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…
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.
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.
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.
Ysabelle is always so helpful.
If you believe it, it’s true.
What you think counts more than public opinion.
So there everyone on brownstoner!
Possibilities: washer on spin, dryer, subway, drafts.
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!
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.
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.
Is it a steel frame building or stone?
If stone, run.