By: Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
My condo was formerly part of an apartment complex. The building was converted to privately owned living units, but the sound proofing between the condos is totally inadequate. When my upstairs neighbor walks across his bedroom floor, I hear every creak and footstep. When he plays his 36" TV, the bass rumbles in my unit. Is there any way a contractor or handyman can fix this problem? -- Sharon
Dear Sharon,
When apartments are converted to condominiums, acoustic upgrades are generally required, but the net result is not always as good as when the building is originally constructed as a condominium complex. Unfortunately, upgrading the sound proofing to a satisfactory level can be expensive.
Acoustic improvement might be obtained by installing insulation between the wall studs and ceiling joists, if this has not already been done. One would expect that insulation was added during the conversion process or when the apartments were originally constructed.
A common source of noise transmission between adjoining living units is direct transmission of sound vibrations through the wood framing in the walls and ceilings. The most effective way to reduce this noise source is to have separate wall and ceiling structures. With this type of upgrade, the framing members on your neighbor's side would not be in direct contact with the wall and ceiling surfaces on your side. To determine the cost for this added construction, you'll need to consult a licensed general contractor.
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