Why does it sound like people are walking on my roof?

It's thermal expansion and contraction. The sun hits your roof and heats it up. As the lumber expands, it moves, and it will rub against other pieces of wood that aren't moving at the same rate. This movement creates the popping noise.
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Why do I hear human footsteps in my attic?

If you have an unfinished attic, odds are those footsteps you hear come from some rowdy ducks, mice, a cat or even a wily raccoon. Maybe they are looking for food or – perhaps – to escape from becoming food. Or maybe they are looking for an easy route inside your home.
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What could be walking on my roof?

Wild animals like racoons, squirrels and opossum will use their sharp paws and teeth to create openings in the roof. Birds, bats and insects can get through the roof into the attic or crawl space easily through openings and gaps in fascia behind gutters, soffits, and roof vents.
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Why do I hear running on my roof?

Squirrels tend to be active in the evening and early in the morning. Rats and mice are nocturnal animals that will easily find their way to the roof, where you'll hear pitter-patter sounds as they move their small feet on the roof. Sometimes the rodents may gnaw to keep their teeth sharp or to widen small openings.
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Why do I hear weird noises in my roof?

Most likely the cause of the noise is expansion and contraction of the material used for the new roof. We'd bet that as part of the roofing job either the roofer added or replaced some wood.
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Noises on the roof, someone is walking on my roof at night



Why do I hear noises on my roof at night?

If it's in the morning or evenings, squirrels and birds are the most likely culprits. Bats, raccoons, mice and rats are nocturnal, so you'll most likely hear these animals at night. If you can, go into your attic to see if you can find evidence of animal activity.
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Why does my ceiling make noises at night?

Often, noises coming from your ceiling at night should not be a big concern. They are just the result of temperature changes, natural shifting in the house, or weather changes. It is, however, advisable to pay attention to the ceiling noises and talk to a professional roofing contractor about what you hear.
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What do rats in roof sound like?

Rats make noises which may occur when they are excited, or leaping from one spot to another within the roof space. You may even hear loud thuds at times as the rats land on the ceiling and scamper around. The disturbance is louder in roof spaces that do not have insulation.
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What animals walk on roof at night?

There are quite a few animals that you can find either on your roof or in your attic that can be very unpleasant to encounter unexpectedly. Animals like squirrels, possums, bats, woodpeckers, mice, rats, and raccoons.
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Why does it sound like footsteps in my house?

House settling: Sometimes, when wooden homes settle they can sound exactly like creaky footsteps as the joists that support the house find new, more comfy positions—just like your knees.
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Can you hear animal on roof?

Some animals vocalize; others are silent. You may hear noises overhead in the attic, on the roof or inside chimneys, walls, ducting or exhaust vents.
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What is crawling in my ceiling?

Their scampering sound may be heard in walls and crawl spaces as well as in ceilings. While mice or rats are most likely, other possible invaders that are active in the daytime are birds, which make flapping and chirping sounds, and snakes, which you may hear slithering in your ceilings or walls.
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How do you tell if you have rats in your roof?

Look for gnaw marks in your property, especially on the roof or at access points, and nests are a sign that a colony may be present. Rats also leave greasy/dirty trails and are also notorious for damaging electrical wires, so look for any damage to them.
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Where do roof rats live during the day?

A roof rat spends most of the day sleeping in its nest. These rodents are nimble climbers and live in high places like attics or above drop ceilings. If residents notice a roof rat during the day, it could point to the presence of a larger population just out of sight.
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Is creaking roof normal?

It's pretty common, and not much of a cause for concern. Nighttime creaking comes as a byproduct of warmed roofing materials cooling, and thus constricting slightly. The action is harmless, but creates a soft creaking sound.
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Is it normal to hear your house settling?

Over the course of its lifetime, a house may occasionally or frequently produce noises due to settling. Although these sounds may seem ghastly, they can be completely normal. Excessive settling, however, can lead to major damage that requires foundation repair.
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What's making a noise in my loft?

Noises in the loft can indicate that rodents or other wildlife may have taken habitation in your loft. Lofts are the ideal environment for a number of different animals including: rats, mice, squirrels, wasps nests and in some cases, bats.
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What animals live in ceilings?

Here are the most common animals that could be living in your ceiling and how to identify them.
  1. Squirrels. Squirrels are the most common critters to invade attics. ...
  2. Raccoons. Raccoons are also very common attic dwellers. ...
  3. Rats and Mice. ...
  4. Bats. ...
  5. Opossum.
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What animals are active at night in attic?

Scurrying and Scampering in the Attic or Walls

These noises indicate that you are probably dealing with rats, mice, or squirrels. If these noises occur during the night, you most likely have rats, mice, or flying squirrels, and if they occur during the daytime, you most likely have squirrels.
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What attracts rats to your roof?

Generally preferring sheltered or covered habitats, roof rats are attracted to lush landscapes, dense vegetation and fruit trees. As result, properties with heavy shrubbery, woodpiles and storage boxes are more prone to roof rat infestations.
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Do rats crawl on you at night?

What most people mistake for bites are the fact that rats will crawl all over you while you're sleeping. These researchers explain that a rat will not biting you, but it's sharp little claws and feelers that are on its feet will become irritating to you and give you the feeling that you have been bitten by a rat.
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What time of night are rats most active?

Rats become active at night, particularly around dusk and near dawn.
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What do mice in the ceiling sound like?

The first sign of mice in your ceiling or attic will be the sounds. You'll hear the skitter of their little claws across your ceiling tiles or occasional squeaks. Gnawing and digging sounds are additional signs of an infestation. Since mice are nocturnal, these sounds will be most evident at night.
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How do I scare animals out of my attic?

If it's just a lone adult squirrel, they can be scared out by bright lights and loud music or driven out by placing vinegar soaked rags around the attic, as they don't like the smell.
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Is it normal to hear footsteps upstairs?

Is It Normal to Hear Every Step My Upstairs Neighbor Takes? Yes, hearing your upstairs neighbors walking throughout the day is quite normal. Regardless of the level of soundproofing you implement, there might always be sounds loud enough to get in. But things can get out of control if you hear even quiet footsteps.
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