Floors That Speak: Buyer Alert

Thinking of buying a condo here? Some residents experience loud, sleep-shattering creaks and bangs. Like the creaking and bang at 2am recorded in the 0:08 mark in the video here (sound on) — caused from unknown sources.

Nails rubbing against floor boards that shift have been known to create high-pitched squeaks and sometimes bangs. Noise that HOA sound tests might miss—they only claim to measure ambient noise transmission, like a loud TV — not the real source like a nail rubbing or wood beams slamming within the structure itself.

The fixes could potentially be trivial: driving break away screws through carpets, adding a simple leveling compound when replacing floors, or adding glue to loose nails stop the nails and boards from moving.

Buyers may see disclosures noting “noise complaints”; not realizing that residents literally report sleepless nights, earplugs, white noise machines, and even permanent moves.

When I complained about my own floors creaking out of concern for anyone downstairs, the HOA conducted tests, came into my unit repeatedly, and had me provide diagrams and photos.

I simply asked to see the test results, but was ghosted by the HOA on that request. One previous board member stated verbally to me that the fixes would be too invasive and not long lasting, and suggested asking upstairs neighbors to “avoid stepping on certain spots.”