#hdbliving

Living near an HDB lift lobby, staircase or busy common corridor can mean hearing footsteps, conversations, delivery trolleys and doors closing throughout the day.

Many homeowners assume the main door panel is too thin. However, corridor noise often enters through small gaps around the door rather than through the door surface itself.

Check these four areas first

1. The top of the door

A visible gap between the door and the upper frame can create a continuous path for sound.

2. Both sides of the frame

Uneven gaps along the jambs may indicate worn seals, loose hinges, door sagging or frame misalignment.

3. The bottom of the door

The threshold is frequently the largest opening. An automatic door bottom may help close this gap when the door shuts while lifting away when it opens.

4. The door and frame alignment

Adding thicker seals will not completely solve the problem when the door is warped or the frame is out of square. The door should make consistent contact with the seal around its perimeter.

Does the door core matter?

Yes, but it is only one part of the complete door assembly. A denser solid or engineered core normally resists airborne sound better than a lightweight hollow core. However, even a heavy door may still allow substantial noise through an unsealed threshold or side gap.

A sensible order is:

Inspect the gaps.

Check the hinges and alignment.

Replace damaged perimeter seals.

Assess the threshold.

Consider the door core only if noise remains.

For fire-rated HDB entrance doors, avoid changing the core, closer, seals or hardware without first confirming that the modification is suitable for the certified door assembly. The existing door closer should not simply be removed.

Read the complete Singapore guide:

Dear Neighbour,

Have a heart, the rest of us still have our laundry to dry. Your dirty mop had been hung to dry forever. Rain or shine it is still there as a permanent fixture. Never I see, you hung your laundry to dry. Instead, only that dirty mop that you are so proud to show off.

When you choose to live in a Housing Development Board (HDB) flat, you are making the subconscious decision to live with many strangers as neighbors. Your neighbors surround you. Each of us lives on different floors in harmony. (at least a few tried). 

Have you no conscience or at least brains? Do note, HDB does not allow you to hang wet laundry on bamboo poles or dripping mops outside the house. After clothes are washed, you are to make sure they stop dripping before you hang them out.

You do know that dripping water causes inconvenience to other neighbors.  Inconveniently you may ruin the clothes of your neighbors living on the floors below you. 

So have a heart and keep that dirty mop away so others can hang their laundry to dry.