Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David

In the wee hours, call the police. Again, the next time. Tom

Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David
First, is his TV really loud, or are you just in an unfortunate
circumstance where the sound travels really well in your building?

Are his speakers on the floor? Suggest raising them up on plastic milk
crates - might help a whole bunch. Hell, bring him the crates.

If he actuallt is being loud, knock on his door again and again and
keep bugging him to wear headphones. Keep a record. Start calling the
cops if he doesn't comply.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David


You are going to have to grow a spine and help yourself. Go down there and
take care of the problem or else get the cops to do it for you. Don't just
hide behind your computer and whine about it.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David


Just go down and knock the **** out of him. Do it every time he wakes you
up. If you need help, I'll do it for $500.

Steve

but as I am writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's
watching Star
Wars).

I had numerous similar problems with neighbors. My apartment lease had
a clause saying that after 10 pm and before 8 am, no noices disturbing
to neighbors.

The first incident, I would leave a note on their door explaining that
I was sure they didn't realize it, but their television/stereo/video
games, etc was keeping me awake at night and please to use use these
things at night *at all*. Low volume didn't help, because the sound
travels easily through the floor and ceiling.

Typically, this works for a few weeks, at least a little, then they go
back to their normal behavior. Another note results in no change in
behavior. A complaint to the apartment complex results in another
note, which again quiets them down for a few weeks, whereupon they go
back to the same behavior. The next complaint from the apartment
complex has no effect. The next note says they have X days to comply
or they will be evicted. This gets their attention. For a while.

The apartment management told me this pattern is typical.

My advice is that after the first nice attempt to get them to quiet
down, be ruthless. Complain to the apartment management after every
instance, so that their file is full of evidence that can be used to
evict them. Even so, the process could take months...terrible way to
live.

Back to your original question, you can find sound insulating
techniques and supplies he

http://www.soundproofing.org/

Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation.

Yes, it is called "space" or "distance". You add it by buying your own
single-family home. This is one reason people find suburbia desirable:
separation and privacy from your neighbors. Trying to change your
apartment neighbor's habits, or to insulate yourself, do not work.

Some people are happy with close quarters, the rest of us move to the
'burbs.

wrote:

... My neighbour below me always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc.
I hear him till the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane!
... the floors are made of wood.

It is fortunate that you are insane, and above him. You might install powerful
speakers in the floor, aimed down, with a microphone and an annoying delay, or
drill holes and let your sink overflow. Boiling oil and molten lead are more
traditional. Do you know any clog-dancing troupes looking for practice space?

Nick

On 22 Nov 2005 03:30:52 -0500, wrote:

It is fortunate that you are insane, and above him. You might install powerful
speakers in the floor, aimed down, with a microphone and an annoying delay, or
drill holes and let your sink overflow. Boiling oil and molten lead are more
traditional. Do you know any clog-dancing troupes looking for practice space?

Nick


The FBI thinks that loud Tibetan Buddhist chants are an effective
antidote.

But frankly how much do those wireless transmitter-earphone thingies
cost? If affordable buy him a set for Christmas.

The lanlord should take care of it, and call thge police when its late.
Or have fun its an apartment so his main fuse or whole panel is in the
basement, pull it, he will understand real quick.

wrote:
Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after
I warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I
am writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone
please help me!!!

David

First make sure it is really bad, yea it sounds like it, but some people
have a poor tolerance for noise.

Check your lease, what, if anything does it say on this issue?

Get with your landlord. Are they willing to add soundproofing?

Go once, when you are in a good mood and talk with the resident.

Try the cops.

Move.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

wrote:
Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David


I would not approach him again about the noise. Once should do it if he
cares. If you are fortunate, there is a noise ordinance the police can
enforce. If there is any basis for a friendly
conversation/relationship, seize it. He can make a lot of misery if he
chooses. With bare wood floors in your apartment, you may make as much
irritating noise as he does. Carpet with padding would probably help a
great deal. I've read about condos that require carpeting for units
above ground floor because of noise issues for those beneath bare wood
or tile floors. We had an upstairs neighbor who had large speakers
sitting on the floor, and we could hear her music above our TV - she was
otherwise a very quiet and considerate person, so it wasn't a problem.

When neighbors start "one upping" each other, it only leads to problems.
Easier to move.

I had a neighbor once, he would go out on a friday night and leave his
stereo blast till 2-3am as his security system, he had 5 surrounding
renters and never knew who was pulling his main fuse in the basement, it
was fun. He is a jerk dont talk to him, let the police and lanlord a
nasty note or no power do it for you. A couple nights of the power going
out will do it. It will take him an hour to figure it out then he will
know someone is ****ed, but not who. Just dont get caught the second
time he will run to the mains room.

wrote in message
...
wrote:

... My neighbour below me always invites friends over, plays loud music,
etc.
I hear him till the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me
insane!
... the floors are made of wood.

It is fortunate that you are insane, and above him. You might install
powerful
speakers in the floor, aimed down, with a microphone and an annoying
delay, or
drill holes and let your sink overflow. Boiling oil and molten lead are
more
traditional. Do you know any clog-dancing troupes looking for practice
space?

Nick


OK you went over the line There is nothing wrong with brisk Clog-Dance you
should not make fun of something you can't do! CLOG TILL YOU DROP

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David


Lots of choices . Talking did not work, never dose with low IQ people.
Manager , dealing with a little higher IQ person, Go bang on his door when
neighbor is making, keeps the problem fresh in his head. Spinning plates on
the kitchen floor, now that's a irritating noise. This worked for me in our
Condo got the message threw, Oh I left for the weekend and forgot to turn
the loud stereo off with the speakers facing your side, oh I'm sorry. The
memories of apartment life Well one more never fails Marry someone with a
house never fails and I know.

You are above him??? Geez you can have LOTS of fun with them.

Nothing like finding out when they sleep taking some speakers, point
them
down into the floor and start dancing. Make sure to use tap shoes.

Also helps if you do this over his bedroom.

Sometimes the worst thing to do, is to personally confront someone like
this who is a constant PITA. If it persists, and you're at your wit's
end, drop a dime.

Often, inconsiderate people like this can become irrational, and will do
it all the more, once they know it personally bothers you. Either that,
or they take revenge upon you in some other form (Keying-vandalizing
your car perhaps?) if the cops are eventually called.
(Even if it's someone else that calls, you'll automatically get the
blame)

If it bothers you, I'm sure it bothers others also in the building.

Generally when the police are called they give a first time warning.
The second time they have to come out can usuallyresult in a citation.
(Depends where you live I supose)
That'll cool their jets.

People nowadays who do this generally have no consideration of others,
or other's lives, and seem to feel that you're just dying upstairs for
them to turn on their Stereo, so they can entertain you. Usually, this
consists of the Du-Rag music, with the boom boom boom.

They live in their own little world, and couldn't give a rat's @ss about
you. Mark

Next time you rent check out what the floor structure is made of. Wood
floors and supports, don't rent. They are transparent to sound and also to
fire. Insist on concrete, it has its problems but the mass helps reduce
sound and fire passage.


wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David

On 22 Nov 2005 03:30:52 -0500, wrote:

wrote:

... My neighbour below me always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc.
I hear him till the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane!
... the floors are made of wood.

It is fortunate that you are insane, and above him. You might install powerful
speakers in the floor, aimed down, with a microphone and an annoying delay, or
drill holes and let your sink overflow. Boiling oil and molten lead are more
traditional. Do you know any clog-dancing troupes looking for practice space?


Yeah, I would wait until daytime, when nightowl is sleeping, then
play "Frankenstein" by Edgar Winter or "Autobahn" by Kraftwerk, at
about 130 decibels, with a powerful down-firing subwoofer.




--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 00:24:34 -0600, Richard J Kinch
wrote:

Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation.

Yes, it is called "space" or "distance". You add it by buying your own
single-family home. This is one reason people find suburbia desirable:
separation and privacy from your neighbors.

********.
I'm in a rural town, and I can hear the Mexicans across the street,
even over my own moderately loud music or TV.

--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

This is Turtle.

Damn your high on the price. Here it is $20.00 ! You sure you don't
have any Rock Stars around there.

TURTLE

On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 00:24:34 -0600, Richard J Kinch
wrote:

Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation.

Yes, it is called "space" or "distance". You add it by buying your own
single-family home. This is one reason people find suburbia desirable:
separation and privacy from your neighbors. Trying to change your
apartment neighbor's habits, or to insulate yourself, do not work.


If OP owned the apartment, he could probably deal with the problem
fairly effectivly with soundproofing. Since he doesn't, he can't.
Trying to get the neighbor to change is a good idea only if you
enjoy feuding, or are at least very good at it. That leaves
moving to an apartment that isn't made of paper mache;
getting a white-noise-generator and learning to live with it;
or smuggling 5 kilos of coke into the guys rooms when he's not
there, and calling the cops.

--Goedjn

Take up the trumpet.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David

On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 12:08:46 -0500, Goedjn wrote:

On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 00:24:34 -0600, Richard J Kinch
wrote:

Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation.

Yes, it is called "space" or "distance". You add it by buying your own
single-family home. This is one reason people find suburbia desirable:
separation and privacy from your neighbors. Trying to change your
apartment neighbor's habits, or to insulate yourself, do not work.


If OP owned the apartment, he could probably deal with the problem
fairly effectivly with soundproofing. Since he doesn't, he can't.
Trying to get the neighbor to change is a good idea only if you
enjoy feuding, or are at least very good at it. That leaves
moving to an apartment that isn't made of paper mache;
getting a white-noise-generator and learning to live with it;
or smuggling 5 kilos of coke into the guys rooms when he's not
there, and calling the cops.

--Goedjn

Just fry their equipment without entering their apartment.

DISCLAIMER:
I am not responsible for what you do with the information
found via the link below; it is for educational purposes only!

Here ya' go!

http://gbppr.trighost.org/mil/herf/

--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

I don't think soundproofing would be an option for any tenant. You'd
virtually have to call in the Jet Propulsion Labratory (JPL) to entirely
shield you from most of these sound systems.

Fighting fire, with fire (Playing your system when you think they're
asleep) taking up Drums, Bass Guitar, etc, generally doesn't work, and
the tables may turn, and someone will drop a dime on you.

As I said, an anonymous "dime" dropped can sometimes work wonders. If
you're confronted about dropping the dime, play dumb like Sgt. Shultz.
Never admit it was you. Mark

Earplugs might be the most practical relief until you can move.

I think a nice product for apartment owners would be a device that
shuts off the power to an apartment unit if the decibel level exceeds
certain levels during certain times of the day for more than a few
minutes.

Then, if the jerk want his power back on, he has to talk to the
landlord to reset his power with a key. He'll have to explain what was
going on.

This would also fix those lovely people who leave for the weekend and
decide to leave their alam set.

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 04:16:40 +1100, "glenn P"
wrote:

Take up the trumpet.

wrote in message
roups.com...
Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David



Most creative solution I ever saw to this problem. I had a nutty
friend who somehow acquired an X-Ray machine. In his apartment, he
was able to position it directly above the neighbors stereo. One Zap
and the neighbor never knew what hit him. Every transistor in his
stereo was burned out!

More likely in your case though. Good tenants are hard to find. If
your landlord thinks you are a good tenant, he may take some action on
your behalf. Otherwise leave and let him know exactly why you are
going. When it's not your property, your options are limited...

Where I live, the kids play there stereos loud in the street.
Neighbors call the cops. The cops come and talk to the kids. The
stereos are turned down. When the cops leave, the kids turn up the
stereos again.


Beachcomber

Sacramento Dave wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David



Lots of choices . Talking did not work, never dose with low IQ people.
Manager , dealing with a little higher IQ person, Go bang on his door when
neighbor is making, keeps the problem fresh in his head. Spinning plates on
the kitchen floor, now that's a irritating noise. This worked for me in our
Condo got the message threw, Oh I left for the weekend and forgot to turn
the loud stereo off with the speakers facing your side, oh I'm sorry. The
memories of apartment life Well one more never fails Marry someone with a
house never fails and I know.




Bouncing a BB or marble on a tile floor is *very* annoying in the room
below. HTH ;-)

Bob

On 22 Nov 2005 11:41:50 -0800, wrote:

I think a nice product for apartment owners would be a device that
shuts off the power to an apartment unit if the decibel level exceeds
certain levels during certain times of the day for more than a few
minutes.

Then, if the jerk want his power back on, he has to talk to the
landlord to reset his power with a key. He'll have to explain what was
going on.


That's a thought. If the apartment has a common fuse box or breaker
box find out which one connects to the jerk's unit. Then pop his.
Let him have a hard time figuring out what's wrong. Put glue into his
door lock so that he can't get back in.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after I
warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I am
writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone please
help me!!!

David


Usually it is the downstairs neighbor being driven crazy by heavy footfalls
of the upstairs neighbor. You could try wearing dutch wooden shoes while at
home or walking on your heels. Do you have a sport you can practice inside,
how about step arobics.

Once he comes to complain to you, you have leversdge to work out a
compromise.

If you are willing to bluff, try telling the landloard that you will break
your lease and move out unless he can remidy the obnoxious neighbor or move
you to a different unit.

"PipeDown" wrote in message
ink.net...

wrote in message
oups.com...

If you are willing to bluff, try telling the landloard that you will break
your lease and move out unless he can remidy the obnoxious neighbor or
move
you to a different unit.


Almost right!

Tell your landlord you are canceling your lease, expect damages and a full
refund of your deposit because you are unable to experience the quiet
enjoyment of your residence.

In most areas if you word this correctly you will win. That is the reason I
no longer have any multi-family buildings


Colbyt

wrote:
Hi,

I'm having a serious problem, and I was wondering if anyone can help
with it. I live in an apartment building. My neighbour below me
always invites friends over, plays loud music, etc. I hear him till
the wee hours DAILY!!! It's seriously driving me insane! Even after
I warn him, he keeps going. My landlord sent him a letter, but as I
am writing this e-mail, I can still hear his TV on (he's watching Star
Wars). Is there anything I can do to add some sound insulation. My
apartment is not very big, the floors are made of wood. Someone
please help me!!!

You have choices:

I. Get your neighbor to act civilized
A. Threaten neighbor with sanctions (eviction, etc.)
1. Often works
2. Cheap
B. Tete-a-tete
1. Almost never works
2. Escalates into violence
C. Appeasment
1. Payments
2. Gifts, such as earphones
D. Overwhelming violence or other sanction, with no warning, at first
infraction
1. Always works
2. Must be of sufficient intensity as to inhibit retaliation or
reporting
3. Usually involves blood with bones sticking out, massive property
damage, or lawyer-inducing litigation (such as restraining orders). Whatever
the event, it must instill abject fear of worse to come.

II. Accomodate the uncivilized behavior, in this case:
A. Soundproofing or other mitigation
1. Carpeting, false flooring, etc.
2. Landlord, after sufficient notice, should be billed for the
renovation.
B. Earplugs (my favorite)

III. Move. Be sure to notify your landlord that his inaction to fix a
reported nusiance has resulted in a constructive eviction of you, a breaking
of the lease.

I had a problem with my neighbors' two dogs three years ago. The
barking started at 5:30A and continued until they came home around 5P,
then started up again when they went out to dinner.

I lived with it until they got a third dog, and it drove me crazy.

I went to their front door at 6:00a, ticked off, and in my robe.
Surprise, they were not home.

Left a msg. on their answering machine, no return call.
Called a second time - not home.
Called him at work and for the first time, personally talked to him.
His comments: "Oh really, I will be home to put them inside".
One week later, repeat of barking.
Called the cops. They knocked on his door - not home.
Called him at work the next morning and he said, "Oh really, I will take
care of it".
Three weeks later - A "For Sale" sign appeared on their lawn. Hallelujah!

Don't move, just call the cops.
I live in a small town, and wouldn't you know it, the cop was a relative
of the dogs' owners.

I waited way too long, and you deserve peace and quiet.

Good luck!

Corinne


Mark D wrote:
Sometimes the worst thing to do, is to personally confront someone like
this who is a constant PITA. If it persists, and you're at your wit's
end, drop a dime.

Often, inconsiderate people like this can become irrational, and will do
it all the more, once they know it personally bothers you. Either that,
or they take revenge upon you in some other form (Keying-vandalizing
your car perhaps?) if the cops are eventually called.
(Even if it's someone else that calls, you'll automatically get the
blame)

If it bothers you, I'm sure it bothers others also in the building.

Generally when the police are called they give a first time warning.
The second time they have to come out can usuallyresult in a citation.
(Depends where you live I supose)
That'll cool their jets.

People nowadays who do this generally have no consideration of others,
or other's lives, and seem to feel that you're just dying upstairs for
them to turn on their Stereo, so they can entertain you. Usually, this
consists of the Du-Rag music, with the boom boom boom.

They live in their own little world, and couldn't give a rat's @ss about
you. Mark