With the ever-rising real-estate prices, it is really difficult these days to be able to afford a comfortable home in a nice, safe, and well-connected residential area.
This is why most people who are just starting to look for a home, are going for condos and apartments instead of a house.
While a condo is a cheaper option as well as guarantees unique ownership of the property, there is just one downside – the possibility of noisy neighbors and sound leaking from the walls.
Living in a condo essentially means that you will be surrounded by a variety of neighbors, all of whom might not have the sensitivity to be considerate of others and refrain from making noise.
In such a case, the question that begs to be answered is, are condos soundproof, and will the walls be able to stop all loud noise from neighbors?
Are Condos soundproof?
Well, there is no one answer to this because whether a living area is soundproof or not depends entirely on the building technique and materials or to be more precise, the structural composition of the condo walls.
Some other factors also determine how soundproof a condo can be, and the most important of those is the age of the building in question.
The older a building gets, the more the chances for sound leaking through the walls because the structural integrity of the construction in older buildings is often not very reliable.
So if you are looking to buy a condo, make sure you check in advance about the age and current condition of the building.
That said, not all old buildings and condos will have sound leaking walls. It just depends from case to case and you have to check in person to be sure.
Are Condos Quieter than Apartments?
We cannot have a straight answer for this question as the build and make of each condo and apartment will decide if there are chances of loud neighbor noise which you will hear through the walls, unfortunately.
However, as already mentioned you should check thoroughly. Get the developer plans from the real-estate agent to know if the walls were made soundproof or not.
Also, try and get multiple viewings of the condo before finalizing because if the neighbors are absent when you are viewing the condo then a checking cannot be done. You can talk to your agent about letting you view the condo when the people next door will be present.
The other thing you can do is to talk to other residents if possible. They can give you the best insight into the noise issues of that place.
Are Concrete Condos Soundproof?
Any concrete surface will provide a better soundproofing solution than a wooden surface and to answer the specific question- yes concrete condos are soundproof.
However, the noise level one is dealing with also is important here as a thin layer of concrete will not stop extremely loud neighbor noise.
However, if a comparison is made with wooden walls or stud walls then concrete will take the first spot because the nature of sound waves makes it difficult for them to travel through thick and dense surfaces.
So if the condo you are considering has concrete walls, it could end up becoming a good investment.
Don’t miss:
How to Soundproof a Condo
Are Townhouses Soundproof
Can You Hear Neighbors in Townhouse
How Many Noise Complaints Until Eviction
Are Noisy Tenants A Landlord Responsibility
Final Thoughts
Most newer constructions have good soundproofing incorporated into their structure, However, the bottom line is what materials were used and how the condo was built. You should look into all these minor details before sealing the deal!