M
matix_xitam17 Nov 2025 21:30Hello dear community,
we have been living in our house for about 3 years. We built a single-family house with a shed roof pitched at 8 degrees. The roof measures approximately 15 by 12 meters (49 by 39 feet), so it is quite a large surface area. The roof is covered with Prefa standing seam panels.
Structure:
plasterboard ceiling – battens – rafters with insulation (approx. 24 cm (9.5 inches)) –
wood-based panel – counter battens (8 cm (3 inches)) – OSB board (25/28 mm (1–1.1 inches), tongue and groove) – underlay membrane – Prefa standing seam covering with nail spacing <30 cm (12 inches) and batten spacing. Extended sliding nails were used.
Problem: Unfortunately, the roof creaks and bangs very loudly. This often happens during sun and shade changes, but also at 3 a.m. with stable and low temperatures. To give you an idea, the creaking triggers our baby monitor and wakes the children. We warn guests who stay with us in advance.
At first, we were told to be patient. The roof needs to settle, the wood needs to dry, or the metal is simply moving.
However, the creaking and banging are unusually loud and remain unchanged. During an on-site inspection, I was able to play the noises. The (now involved) expert, carpenter, and roofer confirmed that these are not normal sounds related to material expansion. The roof shows no visible warping or expansion. No lifting. Everything looks fine. However, the cause could not be determined.
The next step would be to involve a building acoustics specialist. However, that would put us into a financial range where I would prefer to continue within a legal procedure.
This post is another attempt to find out if other families are affected or if anyone is familiar with this phenomenon.
If you have any advice, tips, or suggestions, please feel free to share!
We are at a loss, and the situation is very stressful for our family.
we have been living in our house for about 3 years. We built a single-family house with a shed roof pitched at 8 degrees. The roof measures approximately 15 by 12 meters (49 by 39 feet), so it is quite a large surface area. The roof is covered with Prefa standing seam panels.
Structure:
plasterboard ceiling – battens – rafters with insulation (approx. 24 cm (9.5 inches)) –
wood-based panel – counter battens (8 cm (3 inches)) – OSB board (25/28 mm (1–1.1 inches), tongue and groove) – underlay membrane – Prefa standing seam covering with nail spacing <30 cm (12 inches) and batten spacing. Extended sliding nails were used.
Problem: Unfortunately, the roof creaks and bangs very loudly. This often happens during sun and shade changes, but also at 3 a.m. with stable and low temperatures. To give you an idea, the creaking triggers our baby monitor and wakes the children. We warn guests who stay with us in advance.
At first, we were told to be patient. The roof needs to settle, the wood needs to dry, or the metal is simply moving.
However, the creaking and banging are unusually loud and remain unchanged. During an on-site inspection, I was able to play the noises. The (now involved) expert, carpenter, and roofer confirmed that these are not normal sounds related to material expansion. The roof shows no visible warping or expansion. No lifting. Everything looks fine. However, the cause could not be determined.
The next step would be to involve a building acoustics specialist. However, that would put us into a financial range where I would prefer to continue within a legal procedure.
This post is another attempt to find out if other families are affected or if anyone is familiar with this phenomenon.
If you have any advice, tips, or suggestions, please feel free to share!
We are at a loss, and the situation is very stressful for our family.
Hi,
based on the noise level you describe, the issue is most likely caused by a stressed layer in the substructure rather than the Prefa roofing itself. A standing seam roof is designed to move, but it should not make loud popping sounds like a bursting balloon. The combination of OSB, counter battens, and clips is especially sensitive if any part is too tight or restricted in just a few spots. Even one clip that does not slide properly can create sharp noises when it is released.
It would be helpful to check whether the OSB joints have enough clearance everywhere and whether the clips were actually installed to allow movement at all points. This is a surprisingly common oversight. Before spending your budget on an acoustic consultant, consulting a highly experienced roofing specialist with expertise in shallow Prefa pitched roofs may be a more sensible intermediate step. A roof that cracks at night without temperature changes is definitely not normal, no matter how often you are told that metal simply expands and contracts.
Good luck!
based on the noise level you describe, the issue is most likely caused by a stressed layer in the substructure rather than the Prefa roofing itself. A standing seam roof is designed to move, but it should not make loud popping sounds like a bursting balloon. The combination of OSB, counter battens, and clips is especially sensitive if any part is too tight or restricted in just a few spots. Even one clip that does not slide properly can create sharp noises when it is released.
It would be helpful to check whether the OSB joints have enough clearance everywhere and whether the clips were actually installed to allow movement at all points. This is a surprisingly common oversight. Before spending your budget on an acoustic consultant, consulting a highly experienced roofing specialist with expertise in shallow Prefa pitched roofs may be a more sensible intermediate step. A roof that cracks at night without temperature changes is definitely not normal, no matter how often you are told that metal simply expands and contracts.
Good luck!
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