I have a ranch townhome that was built in 1998. For several years now there have been loud "popping" and "cracking" noises coming from the attic. This seems to be heat related as I notice more in the hotter months in Colo. The noises, which are loud enough to wake me, sound like they are wood based, not metal. I've been up there and cannot see any irregularities. Would be interested to know if this is normal and if possibly adding a spinning attic vent would help. Thank you.

It is materials expanding and contracting due to changing temperatures. Making sure your vents are clear and your insulation is adequate (R30) should help reduce expansion and contraction by keeping the temp in the attic consistent. Do you have a metal roof?

No. I may spend the money I was going to use to get this inspected on insulation instead. Would one of the round spinning vents also help? Thank you so much for your answer, it was very helpful.

I would think insulation would help most getting the temperature to be more consistent. A spinning vent may be useful if the temperatures are really high during the day but you don't see those on houses very often. Where are you in CO?

I'm in Denver.

Not on topic, I was just reading your entery. I live in mid BC and just build a house and got 17 inches in the attic(R55 I figure) Gets pretty cold sometimes