{"id":3287,"date":"2020-10-26T15:13:36","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T15:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/?p=3287"},"modified":"2021-12-21T13:41:24","modified_gmt":"2021-12-21T13:41:24","slug":"whats-making-those-spooky-sounds-out-on-your-decking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/whats-making-those-spooky-sounds-out-on-your-decking\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s making those spooky sounds out on your decking?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Allow us to set the scene for you. You\u2019re lying safe in bed on a winter\u2019s eve, all snuggled up against the cold outside. But then you\u2019re woken by a sound – an eerie creaking, like the weight of someone\u2019s footsteps out on your deck boards outside. You stumble out of bed and rush to the window as the noise rises to a fever pitch. Just as you get there, there\u2019s a loud crack which makes you jump, and the creaking stops. You stare, seeing nobody. Your decking is empty, and only the darkness stares back.<\/p>\n

Sound familiar? It does to a lot of decking owners, especially now we\u2019re in the spooky season, and the chilliest of winter nights draw in. Now, as the experts here at Savoy Timber, we can say with confidence that there are a couple of possible explanations for this sort of occurrence. The first, obviously, is that it\u2019s a ghost. But if you\u2019ll bear with us, we\u2019d argue that the second is rather more likely.<\/p>\n

Why your decking is going bump in the night<\/h2>\n

Now, it\u2019s common knowledge that things tend to shrink in the cold. There\u2019s a fair bit of science behind it, to do with molecules and stuff, but we won\u2019t get into all that. The important bit is that the same is true for the materials in your decking, especially if you\u2019ve got wooden decking boards.<\/p>\n

Wood tends to contract and expand according to the temperature. When this happens, it doesn\u2019t always do so in sync with the nails or screws that hold it together. So when you\u2019ve got some materials in your deck moving, and others staying static, that tends to build up friction and pressure between them. This can result in a loud creaking, and ultimately a crack, or \u2018pop\u2019. (This creaking noise can also be produced if your decking boards are expanding and rubbing up against one another.)<\/p>\n

Trapped moisture can also be a major cause, especially in freezing weather not long after it\u2019s been raining. Basically, what can happen is that rainwater seeps into your deck, freezes, and expands, which can again result in a loud cracking sound when it shatters. If you\u2019ve ever accidentally left a beer bottle to chill too long in the freezer, you\u2019ll already be familiar with the general principle!<\/p>\n

The more dramatic the temperature shift, the more severe the effect, so if you experience something like this then it\u2019s likely to be in snowy or otherwise freezing temperatures.<\/p>\n

\"eaves<\/p>\n

Is this damaging my decking?<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s unlikely to be doing it any favours, as such, but don\u2019t worry. While unsettling, it\u2019s probably not going to result in permanent damage to your decking. Composite decking boards<\/a> and their timber counterparts are designed to stand up to this kind of occurrence, so you shouldn\u2019t need to worry about them being damaged.<\/p>\n

However, if it\u2019s something that\u2019s still unnerving you a bit, it can help to make a quick once-over of your decking, and see if there are any visual signs of damage. And to keep your decking safe throughout winter and beyond, don\u2019t forget to look after it throughout the rainy, chillier months too! Lots of deck owners can understandably neglect care of their deck during winter as it\u2019s rarely in use, but in fact this is the time when it needs the most care and attention. Otherwise, things like moss or rot can start to affect your decking boards, which can make them slippery or unstable.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve previously talked about how to stop decking from becoming slippery<\/a>, so don\u2019t hesitate to check it out if you need some pointers. And if you\u2019re looking for replacement decking boards, you\u2019re in exactly the right place. Here at Savoy Timber we stock a huge range of timber decking<\/a> and composite decking products<\/a>, making us your one-stop shop for everything you need to keep your decking shipshape. If you fancy browsing our products for yourself, feel free to pay a visit to our DIY stores in Blackpool, Preston or Wigan, and if you\u2019ve got any questions or need any advice then one of our friendly members of staff will be only too happy to assist!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Allow us to set the scene for you. You\u2019re lying safe in bed on a winter\u2019s eve, all snuggled up against the cold outside. But then you\u2019re woken by a sound – an eerie creaking, like the weight of someone\u2019s footsteps out on your deck boards outside. You stumble out of bed and rush to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":3288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat\u2019s making those spooky sounds out on your decking? - Savoy Timber<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ever heard creaking, cracking or banging from your deck in the dead of winter? 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