Living Under a Heavy Walker
We just moved into an apt. that was vacant for 8 yrs and although the people above us are awesome they walk like a bunch of elephants. When we moved in they said if there is anything that is annoying our music, etc. let us know b/c the apt. below us has been vacant for…
We just moved into an apt. that was vacant for 8 yrs and although the people above us are awesome they walk like a bunch of elephants. When we moved in they said if there is anything that is annoying our music, etc. let us know b/c the apt. below us has been vacant for so long. Anyway, yesterday I was napping and thier walking woke me up! So, here’s the question… (and yes, I know we live in NYC but we are gonna live below these people a long time). Do we say something? If so, how? Again they are super nice people (with no kids if that matters). I’m just not sure how to bring it up… email, conversation or let it go?
how long have you been living there? honestly, human beings are programmed to adapt to almost anything. eventually you will not notice the sound. you just have to not let it annoy you in the interim where you do hear it. believe me, eventually youll never notice. others might disagree, but i know for a fact. im a big fan of the science of perception and cognition
*rob*
Agreed, just mention it lightly first. Perhaps it’s as simple as them removing their shoes indoors. You also really need to get a white noise machine in your bedroom. I have never been without one in NYC. They help a lot. White noise machines should be handed out at the border of NYC as people move here. We use air purifiers as our noise machines.
I guess before I moved I might take them up on their kind offer and just mention it. something like: “do you have carpetting down? because one thing we do notice is that your footsteps really echo down here.”
The problem is not just how they walk. Bare wood floors magnify sound. If you happen to keep similar hours, you will suffer far less.
I would have a friendly conversation with them–they should at least have carpeting down in high traffic areas, which will help somewhat.
For a few years I lived below this really sweet wisp of a girl who didn’t weigh more than 100 pounds, but you would have thought she was Muhammed Ali. At the very least I’d hope the pounding is not above your bedroom when you’re trying to sleep.
I’ve been in your shoes. (Excuse the pun).
There’s not much you can practically do.
Requesting “no shoes in house” is painless, but I have a feeling that’s not the problem here.
“Please install carpet” is more intrusive, but if you’re desperate, go for it. But it sounds like this will have limited effect. There’s an old Indian saying: “An elephant on carpet still walks like an elephant.”
Whether you do it by email or conversation is up to you. You should do what feels most comfortable to you.
PS I just make up the old Indian saying.
I feel your pain. The tenants BELOW me walk so loud that I need a white noise machine to block it out. I can’t imagine how the folks below them are coping!
They say, “Good fences make good neighbors”, but that applies to the burbs and homes with dirt. There should be saying for multiple unit buildings, “Good soundproofing makes good neighbors.”
It’s going to cost you a fortune (+/- $10k) and ceiling height to kind-of-fix to fix your bedroom, not to mention the rest of your unit.
I’d move, or sell, or sublet.
Eh, about the only thing you can do is ask them to cover their floors with thick carpet and a rug pad and to not wear shoes in the house.