Hearing loud popping or cracking from your walls? Experts say truss uplift is to blame
With fluctuating warm then cold temperatures, homeowners around the city have been hearing loud banging and cracking from their walls and attics.
While the sound may not bring your house down, the owner of First General Property Restoration, specializing in framing and home rebuilds, says the sound is usually the result of truss uplift.
"The reason you're hearing those noises and it's kinda catching people off guard in this cold weather is because moisture migrates into your attic," Moe Barzagar told CTV News Edmonton.
According to Barzagar, attics function best when their temperature is as close to the outdoor temperature as possible. Roof ventilation is designed to enable this. When an attic is not well vented, Barzagar said it can result in moisture accumulation, which can cause a number of problems, including truss lift.
During cold snaps, the bottom chord, which is covered by insulation, remains warm. Chords at the top of a truss are above the insulation and absorb moisture, making them expand.
The combination of events can cause the roof truss to bend and flex, and to disconnect from the interior walls below.
Barzagar said incorrect bathroom venting or even renovations or modifications that cut through vapour barriers to install potlights can create openings for moisture to move into an attic.
The good news is that truss uplift doesn't usually cause major problems, Barzagar said.
More severe cases of truss uplift can put cracks in the paint in walls or drywall. Barzagar recommends checking the edges of an attic for insulation stops, or pieces of cardboard that protect a soffit from getting covered and ensuring airflow.
Richard Amiotte, who has heard the banging for the past few days, says he sympathizes for his more than 50-year-old home.
"(I'm) getting old," Amiotte said, adding his own bones get a little creakier each winter. "I can see how she feels."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.