Creaky Floors And Creepy Neighbors

[seekermeister]

The complex that I live in is pretty good for the most part, except that the second story floors are all creaky. When I lived on the first floor, I found it annoying to hear the person above walking about, but never complained.

Now, I live on the second floor, and I'm the one creaking about, regardless of how I might tip toe. The neighbors in this building are much more cantankerous than in the other building, because if I make the slightest sound, they start banging on the walls or my floor.

The other night, I was standing in one place, working on my bedroom computer, when the person below started banging on my floor. The only possible reason was that when I shifted my weight, the floor would creak.

I spoke to the management about this, and they are suppose to send maintenance to screw down the floorboards, but that means moving a lot of stuff, so that they can lift the carpet.

Besides moving, is there any other way to solve the problem? Sound proofing is expensive, and would only work on the walls, not the floor.

 

[ie9]

Stay very still and don't move a muscle... no matter what. Make sure that all of the essentials are within arms reach (even close enough so you don't have to shift your weight). I would recommend finding a comfortable position because you will have to eat, surf the internet, watch tv, and even sleep in the same position.

It's either that or shoot the neighbors, your choice.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

They make some nifty screws that have a protruding head which once the lower portion tightens the board they can be snapped clean and you just throw the top away. Saw these in action on This Old House for just this situation.http://www.mcfeelys.com/product/SNM-3230/Squeeeeek-No-Morereg-Carpet-Kit-w50-Screws
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20045284,00.html

 

[seekermeister]

Stay very still and don't move a muscle... no matter what. Make sure that all of the essentials are within arms reach (even close enough so you don't have to shift your weight). I would recommend finding a comfortable position because you will have to eat, surf the internet, watch tv, and even sleep in the same position.

It's either that or shoot the neighbors, your choice.

I was considering drilling a hole in the floor, so that I could spray sleeping gas downstairs .

 

[jfar]

Pour talcum powder between the floorboards if you can get access to them
it helps in some cases to stop the squeaks, good for creaky stairs also.

 

[ie9]

I was considering drilling a hole in the floor, so that I could spray sleeping gas downstairs .

They shoot the horse if it's a problem, not let it enjoy a nap to bother them later... just saying

 

[seekermeister]

They make some nifty screws that have a protruding head which once the lower portion tightens the board down snaps clean and you just throw the top away. Saw these in action on This Old House for just this situation.Squeeeeek No More® Carpet Kit w/50 Screws, Squeaky Floor Repair, Specialty Fasteners, Fasteners - McFeely's
How to Repair Squeaky Floors Through Carpeting | Video | Floors | This Old House

That might be good, but that is a solution for maintenance, not me. It would still require lifting the carpet, and that is what I'm trying to avoid.

The only other thing that has occurred to me, is to build some kind of stiff wooden platform that would span between two areas of the floor that don't creak, and putting a rubber pad on it, but I'm not too fond of that idea either.

EDIT: I spoke too soon, I didn't notice that these were for going through carpet. I will have to take a closer look.

 

[seekermeister]

They make some nifty screws that have a protruding head which once the lower portion tightens the board they can be snapped clean and you just throw the top away. Saw these in action on This Old House for just this situation.Squeeeeek No More® Carpet Kit w/50 Screws, Squeaky Floor Repair, Specialty Fasteners, Fasteners - McFeely's
How to Repair Squeaky Floors Through Carpeting | Video | Floors | This Old House

After watching the video, I really like this idea. I have bookmarked the video, and a page for the supplier of the gadget and screws, but I'm going to see if maintenance will get them, instead of myself. the gadget is cheap enough ($19.95) but the screws are $27.95 for 50, and I suspect it would take a lot more than that to fix my floors.

 

[johnwillyums]

Why not try the talc idea first. I've heard that one before and it's the cheapest option.

 

[HAVOC]

Tell your downstairs neighbor to come upstairs and show him/her what is causing it. Also tell them that you contacted management and it should be fixed.

If you feel like shooting neighbors, the guy that just moved in downstairs from me smokes, ALOT, and it's smelling up my apartment.

 

[mckillwashere]

The people that live upstairs from me have a band. I surround sound system and don't know were the volume control is. Never sleep(I work 3rd shift, they make noise all day and night). Stomp around. Fight( I have had to call the cops on them once for throwing each other across the apartment.) Have horrible cooking sense(the smell makes us almost vomit).

Consider yourself lucky.

 

[seekermeister]

Why not try the talc idea first. I've heard that one before and it's the cheapest option.

It would be cheap enough, but it would require lifting both the carpet and the pad first, which I don't want to do, even though it would be maintenance doing it. Plus, if it didn't work over time, it would be difficult to talk the apt. management into repeating the job.

Those break away screws are something that I could do, if maintenance won't.

EDIT: Besides, I would enjoy hammering on the floor...to find the joist, of course.

 

[mckillwashere]

Tell your downstairs neighbor to come upstairs and show him/her what is causing it. Also tell them that you contacted management and it should be fixed.

If you feel like shooting neighbors, the guy that just moved in downstairs from me smokes, ALOT, and it's smelling up my apartment.

I smoke(unfortunately and trying to quit). I was never aware it affected the people upstairs at time.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

It's not your problem! It's your owner's problem.
You pay good money to live there and if the downstairs people are annoyed by the creaky floors have them deal with the owner's.
I wouldn't spend one dime for talc or screws.
Been there and done that when living in apartments.

 

[seekermeister]

The people that live upstairs from me have a band. I surround sound system and don't know were the volume control is. Never sleep(I work 3rd shift, they make noise all day and night). Stomp around. Fight( I have had to call the cops on them once for throwing each other across the apartment.) Have horrible cooking sense(the smell makes us almost vomit).

Consider yourself lucky.

I can understand your pain, but it doesn't ease mine. Sorry.

 

[seekermeister]

It's not your problem! It's your owner's problem.
You pay good money to live there and if the downstairs people are annoyed by the creaky floors have them deal with the owner's.
I wouldn't spend one dime for talc or screws.
Been there and done that when living in apartments.

You are right, but since I'm disabled, I do not want to have to move, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to solve the problem.

Even stopping the creaking doesn't entirely solve the problem, because I also have a couple of cranky old woman on each side of me that like to bang on the walls for no good reason. A while back, I was simply rolling a carpet steamer into a closet, over maybe 8 feet, and before I got it inside, she started banging.

 

[mckillwashere]

Have you tried to start banging back, or making more movement when they start banging on the walls?

 

[Joan Archer]

Makes me glad I live in a bungalow.

 

[seekermeister]

Tell your downstairs neighbor to come upstairs and show him/her what is causing it. Also tell them that you contacted management and it should be fixed.

If you feel like shooting neighbors, the guy that just moved in downstairs from me smokes, ALOT, and it's smelling up my apartment.

I smoke(unfortunately and trying to quit). I was never aware it affected the people upstairs at time.

I also smoke, and am not trying to quit. I know that sometimes the smell goes out to the public hallway, but I do not believe that it goes through walls or floors. If it does, then they are just going to have to get used to it.

On the last inspection, I spray the apartment with Febreze, and the managers was surprised and asked if I still smoked in the aparment.

 

[seekermeister]

Have you tried to start banging back, or making more movement when they start banging on the walls?

Oh, I thought about it, but I didn't feel that would solve anything. Probably make it worse.