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soundproofing ideas for noisy upstairs please — Brooklynian

soundproofing ideas for noisy upstairs please

carolc
carolc
edited November -1 in BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens)
I've lived in same middle apt in brownstone in CG for almost 30 years. Suddenly i can't stand it anymore. New couple upstairs after single people who didn't make much noise. Now I can hear them talking to each other, often whole sentences!

The stomping from walking around with shoes upstairs was so bad the landlord finally put some carpeting up there, but the padding isn't thick enough and i still hear the shoes through the carpeting, bang, bang, bang. I'm at my wits end.

My ceiling over 1/2 my apt is a tin ceiling, not good, I know; it's amplifying everything. Their floor is very old and has lots of space between planks. Not good, I know.

From what i've gleaned over the web i'm thinking thicker padding for the carpeting (which the landlord has agreed to, but what kind?) AND most importantly to cut down on the talking noise which is SO annoying, some kind of soundproofing. Does anyone have any suggestions? I will even pay for part of this because the quality of my life is gone, gone, gone. I've heard of vinyl acoustic tiles. Anyone? Thanks so much, Carol

Comments

  • modsquad
    modsquad
    I'm wondering if you have exposed brick walls? The fact you can still hear conversation indicates something has been overlooked. I installed a completely new ceiling unattached to the building ceiling only to discover that a good part of the sound actually came down the walls. Heavy drapes or reinstalling plaster/sheetrock helped.

    Padding? Not sure. I think it would be better to require the tenants above to strap pillows on their feet, don't forget the dog.
  • popstar0
    popstar0
    the law in nyc is that 80 percent of floors must be carpeted. people are routinely taken to task about this so let your landlord know if its a rental. we have a similar issue. we are going to use a product called quiet rock 525. check it out.
  • mantic
    mantic
    If your willing to spend the bucks, check this page http://www.auralex.com/c_studio_construction/c_studio_construction.asp

    Also check this page http://www.acoustics101.com/
  • modsquad
    modsquad
    popstar0 wrote: the law in nyc is that 80 percent of floors must be carpeted. people are routinely taken to task about this so let your landlord know if its a rental. we have a similar issue. we are going to use a product called quiet rock 525. check it out.
    There is no law requiring carpeting on floors. It is may be required in a lease but hard to enforce.
  • carolc
    carolc
    Ugh! I do have exposed brick walls in the area i'm hearing the talking. But I have also lived here for 30 years with various tenants and never heard people talking before. I'm wondering if thick padding under the thin carpet (theirs now is so thin i still hear them walking, uh make that stomping!) might eliminate some of the chatter coming down to me.

    I am also considering telling them i can hear them and ask for their help even though the wife thinks she should be able to do anything in her apartment because she pays "as much rent as anyone else". I'm living beneath 30-year old toddlers. But perhaps their desire to be private might spur them on to do something. Anyone familiar with different kinds of padding? A friend used rubber padding in his co-op and said it was great, but the floors in his building are basically sound to begin with and mine are the old old old brownstone hardwoods.

    Thanks! Carol
  • sweet tea
    sweet tea
    if you want to be passive aggressive (and i know i always do!) you could start offering advice about whatever you've overheard them talking about, every time you see them.

    your way is nicer, though.
  • danielle123
    danielle123
    My apartment is fairly quiet. However, noise travels down the heating pipe in the bathroom, which runs the height of the building, from the bathroom above (I used to hear the previous tenant spitting in the shower, one where he seemed to take great relish in the "wind-up" - ugh).

    Is there soundproof padding for the heating pipe and/or a fix for my front door which is hollow (besides replacing the door which my landlord will never agree to)? I was thinking of maybe getting some sort of door-shaped quilt mural or tapestry or something.

    Thoughts?
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