We want to be good neighbours...?
Question:we've just moved into a really old house and we have to re-plaster completely. We are knocking off all of the old plaster from 7 in the morning until well past midnight.
The neighbours are starting to make some complaints and we dont want to upset them yet.
Is there any way, that we can quietly remove the plaster? Somebody suggested a steamer and rubber chisels, so this is what we are doing but its taking 3 or 4 times longer.
Is there some other way?
many thanks :-)
Answers:
I know you want to get your job finished, but to be honest, you are not seeing it from anyone's point of view other than yours. It is totally unnacceptable to be doing this from 7am until well past midnight. I am not surprised you have had complaints. You need to spend the next few years at least with these neighbours and it would not be a good idea to alienate them from the outset. What is more important to you? Fixing your house super fast, or living in a nice area with great neighbours?
If you just want to fix the house and sod the outcome, then why ask the question, so I am guessing that you care about some form of relationship with your neighbours, in which case, why not get them together at your, as yet unfinished, house over a glass of wine or two and apologise about the noise, explain you have been very focused on what you are doing and perhaps not as considerate as you normally would have, and see if you can agree a plan that suits you all, what time you can start, and what time you must finish by. Explain that the longer you can work, the quicker it will be done, but also explain that you understand that incessant banging is likely to drive people nuts.
That should resolve things, but you may have to accept that your hours of plaster destruction may well be much more limited and you will have to spend longer doing it.
Once you have made the agreement, stick to it.
I do not know of any quicker way to remove plaster, but you will have shown your neighbours that you care, and maybe when they see how much work there is to do, they may cut you more slack. If they wont come to you, go to them and explain it all, failing that, write to them. I have had an ongoing battle with my upstairs neighbour for two years over the constant banging and jumping her two very spoilt young children make, and it has been so stressful for both families.
I know you want to get this done and it seems like quite a bit of work to do but 7am is kind of early for those who sleep. Wait till around 10am and if your neighbors still complain than talk to them about it and see if you can work something out
7s to early and 12 to late mate!
Stop at 10-11 p.m. You don't own the whole road, and should respect people's sleep, if nothing else. Between 7-10 they can't really legally do anything, after that time it's legally a noise nuisance. Use normal tools but limit the hours to sociable standards.
stop banging at arounf 8pm.. no one want to listen to construction all day and all night, and yes it will take longer, but your neighbours wont have fallen out with you over it.
Had a very similar situation happen to me recently ... people bought the house next door and worked on it 7 days a week, often hammering and axle grinding at all times ... we cancelled two barbecues and at times got to the end of our tether with the noise. There was no where we could go in the house to get away from the noise. I am afraid that making a noise from 7am to midnight is pure 'anti social' and the neighbours are right to complain. Their actions could result in the local authority issuing you with an enforcement notice or even an ASBO ( I suspect ) if you persist. I am sorry but you need to appreciate your neighbours and simply work at proper times, like builders would do. I don't think your 'quiet working' strategy is acceptable either as it simply wont work. You need to be responsible and keep the noise to a minimum and only work say office hours with little or no activity at weekends. Sounds harsh but your neighbours are entitled to a life.
An ASBO being too severe? People that buy,renovate and sell houses and create as much noise, disruption and social mayhem to their neighbours quite honestly deserve an asbo. It's not just for violence you know, it's for anyone that creates anti-social behaviour to a high level. And yes, it can be applied if public reaction demonstrates. Asbos are issued in partnership not only with the police but with local authorities in particular.
ask your neighbours if they would like to help...then the job gets done quicker and while they are with you they cant moan....
No you could really get an ASBO for this, I've seen it as I work closely with my local council.
Start later, finish earlier, simple.
Start later, Finish earlier and Increase number of people working. or flood the job with labour on a once and for all basis and get the noise over.
7am - midnight? Are you kidding? If you were my neighbour I would have something to say about that!
Have a bit of respect for others - don't start until mid morning and have the courtesy to finish by 8pm at the latest.
Imagine once you replastered and are living comfortably in your house and your new neighbours start banging around at 7am? Are you gonna be nice to them?
I notice you say you don't want to upset your neighbours...yet!
If I were you I wouldn't want to upset them at all. You have to live near these people.
You also say it's not about the noise. Well, maybe it isn't for you but I bet it is for them.
You shouldn't start until 8a.m. at the earliest and you should be finished by 9p.m. at the very latest. People have work to go to and kids to try to get to sleep.
Please, show them some consideration and I'm sure the complaints will stop.
You say an ASBO sounds severe, but that may very well be what you get if you ignore your neighbours views.
Sorry, but that's the way it is.
First and foremost Mr Laff, a little dickie bird tells me that you are not taking this great American institution of ours, FindHomeAnswers at all seriously. This offends me greatly. Do you not realise that there are desperate people out there with really valid questions such as 'what is your favourite colour?', and 'could anyone recommend a good 24 hour taxidermist in Okla-homo ?' I've a good mind to report you for a violation, clogging up the network with such a question.
And have some consideration for the neighbours please, in my state if you carried on like that, you would be immediately arrested and put on death row, no questions asked. And on top of that, you wouldn't even be allowed a last request of your favourite meal, it would be a curly-wurly, end of story.
My neighbours put me through the hell that you are putting your neighbours through, they built a 35 storey extension where the coal house used to be, and they were at it day and night, I was subjected to 24 hour banging. Eventually I commited suicide.
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