I had a neighbor *across the street* one time that would blast their music out their front door so they could rock out on the porch. At all hours. The cops had been called repeatedly, but wouldn't do squat. (Wonderful family, really... foster home kidmill for $, trash on the lawn, yadda yadda yadda)
I finally got fed up, walked over and asked him to turn it down because I was sleeping after pulling an all-nighter at work. "F*** you." was the reply.
Ok fine, fair enough.
I placed all 11 of my Bose speakers (5 double cubes, 1 subwoofer) on *my* porch and aimed them at his house.
I then placed Nirvana _Nevermind_ in the CD player, cued up Teen Spirit, and cranked the 700W Kenwood receiver to 11. (For scale, we watch TV at -40db, more or less... -35db is too loud most of the time. The meter goes to +35db. (Mute is -63db.) +5db has cracked windows in the same room.)
I then yelled across "Hey!" at said neighbor leaning back in his deck chair, and hit Play on the remote.
He fell over.
I pointed at him and then pointed down. He got the hint. No problems after that.
Sometimes you just gotta whip it out and prove who's bigger.
Our neighbor has woken my wife and I up at 3am on weeknights many times. Each time we have knocked on his door and told him to turn it down.
One Saturday night we had some friends over and had our music on a little loud. It really wasn't that loud, but whatever. I think it was around 1am, but remember it was a Saturday. He immediately called the Police. He didn't have the decency to knock on our door like we did for him.
So the next day he had his music on loud again, but this time at 2 in the afternoon. I called the cops and they said they'd come out anytime of the day, so they came out. Then I called the management office and reported that he had a cat (no pets allowed), had a broken down car in the parking lot (also not allowed), constantly left trash outside of his door, woke us up with his music and one time woke us up because he was threatening his girlfriend (who he apparently just knocked up).
We also got the neighbors on the other side to write a complaint letter as well and agree to call the cops next time they hear his music.
We haven't heard the cat, music or voices since then, the trash is never outside anymore and the car is gone.
Perhaps you should just go buy a house. Then you wouldn't have problems with shared walls. You could even go rent a house. No one says you have to live in a building with shared walls, you choose to live there likely because it is cheaper than the former two solutions.
Likewise with calling the police, it is 11:40 pm, unless you typed wrong, that is at night. How many people do you know who want to confront someone at near midnight? Likewise they might have already been in their bedclothes and simply did not want to discuss it with you. Some people do keep regular hours you know.
How many people do you know who want to confront someone at near midnight? Likewise they might have already been in their bedclothes and simply did not want to discuss it with you. Some people do keep regular hours you know.
So make your choice or be quiet.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I had no problem knocking on my neighbor's door at 3am when he had his music on. I think its just common courtesy to do that before calling the police. However, when he couldn't do the same for me, thats when things got ugly.
Also, you can't possibly suggest BR just going out and "buying a house". Thats ridiculous. Even renting an entire house isn't economically feasible for some people.
I had no problem knocking on my neighbor's door at 3am when he had his music on. I think its just common courtesy to do that before calling the police. However, when he couldn't do the same for me, thats when things got ugly.
Also, you can't possibly suggest BR just going out and "buying a house". Thats ridiculous. Even renting an entire house isn't economically feasible for some people.</strong><hr></blockquote>
It was an or choice. Do these things, or just live with the music low because you live with shared walls and that means easily shared noise.
If someone complained that they had to wait in the rain for a bus. You would tell them to buy a raincoat/umbrella, buy a car, or just put up with it if finances gave them no other choice.
I just said it is a trade-off (big DUH goes here) and if he didn't like the trade-offs, then change something. Neighbors have a right to peace, especially past 10 pm at night. If they had wanted to be jerks (as he claims) they could have just signed the complaint and had him charged.
And speaking of finances, I am glad you live in a neighborhood where you can wander out and do as you please at 3 am. However do not suppose that of everyone. I live in a neighborhood like that too, but there are neighborhoods in So Cal where a wrong turn on a street has lead to multiple deaths via driveby's.
If I were elderly, or female, or even slight of build, I don't know if I would wander out at 10-11 pm to confront a neighbor.
If I were elderly, or female, or even slight of build, I don't know if I would wander out at 10-11 pm to confront a neighbor.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think that's the attitude that is screwing america. My Dad is a realtor who at times rents out apartments for a friend of his who has buildings in somewhat shitty neighborhoods. One of these is called 'the Jungle' (he actually used to live there years ago when he was at Loyola).
Anyway, as he put it, people tend to shut up when you ask them to. I once lived in a building with a downstairs neighbor who was an old crack dealer. I asked him to shut up a couple of times and he was fine with it. He was actually one of my favorite neighbors.
People watch the news and get scared of everything. Sure bad stuff happens, but it's not likely to happen to you if you act nice to people. The vast majority of the time violence is not random.
Anyway, not knowing your neighbors is another sad part of modern America. I'm glad I know all of my neighbors and get along with them. Well, except fot the guy I mentioned above, but he moved out after his girlfriend dumped him and went back to his parents (at 40 years old! And he has a trust fund!). They let him out of the lease early because he pissed off the building owner, the building manager and the city (for other reasons, but we won't get into that).
Long story short, if you live in an apartment building, say hi to your neighbors when you see them. Chat with them a little. A little friendship with your neighbors will go a long way, in good or bad situations.
In second year at university I lived in student accomodation that backed onto public flats. After their final exam my flatmates decided to party, in their own exuberant style :eek: . I retired from the party at about 1am (no way I was getting to sleep though). At about 3am my very drunk and hyper flatmates moved the party into the street and woke several people up, including people who hadn't finished their exams. My flatmates didn't respond politely to requests to be quiet.
Shortly after 3am they left; shortly after that the police van arrived. Several complaints have been made, by students and members of the public. I answer the door in my dressing gown tell the police officer that my flatmates have just left.
Flatmates return at 5am. More jolity outside, more complaints. Flatmates once again depart minutes before the police arrive. I am once again left telling the same police officers the same reason...
I didn't share a flat with them in third year.
edit: I would have been quite happy for 'em to take a trip in the Polis' Van by the end of that night.
<strong>Someone called the cops on me today for being too loud. The cops showed up at my door at 11:40 PM. The call must have been made during the previous 2 hours. During that time, I was watching 24 and The Practice, shows that I recorded on my ReplayTV. The TV was not on loud. Before that, I was listening to music in my bedroom while I worked on my senior project. Again, the music was not loud.
Some a-hole had the nerve to call the f**king cops on me. Could they possibly leave a note or kindly ask me to turn it down? No. They bring the police into it. Damn asses. I hate people.
By the way, the cops just asked me how long I'd been home and what I'd been doing. I told them that I was just watching TV after I got home from college. They told me to just keep the noise down and left.
I'm still f**king pissed though.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I am the type of guy that would (and I DO) call the cops on loud people and/or people's pets.
Not knowing your particular situation I can not comment on it. Because for the last 7 years I've had kids that go to bed at 8 pm, any noise loud enough to wake them up causes me (any parent) great distress. If there was only some way to justify continually giving them codeine-cough syrup, it'd be okay.
I put the first fault on the building's design. They should not build multi-family dwellings (apts, condos, etc.) That don't meet strict noise insulation properties.
I've become very grumpy about this stuff as I get older. I curse the fed-ex planes at 3 am.
I had no problem knocking on my neighbor's door at 3am when he had his music on. I think its just common courtesy to do that before calling the police. However, when he couldn't do the same for me, thats when things got ugly.
Also, you can't possibly suggest BR just going out and "buying a house". Thats ridiculous. Even renting an entire house isn't economically feasible for some people.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I've been renting an apartment while attending college. As soon as I graduate in 15 days, I will begin the job hunt in San Diego and will buy a house down there. Until then, I'm stuck with asshole neighbors.
It was an or choice. Do these things, or just live with the music low because you live with shared walls and that means easily shared noise.
If someone complained that they had to wait in the rain for a bus. You would tell them to buy a raincoat/umbrella, buy a car, or just put up with it if finances gave them no other choice.
I just said it is a trade-off (big DUH goes here) and if he didn't like the trade-offs, then change something. Neighbors have a right to peace, especially past 10 pm at night. If they had wanted to be jerks (as he claims) they could have just signed the complaint and had him charged.
And speaking of finances, I am glad you live in a neighborhood where you can wander out and do as you please at 3 am. However do not suppose that of everyone. I live in a neighborhood like that too, but there are neighborhoods in So Cal where a wrong turn on a street has lead to multiple deaths via driveby's.
If I were elderly, or female, or even slight of build, I don't know if I would wander out at 10-11 pm to confront a neighbor.
you've got a point. its not that i don't want to get to know my neighbors at all, its just that it can be scary being female and living alone. a few years ago a girl on my block was raped in her apartment-- during the day. and there are a few sketchy guys that check me out in my building. i won't do laundry after dark if i'm alone, i may be overcautious, but i feel better. oh, and if it was 10-11pm i might go knock on their door, but i'd call jack before and after so i'd "leave a trail" if anything happened. though i definetly wouldn't get the police involved unless it was like 3am and they weren't slowing down anythime soon
I've been renting an apartment while attending college. As soon as I graduate in 15 days, I will begin the job hunt in San Diego and will buy a house down there. Until then, I'm stuck with asshole neighbors.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Congrats on the graduation!
Good luck buying in San Diego and be very careful. They are like number 1 or 2 on all the lists of areas that are actually in a Real Estate bubble that will likely POP soon. Their values have been going up over like 30% a year. Some areas have been going up over 50% a year.
After living in Germany, I think the buildings in the States have paper thin walls. Everything here is made of solid brick. Noise still gets through, but only at night when the ambient noise is too low to mask it.
I remember my last roommate in the States. I thought she had bionic hearing because she complained about the couple one floor below us being too noisy when they had sex. I never heard squat.
I'm in NYC apartments: basically, paper thin walls. My next door neighbor went overseas and sublet a Spanish film student. After he moved in, his girlfriend move in also. I worked at the apt. frequently and would hear them having sex. The wall is basiaclly a thin 1/4 inch thin drywall and the baseboard does not meet flush with the floor due to uneven hardwood flooring.
First, it was funny because he was a loud moaner and she was a screamer. The bad part is that they had sex a lot! The WEIRD part is that their sex was schduled. 2:30 pm and 3:30 am, EVERYDAY x 7 days week! I knew he also has a computer and at times would hear funny noises. I came to the conclusion that they were doing internet/webcam sex to people back in SPAIN. I rarely ever saw the girl leave the apartment and occasionally saw him go out the apt. for groceries. The worst part was that even tough I live right next to them, the neighbors below had to deal with screams and the bed frames warping against the uneven floors. Eventually, the whole building complained and they left/fled. The apt became US marshall seized and is currently vacant. Now, it my gf and I that make the noise, tough we're not screamers until we move into a country house! as for the rest of the neighborhood, it's quite funny. Since my apt unit is back of the building, it faces the interior "corridor" alley that is cause by close proximity to the next block's apt building, effectively creating an acoustic tunnel. Within my block and the next block are four churches in which the priests/ pastors/ etc. reside and come springtime, it's mating season mayhem. Two years ago I woke up (had windows open) at 6:30 am from a sound of neighbors, about five building units away, screaming and pounding a girl while she screamed with sex talk. That lasted for an hour. Then I heard a different girl's voice from same location but the guy's voice was the same. I was like, shaking my head 'cause I know that the priests are on their knees praying to such loud blasphemous noises why they have been backed up for eternity. You gotta love unban living for what it is!
[quote]Originally posted by GardenOfEarthlyDelights:
<strong>After living in Germany, I think the buildings in the States have paper thin walls. Everything here is made of solid brick. Noise still gets through, but only at night when the ambient noise is too low to mask it.
I remember my last roommate in the States. I thought she had bionic hearing because she complained about the couple one floor below us being too noisy when they had sex. I never heard squat.</strong><hr></blockquote>
<strong>My neighbour in UK (I was living with 5 guys there) came to complain that my pc laptop was making so much noise. I was listening to the mp3s with the lovely internal speakers that the laptop had .. to hear the sounds not broken, it can't be loud (yea, too much noise with its internal speakers??). Maybe it was because the music wasn't British? </strong><hr></blockquote>
Oh my God. You were living with five guys? That must have been......... interesting. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
I put the first fault on the building's design. They should not build multi-family dwellings (apts, condos, etc.) That don't meet strict noise insulation properties.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree fully. I live in a 100yo building, but I have condos shooting up around me. My folks bought a new condo (they have a couple homes) in one of the newer buildings, and you can hear EVERYTHING. I don't get it. You can hear speaking level voices. And if you only saw the prices on these condos!!
But I have come to a good solution. Right now, I have a garden apartment with no neighbors on the sides. The ceiling is thick enough that little or nothing comes through.
The other thing to look for is building with elevators. ASt least in chicago, elevator building are required to have concrete between floors. This can reduce noise fairly dramatically.
Subwoofers are the worst things for apartment buildings, especially wooden ones, because the vibrations will travel through the oddest spaces.
I lived in a nice 50's apartment building in Victoria, and one day there was this incredibly loud music thumping through the walls. I could hear everything... bass, treble, voices... Kinda rare. I had to go down a hallway, past a set of stairs to find a person who was listening to his music at a normal volume, but I recognized the music...
The problem was his subwoofer was aimed between two studs on the wall, facing the stairwell. He thought it would sound better if it were amed at the wall, but every space it went through it got louder, like a drum, until in my apartment it was easily three times louder.
He had no idea.
Another thing I have seen was having a stereo innnocently enough sitting beside a wall which had plumbing, namely the large sewer pipes... Every bend in the pipe would transmit the sound, and if the length was just right the sounds would seem louder.
Building completely silent buildings is possible, the main thing is to limit the places where the chiprock touches the studs, usually with a spacer of some kind, or building two walls with the studs staggered. Not the most likely thing to be done in the condo or apartment industry where the cheapest construction methods are used...
After all, if you were going to build a building to sell, would you really care what people thought after they had bought it?
Comments
I finally got fed up, walked over and asked him to turn it down because I was sleeping after pulling an all-nighter at work. "F*** you." was the reply.
Ok fine, fair enough.
I placed all 11 of my Bose speakers (5 double cubes, 1 subwoofer) on *my* porch and aimed them at his house.
I then placed Nirvana _Nevermind_ in the CD player, cued up Teen Spirit, and cranked the 700W Kenwood receiver to 11. (For scale, we watch TV at -40db, more or less... -35db is too loud most of the time. The meter goes to +35db. (Mute is -63db.) +5db has cracked windows in the same room.)
I then yelled across "Hey!" at said neighbor leaning back in his deck chair, and hit Play on the remote.
He fell over.
I pointed at him and then pointed down. He got the hint. No problems after that.
Sometimes you just gotta whip it out and prove who's bigger.
One Saturday night we had some friends over and had our music on a little loud. It really wasn't that loud, but whatever. I think it was around 1am, but remember it was a Saturday. He immediately called the Police. He didn't have the decency to knock on our door like we did for him.
So the next day he had his music on loud again, but this time at 2 in the afternoon. I called the cops and they said they'd come out anytime of the day, so they came out. Then I called the management office and reported that he had a cat (no pets allowed), had a broken down car in the parking lot (also not allowed), constantly left trash outside of his door, woke us up with his music and one time woke us up because he was threatening his girlfriend (who he apparently just knocked up).
We also got the neighbors on the other side to write a complaint letter as well and agree to call the cops next time they hear his music.
We haven't heard the cat, music or voices since then, the trash is never outside anymore and the car is gone.
Perhaps you should just go buy a house. Then you wouldn't have problems with shared walls. You could even go rent a house. No one says you have to live in a building with shared walls, you choose to live there likely because it is cheaper than the former two solutions.
Likewise with calling the police, it is 11:40 pm, unless you typed wrong, that is at night. How many people do you know who want to confront someone at near midnight? Likewise they might have already been in their bedclothes and simply did not want to discuss it with you. Some people do keep regular hours you know.
So make your choice or be quiet.
Nick
[ 02-12-2003: Message edited by: trumptman ]</p>
<strong>BR,
How many people do you know who want to confront someone at near midnight? Likewise they might have already been in their bedclothes and simply did not want to discuss it with you. Some people do keep regular hours you know.
So make your choice or be quiet.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I had no problem knocking on my neighbor's door at 3am when he had his music on. I think its just common courtesy to do that before calling the police. However, when he couldn't do the same for me, thats when things got ugly.
Also, you can't possibly suggest BR just going out and "buying a house". Thats ridiculous. Even renting an entire house isn't economically feasible for some people.
<strong>
I had no problem knocking on my neighbor's door at 3am when he had his music on. I think its just common courtesy to do that before calling the police. However, when he couldn't do the same for me, thats when things got ugly.
Also, you can't possibly suggest BR just going out and "buying a house". Thats ridiculous. Even renting an entire house isn't economically feasible for some people.</strong><hr></blockquote>
It was an or choice. Do these things, or just live with the music low because you live with shared walls and that means easily shared noise.
If someone complained that they had to wait in the rain for a bus. You would tell them to buy a raincoat/umbrella, buy a car, or just put up with it if finances gave them no other choice.
I just said it is a trade-off (big DUH goes here) and if he didn't like the trade-offs, then change something. Neighbors have a right to peace, especially past 10 pm at night. If they had wanted to be jerks (as he claims) they could have just signed the complaint and had him charged.
And speaking of finances, I am glad you live in a neighborhood where you can wander out and do as you please at 3 am. However do not suppose that of everyone. I live in a neighborhood like that too, but there are neighborhoods in So Cal where a wrong turn on a street has lead to multiple deaths via driveby's.
If I were elderly, or female, or even slight of build, I don't know if I would wander out at 10-11 pm to confront a neighbor.
Nick
[ 02-12-2003: Message edited by: trumptman ]</p>
<strong>
If I were elderly, or female, or even slight of build, I don't know if I would wander out at 10-11 pm to confront a neighbor.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think that's the attitude that is screwing america. My Dad is a realtor who at times rents out apartments for a friend of his who has buildings in somewhat shitty neighborhoods. One of these is called 'the Jungle' (he actually used to live there years ago when he was at Loyola).
Anyway, as he put it, people tend to shut up when you ask them to. I once lived in a building with a downstairs neighbor who was an old crack dealer. I asked him to shut up a couple of times and he was fine with it. He was actually one of my favorite neighbors.
People watch the news and get scared of everything. Sure bad stuff happens, but it's not likely to happen to you if you act nice to people. The vast majority of the time violence is not random.
Anyway, not knowing your neighbors is another sad part of modern America. I'm glad I know all of my neighbors and get along with them. Well, except fot the guy I mentioned above, but he moved out after his girlfriend dumped him and went back to his parents (at 40 years old! And he has a trust fund!). They let him out of the lease early because he pissed off the building owner, the building manager and the city (for other reasons, but we won't get into that).
Long story short, if you live in an apartment building, say hi to your neighbors when you see them. Chat with them a little. A little friendship with your neighbors will go a long way, in good or bad situations.
In second year at university I lived in student accomodation that backed onto public flats. After their final exam my flatmates decided to party, in their own exuberant style :eek: . I retired from the party at about 1am (no way I was getting to sleep though). At about 3am my very drunk and hyper flatmates moved the party into the street and woke several people up, including people who hadn't finished their exams. My flatmates didn't respond politely to requests to be quiet.
Shortly after 3am they left; shortly after that the police van arrived. Several complaints have been made, by students and members of the public. I answer the door in my dressing gown tell the police officer that my flatmates have just left.
Flatmates return at 5am. More jolity outside, more complaints. Flatmates once again depart minutes before the police arrive. I am once again left telling the same police officers the same reason...
I didn't share a flat with them in third year.
edit: I would have been quite happy for 'em to take a trip in the Polis' Van by the end of that night.
[ 02-12-2003: Message edited by: Stoo ]</p>
<strong>Someone called the cops on me today for being too loud. The cops showed up at my door at 11:40 PM. The call must have been made during the previous 2 hours. During that time, I was watching 24 and The Practice, shows that I recorded on my ReplayTV. The TV was not on loud. Before that, I was listening to music in my bedroom while I worked on my senior project. Again, the music was not loud.
Some a-hole had the nerve to call the f**king cops on me. Could they possibly leave a note or kindly ask me to turn it down? No. They bring the police into it. Damn asses. I hate people.
By the way, the cops just asked me how long I'd been home and what I'd been doing. I told them that I was just watching TV after I got home from college. They told me to just keep the noise down and left.
I'm still f**king pissed though.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I am the type of guy that would (and I DO) call the cops on loud people and/or people's pets.
Not knowing your particular situation I can not comment on it. Because for the last 7 years I've had kids that go to bed at 8 pm, any noise loud enough to wake them up causes me (any parent) great distress. If there was only some way to justify continually giving them codeine-cough syrup, it'd be okay.
I put the first fault on the building's design. They should not build multi-family dwellings (apts, condos, etc.) That don't meet strict noise insulation properties.
I've become very grumpy about this stuff as I get older. I curse the fed-ex planes at 3 am.
<strong>
I had no problem knocking on my neighbor's door at 3am when he had his music on. I think its just common courtesy to do that before calling the police. However, when he couldn't do the same for me, thats when things got ugly.
Also, you can't possibly suggest BR just going out and "buying a house". Thats ridiculous. Even renting an entire house isn't economically feasible for some people.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I've been renting an apartment while attending college. As soon as I graduate in 15 days, I will begin the job hunt in San Diego and will buy a house down there. Until then, I'm stuck with asshole neighbors.
<strong>
It was an or choice. Do these things, or just live with the music low because you live with shared walls and that means easily shared noise.
If someone complained that they had to wait in the rain for a bus. You would tell them to buy a raincoat/umbrella, buy a car, or just put up with it if finances gave them no other choice.
I just said it is a trade-off (big DUH goes here) and if he didn't like the trade-offs, then change something. Neighbors have a right to peace, especially past 10 pm at night. If they had wanted to be jerks (as he claims) they could have just signed the complaint and had him charged.
And speaking of finances, I am glad you live in a neighborhood where you can wander out and do as you please at 3 am. However do not suppose that of everyone. I live in a neighborhood like that too, but there are neighborhoods in So Cal where a wrong turn on a street has lead to multiple deaths via driveby's.
If I were elderly, or female, or even slight of build, I don't know if I would wander out at 10-11 pm to confront a neighbor.
Nick
[ 02-12-2003: Message edited by: trumptman ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
I live in a very nice neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. There was no reason for them to call the cops.
<strong>
If I were elderly, or female, or even slight of build, I don't know if I would wander out at 10-11 pm to confront a neighbor.
[ 02-12-2003: Message edited by: trumptman ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
you've got a point. its not that i don't want to get to know my neighbors at all, its just that it can be scary being female and living alone. a few years ago a girl on my block was raped in her apartment-- during the day. and there are a few sketchy guys that check me out in my building. i won't do laundry after dark if i'm alone, i may be overcautious, but i feel better. oh, and if it was 10-11pm i might go knock on their door, but i'd call jack before and after so i'd "leave a trail" if anything happened.
<strong>
I've been renting an apartment while attending college. As soon as I graduate in 15 days, I will begin the job hunt in San Diego and will buy a house down there. Until then, I'm stuck with asshole neighbors.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Congrats on the graduation!
Good luck buying in San Diego and be very careful. They are like number 1 or 2 on all the lists of areas that are actually in a Real Estate bubble that will likely POP soon. Their values have been going up over like 30% a year. Some areas have been going up over 50% a year.
It is insane.
Nick
I remember my last roommate in the States. I thought she had bionic hearing because she complained about the couple one floor below us being too noisy when they had sex. I never heard squat.
First, it was funny because he was a loud moaner and she was a screamer. The bad part is that they had sex a lot! The WEIRD part is that their sex was schduled. 2:30 pm and 3:30 am, EVERYDAY x 7 days week! I knew he also has a computer and at times would hear funny noises. I came to the conclusion that they were doing internet/webcam sex to people back in SPAIN. I rarely ever saw the girl leave the apartment and occasionally saw him go out the apt. for groceries. The worst part was that even tough I live right next to them, the neighbors below had to deal with screams and the bed frames warping against the uneven floors. Eventually, the whole building complained and they left/fled. The apt became US marshall seized and is currently vacant. Now, it my gf and I that make the noise, tough we're not screamers until we move into a country house! as for the rest of the neighborhood, it's quite funny. Since my apt unit is back of the building, it faces the interior "corridor" alley that is cause by close proximity to the next block's apt building, effectively creating an acoustic tunnel. Within my block and the next block are four churches in which the priests/ pastors/ etc. reside and come springtime, it's mating season mayhem. Two years ago I woke up (had windows open) at 6:30 am from a sound of neighbors, about five building units away, screaming and pounding a girl while she screamed with sex talk. That lasted for an hour. Then I heard a different girl's voice from same location but the guy's voice was the same. I was like, shaking my head 'cause I know that the priests are on their knees praying to such loud blasphemous noises why they have been backed up for eternity. You gotta love unban living for what it is!
[ 02-12-2003: Message edited by: kwondo ]</p>
<strong>After living in Germany, I think the buildings in the States have paper thin walls. Everything here is made of solid brick. Noise still gets through, but only at night when the ambient noise is too low to mask it.
I remember my last roommate in the States. I thought she had bionic hearing because she complained about the couple one floor below us being too noisy when they had sex. I never heard squat.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Brick is bad for earthquake-prone areas.
<strong>My neighbour in UK (I was living with 5 guys there) came to complain that my pc laptop was making so much noise. I was listening to the mp3s with the lovely internal speakers that the laptop had .. to hear the sounds not broken, it can't be loud (yea, too much noise with its internal speakers??). Maybe it was because the music wasn't British?
Oh my God. You were living with five guys? That must have been......... interesting. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
<strong>
Brick is bad for earthquake-prone areas.</strong><hr></blockquote>
And wood is plentiful.
<strong>
I put the first fault on the building's design. They should not build multi-family dwellings (apts, condos, etc.) That don't meet strict noise insulation properties.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree fully. I live in a 100yo building, but I have condos shooting up around me. My folks bought a new condo (they have a couple homes) in one of the newer buildings, and you can hear EVERYTHING. I don't get it. You can hear speaking level voices. And if you only saw the prices on these condos!!
But I have come to a good solution. Right now, I have a garden apartment with no neighbors on the sides. The ceiling is thick enough that little or nothing comes through.
The other thing to look for is building with elevators. ASt least in chicago, elevator building are required to have concrete between floors. This can reduce noise fairly dramatically.
I lived in a nice 50's apartment building in Victoria, and one day there was this incredibly loud music thumping through the walls. I could hear everything... bass, treble, voices... Kinda rare. I had to go down a hallway, past a set of stairs to find a person who was listening to his music at a normal volume, but I recognized the music...
The problem was his subwoofer was aimed between two studs on the wall, facing the stairwell. He thought it would sound better if it were amed at the wall, but every space it went through it got louder, like a drum, until in my apartment it was easily three times louder.
He had no idea.
Another thing I have seen was having a stereo innnocently enough sitting beside a wall which had plumbing, namely the large sewer pipes... Every bend in the pipe would transmit the sound, and if the length was just right the sounds would seem louder.
Building completely silent buildings is possible, the main thing is to limit the places where the chiprock touches the studs, usually with a spacer of some kind, or building two walls with the studs staggered. Not the most likely thing to be done in the condo or apartment industry where the cheapest construction methods are used...
After all, if you were going to build a building to sell, would you really care what people thought after they had bought it?
[ 02-13-2003: Message edited by: nosey ]</p>