Is It Normal For A Roof To Make Noise

In older home attics unsettling bangs are more likely to be the sounds of trusses joists rafters and sheathing expanding or contracting as the roof heats up or cools down.

Is it normal for a roof to make noise. It s thermal expansion and contraction. Here we ll talk about the two most common reasons for a creaky roof. Or when it has come loose. The cracking and popping could also be from the joists or beams as they contract and expand.

Banging banging sounds generally occur when a part of the roof has not been properly fixed in place. If you ve recently had a porch or room addition it s natural for the roof to make sounds as it adjusts. The sun hits your roof and heats it up. Since most re roofs are done where shingles were used previously and often on top of a layer of shingles noise is not going to be an issue.

Do you only hear the creaking noises at night. In the occupied space below the example roof shown in our photos above there was no significant noise level difference during rain than below the flat rubber roofed sections of the same building. As for the popping noise in the morning and evening that s a different mechanism. Solar expansion contraction.

In very rare cases the sounds are a symptom of undue stress and you will need a professional roof inspection. The sun hits your roof and heats it up. As it dries it can shift and contract triggering bangs loud enough to make you think a tree fell on the roof. I can imagine that a poorly secured metal roof might creak or make noises during thermal changes but i have not come across that complaint.

However with proper materials between the metal and you there is no reason to worry about noise. If your roof is installed without a proper roof underlayment you will experience the kind of noise that causes people to think buying a metal roof is a bad idea. Taking as a given the noise is probably movement due to differences in thermal expansion or contraction as temperatures change rise fall across and through the roof structure in response to changes in outdoor temperature or sun exposure. This flexing is what s causing the popping noise.

The most common noise issues with flat roofs are banging loud rain snapping popping sounds heat related cracking and creaking. Metal roofs are major offenders but shingled roofs also can be quite noisy. The sound can be present both in mild weather and heavy winds. As the lumber expands it moves and it will rub against other pieces of wood that aren t moving at the same rate.

Those noises should decrease during the home s first year or so. Roof makes creaking sounds at night. Installing a metal roof over a solid deck with a good underlayment like double bubble and with an insulated attic airspace below makes it easy to control the noise. If you re wondering why a roof makes a creaking noise it s worth bringing a professional to your home to take a look.