Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 4/28/2011

Question
Hello! Please help!!! I have an all brick 2 story home built in 1994. When it is windy out, a popping, cranking noise comes from the walls (mostly on just one side of the house).  What could this be and how hard/expensive would it be to fix? Who would I contact to help me?
Very strange, it also makes this noise if I sit on the floor and lean hard against the wall. I have the sound on tape if you would like me to email you.
Any thoughts appreciated!

Answer
Hi Rhonda, gosh it could be any number of things.  When you say your house is "all brick" are you sure about that? It's highly unusual for a house to built completely from brick nowadays.  It is either a wood frame structure with a brick face attached to the wood wall or it is a concrete masonry structure with the brick attached to the masonry.  A real all brick house consists of three rows of brick interconnected in what is called a " triple wythe" construction.  As in this type of construction and the other methods mentioned above the outside layer of brick is held away from the structural wall an inch to create a way for moisture getting through the outside layer of brick to slide down the structural wall and weep out of the bottom.  This method keeps moisture from building up inside the walls.  This "air gap" may be the source of the noise.  If there is debris down inside this air gap and the wind finds its way into the walls drain cavity it may cause the debris to flutter and make noise.  This problem would be rather unlikely since the noise would be dampened by the  mass of the wall itself if the wall is truly all brick.

A wood framed wall with brick veneer is a more likely explanation.  Wood has a tendency to creak and groan when the wind blows.  Also if your rafters aren't secured completely the noise may be coming from that movement as well and being transferred down the wall structure.  

Some air-conditioning systems and bathroom/kitchen exhaust fans have "dampers" located at the outside of the building which can also make noise when the wind blows.  This noise would be metallic sounding like "tink tink".

Personally? I would look in the attic first and examine the rafter tiedowns.  Then I would do a visual inspection of the exterior wall where the noise is most commonly heard and look for any signs of brick movement or loose veneer.  All the while I would be conscious of any air vents in the general vicinity and look to them as potential culprits.  

If you have shutters on the house, even decorative ones, they could be moving around and making noise as well.

I hope this information helps please feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely Bruce E Johnson..and if you would like to send me a sound bite..send it to bejbldgconsult@aol.com..