Mechanical Noise Complaints In Condos

Condominium Noise | June 11, 2023  | Ivan Koval

Condominium managers and property managers often receive complaints from condo residents about noise. Managers must investigate and try to address the complaints.  Mechanical noise issues can arise in any building, but mitigating them in modern wood structures can be more challenging.

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Mechanical Noise Complaints In Condos

Misleading Acoustical Information

Soundproofing | April 25, 2023  | Ivan Koval

Many people look for solutions to soundproofing problems online, hoping to be able to resolve their problems themselves without hiring an expert. This is often difficult because there are many cases of misleading information published online by soundproofing product manufacturers, for example, Green Glue.

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Misleading Acoustical Information

Soundproofing a door with advice from chatGPT

Soundproofing | April 23, 2023  | Ivan Koval

I have asked the AI platform chatGPT, which is recently the rage of the news, this question: How to soundproof a door?  This is the response that I got, verbatim:

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Soundproofing a door with advice from chatGPT

Insulation in walls – is it soundproofing?

Soundproofing | April 19, 2023  | Ivan Koval

Many clients called me explaining that they have hired a contractor to soundproof their bedroom or basement apartment. The contractor added insulation. However, the result of the renovation was not satisfactory.  The noise was almost as bad as before the renovation.

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Insulation in walls – is it soundproofing?

Soundproof Wallpaper – Does It Work?

Soundproofing, Technology News | February 5, 2023  | Ivan Koval

I have previously written about seemingly authoritative sources providing incorrect information on the Internet. This article about soundproof wallpaper is another example. It is difficult for an average person to distinguish between correct and incorrect information, especially if the source sounds authoritative. Please keep this in mind when you’re interested in what you read anywhere, specifically

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Soundproof Wallpaper – Does It Work?

Noise complaints – a guide for condominium managers

Condominium Noise | January 16, 2023  | Ivan Koval

When addressing a noise complaint by condominium residents, property and condominium managers should follow these steps:

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Noise complaints – a guide for condominium managers

Secondary Suites and Soundproofing

Soundproofing | February 8, 2022  | Ivan Koval

What is a secondary suite? Ontario building code definition of a secondary suite (basement apartment): Secondary suite means a self-contained dwelling unit with a prescribed floor area located in a building or portion of a building of only residential occupancy that contains only one other dwelling unit and common spaces, and where both dwelling units

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Secondary Suites and Soundproofing

Bungled Basement Soundproofing

Noise Control Case Study | January 3, 2022  | Ivan Koval

Recently, a client retained me to review his basement soundproofing job. Unfortunately, the job was done by his contractor, who was not a specialized soundproofing contractor. As a result, it was bungled. 

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Bungled Basement Soundproofing