| While condo buyers have to look into various factors | | | | above your bedroom, instead of another bedroom, |
| before deciding on the purchase of a condo, one | | | | could prove noisy. |
| major aspect that remains very important is the noise | | | | 3. Sound insulation of windows: Make sure the |
| factor. Condo living and noise often seem to go hand | | | | windows have dual panes for better sound reduction. |
| in hand. Many condo owners are plagued by noise | | | | These absorb more sound than single pane windows. |
| issues. Whether it is due to footfall noise caused by | | | | The type of glass pane used for window also counts |
| hardwood floors, or the sound transmitting through the | | | | greatly. Ensure that the panes are a lot thicker for |
| walls, condo noise could be very disturbing. This | | | | better insulation of sound. Also, larger the air cavities |
| common but unlivable problem can totally disrupt | | | | between glass panes means greater noise reduction. |
| peaceful living, even though the condo may be | | | | 4. Solid doors: Use firmer doors that have a solid core |
| otherwise perfect. | | | | instead of hollow ones to keep out noise effectively. |
| If you are a prospective condominium buyer, then here | | | | Builders are increasingly concentrating on noise |
| are a few points that are worth taking into | | | | management especially in multifamily projects and it is |
| consideration before your purchase. | | | | recommended that buyers speak to the builder to |
| Condo buyers are better off inspecting the condo to | | | | know about the construction details that enhance noise |
| check if every part of the home is noise proof before | | | | reduction. |
| finalizing the contract. Mike Komula, is an acoustician | | | | Some of the questions to put across to the builder |
| with Dudek, a California environmental consulting firm | | | | would be to verify the following: |
| that helps builders assess the acoustic qualities of new | | | | 1. If the shared walls are double walls. A double wall |
| buildings. Here are a few tips offered by him for | | | | instead of a stud wall of 2x4 foot absorbs more noise |
| buyers to check for in the condo before they sign a | | | | due to the wider air gap between the 2 walls. |
| contract. | | | | 2. Check for the number of layers of drywall on each |
| 1. Check for noise by making some - The best way to | | | | side because more the number of layers, better the |
| see if the adjacent units produce noise that seeps | | | | sound absorption. |
| through to the rooms in your condo is to test by | | | | 3. Check if walls and ceilings have good sound |
| making noise in the units next door. Test for noise by | | | | absorbing material such as resilient metal channels. |
| turning on the radio, flushing the toilets and walking | | | | 4. Check the floor for a lightweight layer of concrete |
| along the floors. One should also check for the | | | | topping. It offers substantial noise reduction in airborne |
| plumbing noises made by bath and sink taps which | | | | and impact noise by adding mass. |
| could produce vibrations along the walls or noise when | | | | Another important thing that Condominium buyers |
| too small. | | | | should check is the STC or Sound Transmission Class |
| 2. Check multistory floor layouts: Check the layout of | | | | rating. An STC rating of 65 indicates that the walls and |
| the floors to make sure that rooms are placed | | | | floor-ceiling construction between units are of better |
| compatibly above one another. A kitchen or bath | | | | sound proofing. |