Extreme cold causing house to settle?

Underdog57 · Feb 10, 2014

lhfarm said:
Quick background. Original house w/basement built in early 60s. Added a second story in mid-90s. We have had weeks of cold weather, much below normal and nothing like this since the remodeling. Recently we have heard thuds that sounds like a large branch hitting the roof. I rushed outside after the first one, but nothing on the roof. It is a brick on the bottom wood siding on the second story house and I don't see any cracks in the bricks. It was 6 degrees out this morning when I heard another thud about 5AM.

The other "clue" is a bathroom door isn't closing properly. Had to shim the bottom hinge. What should I be looking for to find the cause of the thuds? Should I call someone to do an inspection? Or not be too concerned?

Thanks!

I have 2 decks on my house, and they "pop" quite often especially when it gets down near zero. I would think that is what you hear.

Tollster · Feb 10, 2014

Likely just a deeper frost line than in the past decade or so. So the ground is heaving in different locations than in the past, this could be due to a change in water run off, deep than usual ground water over the summer and so on, as others have pointed out, low humidity is also a factor, and can be noticed in furniture, cubbard doors, wooden chair joints being loose. To ad humidity, place a tea kettle on the stove, or better yet wood stove and let it simmer all winter topping off as needed..