Doorbell chime
As part of a gut renovation of a three-story brownstone, I am installing a new doorbell system. 1/ Do I need a chime on each floor or will I be able to hear the doorbell from the third floor? 2/ I’m a little picky about the sound of the doorbell — looking for something very…
As part of a gut renovation of a three-story brownstone, I am installing a new doorbell system.
1/ Do I need a chime on each floor or will I be able to hear the doorbell from the third floor?
2/ I’m a little picky about the sound of the doorbell — looking for something very simple. A nice, natural “ding-dong” would be perfect. Where can I go to hear different products?
3/ Is it worth investing in an intercom system while the walls are open? Do you have one and find it useful?
Thank you for your advice.
we have one from the moma store with a wireless chime. it lives on the middle floor but i can take it in the top floor office with me when I’m home for the day or downstairs if we don’t want to wake our sleeping baby when we have a pizza delivered, say. it has four chime sounds including a ding dong.
Some of the high end doorbell showrooms have special accoustically enhanced listening rooms so that you can be sure to get that perfect ding dong.
Even if you decide against the intercom at this time, I would recommend pulling the cables and burying them while you have the walls open. You can always upgrade later.
1/ I would suggest putting a chime on each floor. I had a chime in the central hall but often wondered “was that the doorbell” if the tv was on too loud or if water was running or whatever.
2/ I agree with Mrs. Limestone about the different chimes for different units.
3/ Absolutely invest in an intercom system. After going the home depot doorbell route, I installed a through the telephone line doorbell/intercom system. If someone rings the door from outside, I can find out who it is and what they want without going to the door or window to find out. That is absolutely invaluable when the solicitors come knocking. Have the intercom system set up so you can intercom internally as well. Beats yelling hands down.
Keep
You can buy the most basic “ding dong” bell at Home Depot.
Assuming you have a duplex and a rental, I think you can get away with two chimes rather than three provided the bell for the duplex is in the central hall. I have one on every floor but its not really necessary.
What I would recommend (and didn’t have the forethought to do this myself) is to pick a DIFFERENT chime for the rental vs. your place. That way you can pick out your own visitors by sound rather than by distance of the bell.