Squeaky Upstairs Floor, What to do? (apartment, lease, construction, record)

[vbman213]

I live in a relatively new multi-floor property (finished construction in 2005) in Grand Rapids, MI. My building has 3 floors, I live on the 2nd floor. Last year I began to notice a very loud squeaky noise anytime my upstairs neighbor walks around in her bedroom. This problem has gotten worse and worse.

I emailed video recordings of the problem to my LL. I also subsequently discovered that my ceiling was flexing downward and I could physically push up on the drywall and move it. Maintenance came in and added screws to the ceiling and "lifted it up significantly" (according to the work summary).

The problem got marginally better but since has come back with a vengeance.

About a month ago, I contacted my LL again about the problem. I asked to meet with the LL and maintenance at my apartment so I could be there during the assessment. Maintenance went upstairs and walked around, reproducing the noise. They determined the interface between the flooring member and the wall was damaged...damage likely caused by "the extremely large king-sized bed" (their exact words) of my upstairs neighbor. The front legs of the bed are exactly on plane with the epicenter of the squeaking noise.

I was told that they would acquire permission to cut into the floor/wall to examine floor/wall interface over a month ago. The problem is still not resolved.

Oh and my rent is going up for $60 for this next lease cycle...

Tl;DR Upstairs neighbor has a bed that is too heavy for the building to support and has damaged a flooring member. This results in extreme squeaking anytime my upstairs neighbor walks around in her bedroom (which is directly above mine).

This is what I wake up to every morning. It is much louder in person.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IElqAnhzhDg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF6e_hetfaA

[AZ Manager]

No such thing as a bed too large, bunch of idiot maintenance men have a worthless opinion. Those floor joists are engineered to support WAY more weight than you can reasonably stack in there, think home gym.

As for what you can do about it you have limited options. You can move though.

[vbman213]

Not if the construction was dodgy to begin with. Remember, they originally used nails to hang a drywall ceiling... So yea, I do believe the story of the weight of the bed being an issue in this case. Tiny bed room too, 11'x11' and a king sized bed...

I really don't want to move. It is a great location, great facilities. This is the only negative that I have. I honestly can live with the noise. I usually beat upstairs out in the mornings during the school year anyway (I'm a high school teacher). But the problem is getting worse and I'm starting to really question the integrity of the floor/ceiling.

[AZ Manager]

Nothing wrong with hanging drywall with nails. Screws hold better so you use less but there is nothing wrong with either method if done right. Floor joists are engineered products, same as trusses, and are not touched by anyone but the company that made them/allowed to install them. The people who hung the drywall have nothing to do with it.

[vbman213]

I'm really not following the blind defense of the property owners here...

Something (what that might be is clearly still a matter of debate) is very wrong with the construction here. Going back to the sagging ceiling. The ceiling was sagging a good 1-2 inches. That's how dodgy the ceiling was. Part of the noise was indeed the ceiling because it would start to resonate and squeak against the metal of the air vent.

The noise is coming from the corner of the floor and wall (ceiling and wall in my case). Now, I will admit I know nothing about construction. But it would seem like something is wrong where the joist interfaces with the wall.

[AZ Manager]

I called them idiots so there is no defense of the owner. I'm letting you know that they aren't even qualified to figure out what the problem is so you can expect this to carry on for a long while. Like I said your options are limited but you can move.

Is that an internal wall, assuming it is because of the vent on it.

[vbman213]

The wall in the video is indeed an interior wall. However, the noise is actually from an exterior wall.


context:

[AZ Manager]

The noise wasn't coming from the wall the camera is facing?

[vbman213]

Originally Posted by AZ Manager

The noise wasn't coming from the wall the camera is facing?

No sorry. I first thought the noise was coming from the vent (that was my target).