soundproofing / ceiling noise

I would tell you broker that you would like to speak with a few existing owners on your floor to get their feedback on the building in general. You can then ask them if it has been an issue for them. That will help you to understand if the building is one with overall noise problems.

To get a sense of how loud the people above you may be, I would arrange to see the apartment in the evening. The city is mre quiet at that point, and if your neighbors above are a family, dinner time is probably their peak noise making time.

Noise is a very personal factor. I have a friend who passed on an appartment because of the city bus stops and trash schedule because she can hear it and it would wake her. If you are that sensitive -- try to visit several times on both weekends and weekdays but also go for end of a hall -- top floor or garden side apts where it is more quiet. Good luck. Soundproofing ceilings and floors and walls especially with tv/stereo can help too.

if the people above you have kids -- you will get running and footsteps. Or dogs. It bothers some -- not others..

NYT had an article about this. A doctor bought an apartment under a family with children and they wouldn't quiet them at all. The doctor moved out.

Do most have better luck with concrete construction 'high-rise' buildings than either smaller pre-war/walkup buildings?

I have not noticed much noise when the floor between apartments was concrete (ala high-rise), but when it was just wood planks the sound seemed much more noticeable (such as in brownstones).

Hard to say. I know some concrete slab buildings which transmit every little noise. I has very much to do with what's between the the apartments. If it's just hardwood glued to the slab, and a painted slab underneath for ceiling, then you'll hear a pin drop. In many new buildings they require a sound barrier. In an old building with wood joists, you can re-brace joists, put sound absorbing insulation, install new subfloor with soundtape or elastic glues to reduce squeak, put rubber or other sound barrier between the subfloor and the floor, etc. Also the flooring material makes a bug difference as do rugs, carpets.

But in general, concrete is a better sound barrier than open joists.

And agreed, it's totally personal. Try and be there to hear for yourself.

One item I found hard to correct - Share part of a floor, made of open wood joists with your neighbor one wall away. You'll hear every footstep and every movement of their kitchen chairs dragged.

I agree that concrete is better. There are better foams that some buildings use under hardwood floors that make it even better. Otherwise, some contractors may be able to create a second ceiling with additional insulation.

Between units you can try a quietrock wall or regular drywall with green glue. Usually it only decreases the size of the room by 5/8 of an inch. It's not perfect but should muffle the sound from neighboring apartments.

Get an electronic soundproof device install and plug it in. All voice will be gone. There are several brands in the market. Make sure to put one in each room.

Some other products that could be helpful:

-QuietRock sheetrock over the existing common walls
-Green Glue applied to the existing wall and covered with standard sheetrock
-Rubber material installed and covered with standard sheetrock

The products are expensive, but I guess you could install it on only the shared/common walls. Don't know how involved this kind of work would be in a condo or co-op, but assuming it might be more involved when dealing with some co-op boards.

If you do experience noise coming from an upstairs neighbor, and it hasn't been easy to resolve it directly with them or through your management company, you're welcome to try mediation. It's a free service in NYC and easy. Call (212) 577-1740 for the Safe Horizon Mediation Program in Manhattan. You can ask questions to see if it would be helpful for you.