Replies

1. 
   fredsmart48 | Nov 30, 2002 07:25pm | #1

   I have doubts that you would be allowed to do wood working out of your condo. They have all kinds of rules and regs that restrict what you can do. Just because you own the condo dose not mean you get to do any thing you want.

1. 
   Armin110 | Nov 30, 2002 08:48pm | #2

   I would have to agree with fred, the condo thing has it's limits, you may have to resign yourself to scrollsaw and lap top lathe projects.

2. 
   riverr1 | Nov 30, 2002 09:00pm | #3

   I spent 6 months in an apartment with an attached garage back in the 80's. The garages were ell'd off of the main apartment structure. Hope you follow what I'm saying???? Anway, I did woodworking in the garage with no complaints from the neighbors. Noise was negligible. Of course, I wasn't out there at 2 in the morning! You might look for something like this in a condo and rules that allow you to at least try.

   Don

3. 
   fredsmart48 | Nov 30, 2002 11:29pm | #4

   If you do go for the condo make sure the rules and reg. allow you to remodel as you want. So you don't need to convince the condo board allow you change the color of the bath room from a off white to egg shell. or if you want to add a cabinet to the kitchen you can do so with out having to condo board approve of it. or in your case add insulating to the walls to keep the noise you will make from traveling to the neighbors apartment.

   Just remember just because you paid some one 200K for the house or apartment does not mean you own it You bought the right to live in that place for that much. Not to do as you like. It is more like you are renting a apartment, one time payment for the right to live there for every and you agree to live there abide by the condos rules and reg. and pay the property tax and maintenance cost.

   personally I do not want to live in a condo or with deed restriction that some people add to the deeds.

1. 
   Ron | Dec 01, 2002 03:46am | #5

   I have a split leval, with a garage thats under two of the bedrooms.I found the use of hand tools necessary at times.The idea of woodworking in a condo may need you to adjust your projects.I wonder if the japanese style of woodworking is in your future.Constuct your wife a large garden then she won't want to move.My sisters best friend has been in her condo for almost three years,In the spring she will be moving to a brand new condo complex about two hundred yards down the road.The reason for moving, a noisy neighbor.Best of luck Ron

2. 
   BenM | Dec 02, 2002 09:36pm | #8

   A minor clarification. When you pay for a condo you DO own it and you can do almost anything within reason, as long as it is within the interior walls.  You can not do anything outside those walls, which are considered common areas.  It's a co-op where you only own shares and the right to live in the space, but you don't actually own it. 

4. 
   jeffn7 | Dec 01, 2002 06:51am | #6

   home depot sells a 1/2" soundboard material. It's basically a compressed fiber material, but it works pretty good, however, it does not sound 'proof' a room.

   At the decibal levels that most woodworking machinery and tools operate at, I don't think you are going to find a solution that is anything other than marginally effective. You might want to stock up on good wine and beer as occasional gifts for your new neighbors to keep in their good graces.

1. 
   Sancho | Dec 01, 2002 07:53pm | #7

   First what you want to do is review the CC&Rs and check out the restrictions. I had a bit of a problem at first but my aurgument was, I did my own work as far as upgrading the condo. My whole point was I was improving my property. I was doing the same thing as a contractor that they the board members or anyone else hired to do the work. Them stopping me was causing me a unfair hardship as I was unable to pay someone to work on my place and I had to do all the work myself. (I won by the way)so here is my advice:

   Again the most important thing you can do is check out the CC&Rs those are the laws of the association. I lived inna condo w/ a attached one car garage. I had a complete woodshop. What I had to do was be courteous. (1) watch the times I worked in it. Not early or late but right around the middle of the day. (2) If I did work at night or early in the morn I set up a dust collection system and did it with the garage closed. I also had a finished garage which included insulation and dry wall. That cut down the noise dramatically. At Darkworks we measure twice cut the cheese once