LOUD Crack/creak at night

[co004]

Hi,

I'm not a builder and I'm pretty new to having to worry about anything like this so please bear with me.

I live in a 1 bedroom house and have put boxes in the loft for storage. They are on scrap boards that are positioned across joists and I didn't really see this as a problem. None of the boxes are massivley heavy on their own but there is quite a lot up there.

The thing is, on a few occasions over the last few months I have been woken up by a loud cracking sound which sounds as though it's coming from the loft. It's the sort of cracking sound you get from something really tight moving a bit, like the noise of loosening a tight wheel nut on a car but loud enough to wake me up (not easily done usually).

Does this sound worrying? Should I get everything out of the loft immediately?

Thanks.

 

[Diyisfun]

Got to be worth going up & having a look.
Why you are up there spread the load about.
What is the weight you have added?

 

[co004]

It's all spread through the centre of the loft from one end to the other, I'd say a maximum of 300 kilos spread over 20 or so boxes. That's a rough estimate though.

It happened first when the weather got hot at the start of the summer and I thought it could possibly be where something is shrinking as it get's cooler as it happens at night? That's what I made up to calm the girlfriend down anyway.

It's always about the same time at night too.

 

[Diyisfun]

If you cant see any cracks, then I would be inclined to agree with you.

 

[co004]

Thanks. I'll just spread stuff out as much as possible and look for anything obvious.

All houses creak I know that, It's the loudness that surprises me.

 

[king.inter]

Does your house have an iron waste pipe outside from the toilet? In my previous home, mine would give a loud crack round about 10-11pm, probably as it was cooling down from being in the sun.

 

[Confiteor]

I'd imagine it's just climactic expansion and contraction.

The fact you put boxes up there probably just made you more sensitive to any noises from above.

I was the same for a while after putting chipboard and assorted guff in my loft.

 

[markie]

Phone ghost busters

If theres no cracks on your ceilings it will be ok, but do as others suggested and spread the boxes out.

 

[splinter]

I might even take 200 kilos of the storted stuff out of the attic while I was up there