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Will gable vents help with creaking attic?

K

kickout

Active Member
Aug 30, 2013
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Yes I am asking the wisdom of CF. Basically I have a large south-facing wall (20') on my house with the roof onto of that (maybe 12' bottom to top for the roof) so its a large (32' total) wind catching structure with nothing to block it.

Last 2 years, any wind over 20 MPH makes the roof/wall creak like a mother. It's driving me mad. I've had a few attic contractors come take a look but nobody really says anything definitive. Maybe add some reinforcement 2x4s?

My latest idea that is some added attic ventilation will allow more airflow and no cause the roof to 'catch' wind and creak? Gable vents specifically but maybe some more sofet vents will also help? What say you CF?
 
S

swiacy

Well-Known Member
Apr 9, 2009
2,194
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Our house faces south and is 36’wide “wall”, 1st floor. Entry is on the east side of house. Roof is steel. 2nd story has a dormer in middle of the roof which is a walk out sliding glass doors patio off master bedroom. Have never had creaking noise issue. Dormer may provide strength in middle of roof. I wonder if your interior attic roof system needs bracing.
 
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Cyforce

Cyforce

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2009
17,175
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Des Moines
kickout said:
Yes I am asking the wisdom of CF. Basically I have a large south-facing wall (20') on my house with the roof onto of that (maybe 12' bottom to top for the roof) so its a large (32' total) wind catching structure with nothing to block it.

Last 2 years, any wind over 20 MPH makes the roof/wall creak like a mother. It's driving me mad. I've had a few attic contractors come take a look but nobody really says anything definitive. Maybe add some reinforcement 2x4s?

My latest idea that is some added attic ventilation will allow more airflow and no cause the roof to 'catch' wind and creak? Gable vents specifically but maybe some more sofet vents will also help? What say you CF?
Click to expand...
Is it stick build?
 
D

Donqluione

Well-Known Member
Feb 5, 2017
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kickout said:
Yes I am asking the wisdom of CF. Basically I have a large south-facing wall (20') on my house with the roof onto of that (maybe 12' bottom to top for the roof) so its a large (32' total) wind catching structure with nothing to block it.

Last 2 years, any wind over 20 MPH makes the roof/wall creak like a mother. It's driving me mad. I've had a few attic contractors come take a look but nobody really says anything definitive. Maybe add some reinforcement 2x4s?

My latest idea that is some added attic ventilation will allow more airflow and no cause the roof to 'catch' wind and creak? Gable vents specifically but maybe some more sofet vents will also help? What say you CF?
Click to expand...
What changed in the last 2 years, to cause the creaking that presumably didn't occur before? Remodeling that removed interior walls to create an open floor plan? Remove trees or other vegetation that blocked or diverted the wind? New roof shingles?

Additional venting seems unlikely to solve anything, won't let in enough air flow without having a gale blowing through your attic, and certainly don't want that.

Whatever changed points to the problem, hence your potential solution. Or, you can have a structural engineer look at your house, he/she can provide valuable problem solving expertise, but it's not free.
 
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N

NWICY

Well-Known Member
Sep 2, 2012
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Add some bracing between the rafters, if you want put some bracing between the wall and the floor joists at a angle see what happens worst is you spend some dollars on lumber and time and give up a little attic floor space.

I would think you wouldn't need the bracing between the rafters because of the sheeting but it won't hurt to add some extra.
 
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K

kickout

Active Member
Aug 30, 2013
117
48
28
Donqluione said:
What changed in the last 2 years, to cause the creaking that presumably didn't occur before? Remodeling that removed interior walls to create an open floor plan? Remove trees or other vegetation that blocked or diverted the wind? New roof shingles?

Additional venting seems unlikely to solve anything, won't let in enough air flow without having a gale blowing through your attic, and certainly don't want that.

Whatever changed points to the problem, hence your potential solution. Or, you can have a structural engineer look at your house, he/she can provide valuable problem solving expertise, but it's not free.
Click to expand...
thanks. new roof 2 years ago. no new vegetation changes. But it creaked before too. Just past 2 years have been especially windy from the south.
 
Cyclonepride

Cyclonepride

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Apr 11, 2006
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A pineapple under the sea
www.oldschoolradical.com
NWICY said:
Add some bracing between the rafters, if you want put some bracing between the wall and the floor joists at a angle see what happens worst is you spend some dollars on lumber and time and give up a little attic floor space.

I would think you wouldn't need the bracing between the rafters because of the sheeting but it won't hurt to add some extra.
Click to expand...
That's what I was thinking. Maybe mount a couple 2 x 8's across the studs in the attic to sturdy them from flexing, and then a couple angled between the studs and floor joists.
 
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JimDogRock

JimDogRock

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Feb 21, 2010
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Cedar Falls
I would be wary of changing the attic airflow. If it's in a good equilibrium leave it. Especially if the current setup is soffit intake and ridge cap venting. Adding a gable vent could really disrupt things and create risk for mold, roof damage, etc.

You said new roof 2 years go. So, is it 1 or 2 layers of shingles now? If this past install was an overlay then you've got thousands more pounds sitting on that support structure. Adding some sort of bracing might do the trick, but it's a guess and I can see why contractors can't give you a clear answer for what the best course is. Hard to know without identifying exactly what movement is causing the noise. Could be rafters or joists rubbing on the plate as they shift slightly, rafters twisting, or anything really.

Also, go back in time and plant a tree that will now be big enough to divert the wind around and over the house :)
 
BoxsterCy

BoxsterCy

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 14, 2009
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  1. I might try some blocking/cleats where the roofing plywood butts together. Glue and screw.
  2. Add some horizontal bracing (perpendicular) across the the roof rafters
  3. The much mentioned angle bracing between the roof rafters and the attic joists. Maybe independent, maybe added to the pre-manufactured roof supports used.
  4. I'd look to see how the roof joists were made and if there is need or room to add on additional ties like Simpson Strong-Ties.
Basically anything you can do to stiffen the roof diaphragm. All kind of a pain in the ass with insulation in place. Where joists meet/connect to wall is likely pretty inaccessible. This is all assuming it is the roof units moving and creaking and not the individual pieces of the walls and attic joists.
 
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