Hello!
We currently live in a two-story townhouse built in the 80s. One entire side of the house is adjacent to the neighbor's staircase. When the neighbors use the stairs, the wall vibrates so much that we, for example, feel vibrations in the bed (which is against the wall), and the glasses in the kitchen cabinets rattle significantly. The entire kitchen creaks more or less when someone walks on the staircase on the other side of the wall.
The sounds themselves don't disturb us too much, but we just want to know if this is normal. Can we expect this type of structure-borne noise/vibrations, or should we investigate to ensure there's nothing wrong with the construction?
We currently live in a two-story townhouse built in the 80s. One entire side of the house is adjacent to the neighbor's staircase. When the neighbors use the stairs, the wall vibrates so much that we, for example, feel vibrations in the bed (which is against the wall), and the glasses in the kitchen cabinets rattle significantly. The entire kitchen creaks more or less when someone walks on the staircase on the other side of the wall.
The sounds themselves don't disturb us too much, but we just want to know if this is normal. Can we expect this type of structure-borne noise/vibrations, or should we investigate to ensure there's nothing wrong with the construction?
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Many townhouses, including the one I used to live in, were built in sections at a factory and placed on-site like blocks. In the 70s and 80s, people weren't so concerned about heating costs, so construction used thinner wood, meaning the walls could be 2x4 or smaller. Between the "blocks," there could be 2x2 + 2x2 to form the wall.
If you then attach a staircase to it and walk on it, there will be vibrations throughout the wall... so it's not abnormal or unusual.
The house has been standing since the 80s in your case, so I don't think it will suddenly collapse
If you then attach a staircase to it and walk on it, there will be vibrations throughout the wall... so it's not abnormal or unusual.
The house has been standing since the 80s in your case, so I don't think it will suddenly collapse
Is it the same in the other houses in the row?