Why is my deck popping in the cold?

Why is my deck popping in the cold?

It is that cold temperatures cause materials to shrink, and some components of your deck are shrinking more than others. This builds up stress that suddenly relieves itself and produces the loud cracking or popping sounds. This expansion then produces the sounds.

Does wood pop in cold weather?

Trapped Moisture When night comes and the temperature drops to freezing, the moisture that slipped into the wood will expand as it freezes. This expansion will cause the wood to move and produce sounds.

Why is my house making popping noises in extreme cold?

Extreme cold air reduces the moisture content in the building materials, causing them to shrink, he says. Demerly says those building materials, nailed together, move at different rates and have to a tendency to create friction, which causes the popping sounds you hear.

What causes a house to creak and pop?

Creaking and Popping in the Night The many materials that make up your house — wood framing, plywood, glass, metal ducts, nails, plumbing pipes — all expand and contract at different rates. When a house cools at night, these materials may move slightly, rubbing against each other and making noises.

How do you know if you have a termite infestation?

Keep an eye out for the following signs of termite activity:

1. Discolored or drooping drywall.
2. Peeling paint that resembles water damage.
3. Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
4. Small, pinpoint holes in drywall.
5. Buckling wooden or laminate floor boards.
6. Tiles loosening from the added moisture termites can introduce to your floor.

How can you tell if you have termites in your wall?

Common signs of termite damage to a wall include:

1. Small pin holes, where termites have eaten through the paper coating on drywall and/or wallpaper.
2. Faint ‘lines’ on drywall.
3. A hollow sound when you tap on the wall.
4. Bubbling or peeling paint.
5. Baseboards that crumble under slight pressure.
6. Jammed doors or windows.

What animal eats through concrete?

The most common include rats and mice. You don’t mention where the hole is being chewed so it’s hard for me to narrow down the options. Over the years I’ve seen rats, mice, raccoon, opossum, shrews, voles, moles, chipmunks, ground hogs, muskrat, otter and skunk chew through cement or forms thereof.

Can rats dig through concrete?

Rats leave dirt, waste and grease in their paths. They are also capable of chewing through wood and concrete. Rat holes are both unsightly and dangerous; not only do they allow entry to a variety of other pests, but they also can lead to short-circuit fires if the rats gnaw on electrical wires..

Do rats dig under foundations?

Most rat burrows are found under bushes and other dense vegetation. Each burrow has a main entrance that measures around 2-4 inches in diameter. The entire burrow spans around 18 inches deep and 3 feet long. These pests also create deeper burrows when they are near a concrete slab or under the house’s foundation.

How far down do rats burrow?

18 inches