What Can Be Done About Thin Walls?

[BaroqueJim]

I live in the George Washington, which has to have the thinnest apartment walls I've ever had the misfortune of living within in my life. There is absolutely no muffling of sound within the apartment at all and I can hear clear voices through 2 walls with no loss of quality. It drives me nuts and makes me feel like I'm living in a dolls house. Totally unacceptable for sharing situations; no privacy.

So what can be done? How are the walls constructed? Would some kind of insulation in the middle make any difference? How much would it cost? Would LeFrak allow such insulation to take place? Any other soundproofing ideas?

How can they get away with such shoddy and cheap build quality?

[neetzer]

I hear you. My neighbor plays loud music at times which I can hear clearly through my bedroom. I have taken to pounding on the wall to get them to turn it down a bit.

I would be interested in any ideas about soundproofing the walls as well.

[anita]

the worst noise that i get comes from the corridors, not the surrounding apartments. you can hear just about anything, including whispers through the front door. i would however love to soundproof the bathroom since my neighbours' audio-sexual contributions are really unimaginative...

[BaroqueJim]

Actually, I hear very little from my neighbors, apart from the odd door closing. But maybe I have very quiet neighbors. What bother me though are the walls seperating rooms within the apartment, which seem to be the thinnest of board (watch that stuff bend when you apply pressure!). To be honest, it looks like the kind of attempt at wall building you see from Hipsters when they divide their Williamsburg lofts up. Except that our walls actually go all the way up to the ceiling. I don't think I've lived anywhere like this, where someone talking in the next room (or even 2 rooms away) is just like them being in your room. It really detracts from your quality of life, because you feel like you have no privacy at all - going into your bedroom to make a private phone call is useless, since you know your voice is going to be heard loud and clear by everyone in the apartment.

Does anyone know whether these apartments are actually officially described as "luxury"? Or whether they're classed as low cost housing? The price, for Jersey, would suggest at least semi-luxury, but to be honest I've seen better apartment quality in the projects.

LeFrak, you need to knock these buildings down and start again! And don't be such a cheap motherf**ker this time!

[fredo]

I live in the Southampton and have no issues with noise or thin walls, other than a neighbor who plays classical piano, which we enjoy.