The short answer is yes! Lower level apartments tend to hear more noise from foot traffic, furniture moving and the like. The biggest complaint with regard to noise from lower level apartments, is the noise neighbors make above them while walking around.
For existing wood floors, place posh area rugs over them to anchor furniture groupings and help reduce floor noise. Eliminate the bothersome sounds caused by squeaky floorboards to make a room quieter.
Can my landlord force us to move out while the remodeling work is done? The landlord can enter to (1) do repairs that are necessary or requested by you, (2) in emergencies, (3) if they believe that the unit is abandoned, (4) to show the property to prospective buyers and (5) with a court order.
The quick, easy fix is to Try sprinkling talcum powder around the offending boards. The powder will work to reduce friction between the boards and might temporarily quiet the squeak. The long-term repair you choose will depend on where the squeak is in the floor and whether you can access the joists.
All floor squeaks are caused by rubbing between different floor components. Examples are the edges of plywood or hardwood flooring rubbing together, the movement of the floor due to loose nails or even movement in your floor's "substructures" such as loose bridging or trusses.
Squeaky wood floors are a common problem, and it's usually an inexpensive do-it-yourself repair. If there's a gap between the joist and the subfloor, add pieces of wood shim until it feels snug. To fix bulging or loose boards, tighten the boards with screws inserted from below.
There's no fixed timescale in which you should redecorate your rental property. However, many landlords choose to redecorate around once every five years, and generally at the end of long tenancies.
In real life, a squeak is no big deal—that is, they don't signal structural damage, like termites, that could cause your floor or joist to collapse. Although any floor can squeak, hardwood floors and staircases are the common culprits. Squeaks happen when a house settles and wood flooring dries and then expands.
Impact noise starts when something physically comes in contact with your upstairs neighbor's floor. Then, that sound vibration travels through the floorboards and past your ceiling, resulting in noise.
Depending on the cause, the average cost to fix a squeaky floor is between $200 and $1,000.
Ways to Reduce Noise From Upstairs
- Insulate the Ceiling.
- Improve the Mass of the Ceiling (without demo)
- Replace the Ceiling.
- Use Soundproofing Sealant.
- Install Drop Ceiling.
- Soundproof the Floor Above You.
- Use Resilient Underlayment with Damping Compound.
- Reduce Squeaking.
Mats made of foam or rubber are a way to dampen sounds, mostly from vibration emanating from upstairs. Apply underlayments below hardwood or laminate flooring to muffle sounds. Carpeting also dampens sounds, especially when using a carpet pad that doubles as sound insulation.
WD-40 is a multi-use lubricant that can be used to fix both squeaky door hinges and creaky floorboards. It penetrates stuck parts and loosens them so that you can clean them easily.
When wooden floorboards are squeaky, you can add a lubricant to that area. Powdered soapstone, talcum powder, and powdered graphite can be poured between the floorboards. To really work the lubricant in, place a cloth over the boards and walk on it. Once that's done, vacuum up any remaining powder.
Floor squeaks are caused by gaps between the sub-floor and the floor joists which have separated over time and can be fixed by simply reattaching that sub-floor back to the framing. You can use this to locate the joists under your subfloor without damaging your carpet. Once you locate a joist, mark it off with tape.
