof Creaks When It’s Windy
In other cases, a roof will creak at any time of day, whenever there’s the slightest wind. First, we recommend looking at your roof from the street and from your backyard. Do you see missing shingles, warped spots, or any other damage? If you can access the attic, go up to look for any damage there. A professional inspection can pinpoint the damage.
How to fix it: You might need extra support beams nailed into the attic. Attic vents offer another solution. You can add soffit vents, ridge vents, wind turbines, and other types of ventilation. These features are designed to regulate humidity and air in the attic, but they can help if winds are causing the roof to whine or creak in the wind.
Roof Inspections & Repairs in Baltimore
You should get a roof inspection approximately every three years, so it’s definitely worthwhile to bring in a professional to look at a noisy roof or creaky attic.
Park Heights Roofing of Baltimore offers inspections and roof repairs, and we can also provide top-quality services for attic insulation, fascia repair, and other elements of maintaining a healthy, functional roof.
Contact us or call (410) 358-1257 to schedule an appointment and get expert answers for a creaky roof!