Do You Live In A Condo?

[justanotherguy]

I live in Jomjien, in a big condo complex..Never again ! Its a great place but dam_n everyday somewhere someone is driliing banging doing something..

Lesson learned i think? move in to a new complex? but who to say that no one would remodel those

[Heng]

Live on Pratumnak Hill but also have a place down the road at Grand Condotel... remodeling is kind of a hobby for me too. I make sure to have all drilling and hammering between 8 and noon when it's well within condo regulations for that kind of work and when most folks are still surely in that fresh and early morning good mood period.

[jonniebkk]

that's one of the many downsides of condo (or multi-unit dwelling) living. someone is always doing some remodeling and the noise travels all around the building. houses are cheap enough in LOS...rent or buy one and have a little more peace and quiet.

[justanotherguy]

Well what a condo brings you is a pool, a exercise room and cheap rent..

3 plus 2 = 4 i guess

[dogleg]

Live on Pratumnak Hill but also have a place down the road at Grand Condotel... remodeling is kind of a hobby for me too. I make sure to have all drilling and hammering between 8 and noon when it's well within condo regulations for that kind of work and when most folks are still surely in that fresh and early morning good mood period.

Morning good mood? Not so sure about that one! Maybe you should take a poll of your neighbours on it.

I'm in an older fairly down market condo building and find there's a lot less drilling etc than my previous expensive up market falang building.

Is there really only one way to cut floor tiles?

Plus many here are Thai owned and empty 99% of the time. V quiet neighbours!!

I would imagine a new condo block would have serious fitting-out noises for years, No?

I reckon its Pot-luck with a house too, You'd be very lucky to get away from chronic noise pollution almost anywhere.

I need my ears syringed but I'd rather stay a bit deaf!!

[PadThaiGuy]

We had a guy remodeling in our building.

His worker would start at 9am... jackhammers for 10 minutes.. clean up for 30 minutes and jackhammer a bit more... then clean up for an hour... this went on for 7 days.

I had to leave the building it was so loud.

Just an inconsiderate numbskull, disturbing the entire buliding all day for a week when the actuall noisy jackhammer work could be accomplished in less than a day if he had just stayed with it.

[Heng]

Live on Pratumnak Hill but also have a place down the road at Grand Condotel... remodeling is kind of a hobby for me too. I make sure to have all drilling and hammering between 8 and noon when it's well within condo regulations for that kind of work and when most folks are still surely in that fresh and early morning good mood period.

Morning good mood? Not so sure about that one! Maybe you should take a poll of your neighbours on it.

Not needed. I have no doubt that my neighbors love me. To further ensure this, I have my messenger send each of my neighbors a plastic wrapped basket of Brand's Real Natural Bird's Nest Beverage whenever we're doing anything 'noisy' (home improvement/construction, Thai/Chinese/International New Year's, World Cup, May Day, Wimbledon, President's Day, etc.).

Sorted.

[torrenova]

I lived in View Talay 2 for 3 years, moving out only last June. For the first 18 months or so there was an almost daily interruption due to them fixing up condo shells which had never had anything done to them since they were built. The last year was fine but I also lived on the top floor so I was insulated to any noise from above !

[chiang mai]

All condo's in Thailand seem to suffer the same problems. Lived in Floral in CM for a couple of years and despite excellent management and control the design of the building, concrete and steel without any insulation, allows noise to reverberate throughout 26 floors.

[bino]

I live in a "Thai" condo building, and it seemed to me that there was always "construction noise"...the sound of hammering. Although it happened at any time, I noticed it especially at the end of the day / dinnertime. I was wondering what kind of person would start hammering on something so late in the day.

I finally figured it out... Thai people would be banging away with their mortars and pestles out on their balcony, and the sound waves were transmitting through the tiles and cement throughout the building.

I just learned to tune it out.... knowing that it usually doesn't last long.

[billaaa777]

If you moved into a “BIG” “NEW” condo complex as you stated I would assumed you also renovated your condo. Were you under the impression that every renovation should finish when you did? If you bought your condo renovated surly you observed the building beforehand and realized it would be at least a year before the vast majority of the renovation would be finished.

When most of the renovations are completed I am sure you will enjoy you condo, in the mean time you do have some alternatives to living there if the noise bothers you so much. Such as renting a condo for a period of time.

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

We live in a condo that is 10 years old and the only remodeling noise is from the one we own. We follow the guidelines on only working between 9 & 5 and not on weekends or holidays. For the most part it wouldn't make much difference since it is 90% owned by Thais and they are only there on very rare occasions. So it is very quiety and easy to park etc. we find it very pleasant. Although our neighbor said he was going to start remodeling next month.

Didn't really think I would like condo living but find it is very nice and being right on the beach is very pleasant. Once in a while I would like to shut the ocean noise off but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

[JSixpack]

All condo's in Thailand seem to suffer the same problems.

That's right. The noise can go on for years and years until every unit in the entire building is thoroughly renovated. Hope that none of the renovations weaken the building structure or mess up the plumbing.

Keep your earplugs and headphones handy.

[HobbsTheFerociousTiger]

I live in a "Thai" condo building, and it seemed to me that there was always 'construction noise'...the sound of hammering. Although it happened at any time, I noticed it especially at the end of the day / dinnertime. I was wondering what kind of person would start hammering on something so late in the day.I finally figured it out... Thai people would be banging away with their mortars and pestles out on their balcony, and the sound waves were transmitting through the tiles and cement throughout the building.

I think for people living in condo's those things should come with a thick rubber insulation slab to cushion the sound.

But then again, people wanting to live in what's basically a big ant-hill can kind of a expect this, and a whole lot of other issues. (If Condo's were cheap like you'd expect for cheaply built concrete appartment blocks then I'd understand, but they're not even cheap!)

Edited January 3, 2008 by HobbsTheFerociousTiger

[PattayaParent]

The condos I have owned units in have restricted remoddelling of units to between 10/11 am and 5 pm, only Monday to Friday and not in high season at all from beginning December to end of Feb.

Maybe you need to ask the regulations when considering purchasing a unit.

[tattoodrob]

i have been on both sides of coin.......lived in condos while others make noise and also remodelled condos so have caused this terrible noise,which it is.

no good answer im afraid.....as some have mentioned ..having a house has less of this sort of ongoing noise as only next door neighbours work would affect you.

only real solution is to go to beach or wherever during day when you know condo near yours is being worked on.

you should see the dust created in these condo renovations too but thats another story.

[Jingthing]

Yeah, it gets better as the condos get older, and then I guess the cycle starts all over again ...

[JSixpack]

I think for people living in condo's those things should come with a thick rubber insulation slab to cushion the sound.

But then again, people wanting to live in what's basically a big ant-hill can kind of a expect this, and a whole lot of other issues. (If Condo's were cheap like you'd expect for cheaply built concrete appartment blocks then I'd understand, but they're not even cheap!)

I know an owner who soundproofed his entire condo. Seriously, he did.

Houses can have noise issues too, though the main issue is farang ownership or lack thereof. Karaoke bar can open up across the street, neighbor kid can play music loudly all day and night, temple can broadcast chanting, etc. Nowhere in Thailand is safe.

[peter991]

It can be as bad for tourists staying at hotels. Some hotel websites are honest and mention that renovations are taking place on certain floors and between certain dates.

Nothing worse than flying half-way around the world expecting a relaxing, quiet holiday - when instead you find noisy renovations taking place all day. Too bad if you want an afternoon nap.

Touch wood - I have been lucky. Renovations at a hotel I stayed in at Pattaya were strictly 10am to 4pm daily. I knew in advance and planned my holiday accordingly.

Peter