Creaking Noise coming from gable wall.

Tangerine · 25th March 2009, 13:04

We purchased a timber framed house Dec 2007. Jan 2008 we started to hear a creaking noise coming from the gable wall. The noise sounds like a ship's creaking timbers. It only comes when there is a strong wind blowing from the West. Various things have been tried to sort. The soffit outside has had extra screws. Internally squares were taken out of the bedroom wall and extra screws were inserted between the gable wall framing and the internal partition to see if that would strengthen the internal framework. Unfortunately the noise is more pronounced as it now filters down into the internal partition wall also. The noise eminates from the partition wall in the bedroom right through to the ensuite bathroom. Could it be coming from the timber frame? There is a layer of brick on the outside of the timber frame and the builder has closed over the vents to see if that would help too. There is plenty of air circulating through the cavity as one can hear if you put your ear to the gable wall. Does anyone at snagging.org have any other ideas please. We are all at a lose here and the noise at night keeps us awake. We live on a very windy site.

Tony · 27th March 2009, 00:20

That's an interesting one, who have you had look at it? just the builder?

Tangerine · 27th March 2009, 14:26

Thanks for interest Tony. Yes, the builder is the only person so far. I believe they talked to the kit manufacturer but they didn't seem to know either. We had a whirring noise at the other end of the same gable wall which, we think, the builder has now managed to fix. They had to take some roof tiles off to sort that one. You can't hear the creaking when in the loft. Purely in the gable wall and only upstairs not in the room below.

Tony · 27th April 2009, 18:42

How are you getting on with this?

Tangerine · 4th May 2009, 10:02

Hi Tony,

Thankyou again for your interent.
As yet the problem has not been resolved. The builder put extra clips on the guttering, also strengthened the soffit to see if that would make any difference. This was completed last week. Unfortunately the wind picked up last night and the noise started again. So their work has been to no avail.
The noise is very strong at one end of the gable wall so we feel this is the problem area. I put my ear to the wall again today and the rush of wind through the cavity is still very strong even although some of the air vents on the outside have been closed over. Whether this wind coming through the vents is causing something to move we know not. Maybe they need to close off more air vents. We are all just grasping at straws with this one, even the builder. We certainly don't fancy having the gable wall dismantled. Any ideas from everyone would be gratefully appreciated.

louisec25 · 5th May 2009, 23:17

Hi Tangerine

I read your thread and cannot believe how similar it sounds to one of the many problems we have with our new build flat. We get a creaking, clicking noise from our wall and usually when there are strong winds - as we are in a fourth floor apartment built out on an old pier you can imagine that this is often. The creaking wall is also in our bedroom so we have had many sleepless nights. It is very infuriating.

We are in a steel constructed block with the outer wall which creaks, finished with rectangular panels. Our builders have gone into administration and we therefore claimed on our Zurich 10 year building Guarantee. Unfortunately as the item appears to be causing no 'physical damage', Zurich is refusing to remedy our creaky wall. We experience the same as you, in that we too can feel and hear the wind howling in the cavity behind the plasterboard and our thermostatically controlled under floor heating is constantly on in that room (no other rooms) as it gets cold easily. Builders told us no wood in the walls, but it sounds like wood creaking and it happens very near to the window frame.

Kind regards
Louise

Tangerine · 12th May 2009, 11:50

Sorry to read your story Louisec25. It must be very infuriating when nobody will do anything about it. I hope you eventually find a solution.
We think we have now found out what is causing our problem. We opened up a tile in the bathroom and basically cut through to the cavity wall outside. We did this when the wind was strong and could hear the noise. When the timber frame chipboard (for want of a better word) was pressed we created the identical noise we hear. This we managed to replicate a number of times. Unfortunately, when the wind stopped, we were unable to get the noise. We conclude from this that the wind is creating some sort of suck which makes the chipboards creak. We have no idea at present how this can be fixed nor exactly why it is happening. The chipboard appears to be rock solid.
Again any suggestions would be much appreciated.

zednine · 18th May 2009, 22:24

do you have diagonal wind bracing in the loft??

Tangerine · 22nd May 2009, 11:49

Dear Zednine,
Thankyou for your question. Yes, we do have diagonal wind bracing in the loft.
We are beginning to wonder if the outer block walling is moving with the high winds and in turn pushing on a tie which in turn moves the chipboard. Unfortunately we cant try anything until we have another west wind and the noise comes back again. We have left an opening at present until this happens again which could well be Autumn now. (unfortunately)

Tangerine · 19th December 2009, 17:15

Thought I would write and let others know in case they ever have the same type of creaking noises.

We found out what was causing our noise. It was a wall tie which had not been put in with the correct type of screw. The actual tie was solid. We cut the tie and we have had silence ever since - absolute heaven.

We isolated it ourselves which took some time but well worth the time we spent with our ears to the wall trying to pinpoint.