Hey everyone, I've been dealing with a really stressful situation since buying my house back in 2021. The foundation dates back to 1890, and it's been a joy to live in — until I took down three huge trees in front of the property last year because they were leaning towards the house. Since then, the place has started making all sorts of weird noises. It sounds like someone is flicking the walls, and this has only gotten worse over time.
In winter, it was mostly on the south and west sides, but now it's happening on every wall, and it seems to be worst on sunny days. Although most people might brush it off, I can't ignore it — it's been causing me panic attacks and has gotten to the point where I feel incredibly stressed. I've looked for signs of structural problems, like cracks or shifting, but everything seems fine.
I'm pretty sure it's a matter of thermal expansion or contraction, but I don't know what to do about it. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has suggestions on who I should call for help. Should I contact a builder, a structural engineer, or even someone more unconventional? I'm really at my wits' end and worried I'll have to sell my beloved home to a flipper, which is something I really don't want to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
You might want to consider some more holistic approaches too. Sometimes, it helps to clear the energy of a house. I’d recommend trying to sage it or something similar. And don’t hesitate to talk to a therapist about your anxiety — managing stress is really important during this tough time. Old houses can make a lot of noise, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it alone!
It sounds to me like your house might just be settling or 'breathing.' My place does something similar. While it can be alarming, it’s pretty common for old homes to make noise, especially after changes like removing trees. Maybe try to pinpoint where the sounds are coming from? If it's driving you nuts, you could look into getting a professional assessment from a builder or a structural engineer. They could help track down the source of those creepy sounds!
If it’s just the occasional pop, I’d try to ignore it. But if it’s loud like you said and keeps you on edge, maybe consider exploring your wall space? Although I’d be cautious about tearing down drywall without experience — you don’t want to make things worse!