What causes LOTS of creaking in attic, especially in the afternoon?

Christa L
by Christa L
I notice it most in south bedroom. House is 11 years, roof is 6 months old (from sheathing up) after tornado. We have a saltbox style house. We've been here 1 year.
  5 answers
  • SawHorse Design Build SawHorse Design Build on Feb 24, 2012
    The creaking is caused by materials rubbing against each other under pressure or force. Forces that can cause this are wind, temperature changes causing expansion and contraction and snow loads.
  • Walter Reeves Walter Reeves on Feb 24, 2012
    This isn't what you have, but my heating system sounds exactly like it has a big drip of water dropping onto it for five minutes after it turns off.
  • SawHorse Design Build SawHorse Design Build on Feb 24, 2012
    @Walter- that is the heat exchanger contracting. Over time this can lead to failure and Carbon Monoxide coming out the unit. That is why it is important to have CO detectors in the living areas of your home.
  • creaking can be caused by all sorts of issues. Many are siding noises that are created as the siding heats up and cools down. Vinyl siding moves a lot with heat. When contractors nail it to the house they are supposed to keep the nails proud, and not hammer them tight to the nailing groves in the siding connection areas. A sign of this is wavy look on siding when it gets sun shining on it as it absorbs the heat energy from the sun. The same thing of sorts can happen on roofs as well. Poorly fastened plywood over roof trusses can move as the material is heated during the sunlight exposure. Sometimes this will also happen when the house is incorrectly sheathed and as the house ages it begins to shrink causing plywood that is supposed to have been placed on walls with tiny gaps between the sheets is now rubbing on the edges. All three items are not something that you can easily fix, but they really do not effect the house with other then noise.
  • Carol Carol on Feb 12, 2015
    Since you are saying it is in the attic it likely is when the sun heats up the roof ~ the wood contracts and when the roof cools it expands and also makes noises I also have that issue We live in a log home so sometimes the log's creak and crack with heat and cold as well It is like having your own home sound effect system Nothing to worry about ..