How do I know if house noises are structural?

House noises are likely structural if they are accompanied by physical signs: stair-step cracks in brick or drywall, doors that refuse to latch, or floors that slope.

Is a loud bang in the wall dangerous?

A loud bang is often just thermal expansion (harmless). However, if the bang is followed by the appearance of a new crack in the plaster or drywall, it indicates a sudden shift in the framing and should be inspected.

Structural Damage vs. Normal Settling: A Safety Checklist

Every house settles. Gravity is a constant force, and over time, it compresses the soil beneath your foundation. As stated on our homepage, some noise is the natural soundtrack of this process.

However, there is a critical difference between "settling" (normal aging) and "damage" (structural failure). This page serves as your decision matrix. By pairing the sounds you hear with the visual signs you see, you can determine if you are safe or if you need to call a professional.

The Decision Matrix: Red Flag vs. Green Flag

Use this table to quickly assess the severity of your home's symptoms.

Green Flag (Normal)	Red Flag (Structural)
Sound: Occasional pop in the evening.	Sound: Loud "gunshot" bang accompanied by a new crack.
Cracks: Hairline vertical cracks above doors.	Cracks: "Stair-step" cracks in brick or diagonal cracks > 1/8".
Doors: Stick slightly only in humid summer.	Doors: Jam completely or swing open on their own year-round.
Floors: Occasional squeak in one spot.	Floors: Visible sloping or separation from the baseboard.

Exterior wall showing a stair-step crack indicating foundation shifting — Red Flag: Stair-step cracks in brick or exterior walls often indicate foundation heaving or settling.

Top 5 Reasons Your House Makes "Dangerous" Noises

If you fell into the "Red Flag" category above, what is actually happening? Here are the top 5 drivers of dangerous house noises:

Foundation Heaving: Soil rich in clay expands when wet, pushing the house up, and shrinks when dry, dropping it down. This yo-yo effect snaps concrete.
Termite Damage: Termites eat wood from the inside out. A "crunching" sound or a wall that sounds hollow when tapped indicates the framing is losing integrity.
Water Rot: A persistent drip (see House Burping and Mold) rots floor joists. As they weaken, they crack under the weight of furniture.
Truss Uplift: In winter, the bottom cord of your roof truss stays warm (insulation) while the top stays cold. The truss bows, lifting the ceiling drywall and creating a loud crack.
Load-Bearing Wall Stress: If a renovation removed a wall without proper support, the remaining studs will groan under the excess weight before failing.

Diagnosing the Sound: Burping vs. Creaking vs. Popping

How do you distinguish a "safe" settling sound from a "structural" failure sound?

The Normal Pop (Safe)

Sound: Sharp, metallic, or plastic-like snap.

Context: Usually thermal expansion. It happens at specific times of day (sunrise/sunset). See Causes.

The Structural Crack (Danger)

Sound: A loud, tearing sound of wood splintering or a deep boom.

Context: It feels like the house "dropped." You may see dust falling from a crack in the drywall immediately after.

The Humidity Creak (Safe)

Sound: A slow groan when you walk.

Context: The subfloor rubbing against a nail. Annoying, but not dangerous. See Is It Normal?.

The Final Verdict

If you are seeing foundation cracks vs settling cracks, do not guess. Structural repairs are cheaper the earlier you catch them.

Find a Structural Engineer Near Me