I moved into my apartment about 3 months ago. The inside of my unit was renovated and everything is completely brand new (new carpets, paint, kitchen appliances, etc.) The past several weeks, I have been hearing "popping" noises in my bedroom walls. It started faint and is now becoming increasingly loud to the point where it's hard to sleep at night. It comes and goes at all hours of the day and can even sound like popcorn popping in the microwave. I live on the 2nd floor right above the open-space carports so I'm in a soft-story building.

Any help and information would be greatly appreciated. Luckily, I only signed a 6 month lease. I don't know how much more I can take!

I would guess thermal expansion and contraction. You are living above an open carport with winter temp changes. Metal and to a degree wood all expand and contract. What is the outside temp at night? A load bearing beam in the open carport shrinks, even a teeny bit, and anything attached to or supported by the beam will move.

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Originally Posted by ma0641

I would guess thermal expansion and contraction. You are living above an open carport with winter temp changes. Metal and to a degree wood all expand and contract. What is the outside temp at night? A load bearing beam in the open carport shrinks, even a teeny bit, and anything attached to or supported by the beam will move.

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Hi ma0641, thanks for your quick response. I'm guessing the outside temp at night falls below 35-34 degrees. Is my issue a huge cause of concern? I moved in early September and did notice sporadic popping noises, but it wasn't constant like I'm hearing now.

I would not be too concerned. I would be concerned if I saw cracks in the wall that are getting larger. I would also express your disappointment over the continued noise and how it is both bothering and concerning you.