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February 12, 2009
My co-op building is shaking
I live in a 8 family 4-story co-op building that was recently renovated about 3-4 years ago. This is the 5th time that I've noticed that the building would shake slightly. I asked our owners in the building and they noticed nothing.
I know for a fact it shook because I looked at the chain on the door and it was moving. What would you do taking into consideration that i'm the only one that noticed this.
Comments
Is it an old building? Could be a poltergeist or other sort of haunting. If it's a new building, the construction might have disturbed an old burial ground.
Posted by: tybur6 at February 12, 2009 12:03 PM
Usually alcohol is found to be at the cause of these reports.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at February 12, 2009 12:07 PM
Many coops are on shaky ground these days. Brownstones, less so.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at February 12, 2009 12:11 PM
I work at home so I spend lots of time on the computer trading and watching business news. I ruled out that I can be crazy since it only happens on days that are windy. The building was built in 1910 and is detached. My neighbor across from me is a older woman that is at home, but spends most of her time in the back of her apartment. She doesn't notice it. She usually follows my advice on things that I suggest about the building, so I told her that maybe we need a structural engineer.
If the shaking, though it's more like very slight building swaying, is normal then I guess I shouldn't be worried?
BTW, to heck with the ghost jokes.
Posted by: Attention2detail at February 12, 2009 12:36 PM
You really need to provide more information about the building to get a serious response.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at February 12, 2009 12:47 PM
Is it a steel frame building or stone?
If stone, run.
Posted by: northsloperenter at February 12, 2009 1:05 PM
perhaps you have the subway running under the building? That's the way with my house, you feel the shaking and can sometimes hear the wheels bumping over stuff.
If you haven't notice any large gaps from wall/ceilings then you should be fine. Another way to do it is get an engineer report to confirm if seomthing wrong with the foundation.
Posted by: cinnybuns at February 12, 2009 1:45 PM
If there are not tell tales (cracking plaster, warping wood, baseboards separating from walls etc) it is very unlikely you have anything to worry about. If there are tell tales, your co-op should have an engineer check it out.
Posted by: Boerum Hill at February 12, 2009 1:59 PM
Go stare at the water in the toilet. If it's rocking back and forth then you have a problem. Looking at the chain on the door is stupid. Maybe it's a gust of wind moving the door or somebody is breaking in. Try turning your hearing aid on!
Posted by: mod squad at February 12, 2009 2:08 PM
Possibilities: washer on spin, dryer, subway, drafts.
Posted by: serpentor at February 12, 2009 2:31 PM
If you believe it, it's true.
What you think counts more than public opinion.
So there everyone on brownstoner!
Posted by: Ysabelle at February 12, 2009 3:28 PM
Ysabelle is always so helpful.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at February 12, 2009 6:42 PM
Are you all crazy? Hire a structural engineer, what's the problem? Cost a few hundred. Is this a frame house? They shake and that's OK -- they're stronger for it. Brick or stone will fall down.
Posted by: mopar at February 12, 2009 11:25 PM
I'm not trying to be snarky, but if the door chain is the only part of the building you notice that shakes, I'd think the cause would be a draft. Do you hear other things rattling--dishes, pictures hung on the wall--when this happens? I used to live in a very, very old brick loft building that shook when trucks went by. It was no big deal. If you're the only one who feels it, I'd suggest it's nothing to worry about.
Posted by: Iris at February 13, 2009 10:21 AM
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