Those who live below others: is it really possible to not hear the people above you?

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manlymatt83

Lifer
Oct 14, 2005
10,051
44
91
I'm considering moving into a new place (as I've discussed), except that this would be the first time ever that I wouldn't be living on the top floor of the building/complex. Once, I lived in the second to top floor, and couldn't stand hearing the footsteps and such of the people above me. But they were really obnoxious and loud, to the point where you'd be watching TV and all of a sudden hear running and heavy foot steps.

The person I'd be moving in with claims that she can't hear the people above her at all. She's heard them once in two months, when they were installing a new TV, but other than that, she has never heard their footsteps. Is this because she just doesn't listen, or is it really possible that the building could be built in such a way that even though the floors are all hardwood, it's still very hard to hear the people above you?

If it helps, the building is really old Boston construction in the North End, so perhaps they used to make them better...
 
herm0016

herm0016

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2005
8,498
1,115
126
we here our upstairs neighbors, but they are very loud people, always jumping/running/etc. i do not belive we would be disturbed by them if they were not loud people, that said, i am glad to be moving to a new apt. complex onto the 3rd floor, just a pain to move, after that it will be nice.
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,071
9,481
126
New apartments are generally better than old, with the exception of ancient apartments. It depends on how it was built. Some places you can hear ants run across the floor, and others are virtually silent.
 
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nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
I live on the first floor of a 4-family duplex... I can hear the couple above me if they drop something or are walking around on the hardwood floors in heavy shoes, but that's really about it.

not frequently enough that it has ever bothered me.
 
Gooberlx2

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
When my wife and I lived in an old late 1800's built mansion home converted in to apartments, we could hear every god forsaken step the people above us took. One night it sounded like they were bowling in their apt, and they were just rolling dice for monopoly. Apparently, after we moved out, they took our apt and quickly developed a keen appreciation for our suffering. We really weren't just nagging assholes.

In the new apt complexes we've lived in, the people above us could be getting brutally murdered by chainsaws and we wouldn't have heard them.

...so...it depends.
 
U

us3rnotfound

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2003
5,334
3
81
Not if they own a fuckin' trampoline, and they practice like they are going to the Olympics in Beijing (this is NOT a racist comment).
 
moshquerade

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
you'll hear their bed jumping up and down on the floor. guaranteed.
 
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Deeko

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
It all depends on the building. I've had some apartments where you could hear every move they make. I've had some places - like the ones I'm in now - that were designed to be condos, are new construction and very solid, and I've literally NEVER heard the person above me.
 
sandorski

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,628
6,189
126
Some sounds, like something hard falling to the floor, are always going to be heard. Will depend on the building though. My first Apartment one night while trying to get to sleep I heard a woman having an Orgasm. My early 20 something ears were quite intrigued, making sleep difficult.

I hear the occasional footstep, dropped object, and when it's really quiet the sound of a Couch/Bedspring(not sure which) when someone upstairs gets up. Someone running Water is always heard to some degree, but none of these sounds is loud enough to disturb my Sleep.
 
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nanette1985

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2005
4,209
2
0
I used to live in a 2nd floor apartment, the guy on the 3rd floor was a professional roller skater who practiced all the time.

He was a really nice guy and that helped, but if you can, please avoid roller skating upstairs neighbors.
 
kalrith

kalrith

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2005
6,628
7
81
As already mentioned, it depends on the neighbors. I lived on the second floor in an apartment for a year, and the upstairs noise was not too noticeable. We heard footsteps, but it wasn't like stomping or anything. I have some coworkers who make the walls shake when they walk past my office, so someone like that would most definitely be bothersome as an upstairs neighbor.

Also, even if you like your upstairs neighbor when you first check the place out, they might move and be replaced by a tap-dancing gorilla.
 
Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
69,705
13,329
126
www.betteroff.ca
Probably but it would require some structural modifications that might not be approved.

I'm glad I don't have to deal with crap like that. Loud neighbors etc.. owning a house FTW. If I can hear people making noise above me, I better go check out WTF somebody is on my roof. :p
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
depends on 'scale' of apartment. Old or new there are better and worse ones out there. Usually the deciding factor is price. Most think 'new' are better, but in reality it's due to the price point most of the time. As people upgrade the quality and 'newness' goes up.
 
lokiju

lokiju

Lifer
May 29, 2003
18,526
5
0
Depends on the construction.

If it's poured prefab concrete, it'll probably be pretty silent.

If it's wood frame then you're going to hear them.
 
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