How Long do I Have to Endure Renovation Noise For?
Your neighbour has decided to purchase a new property. This means that their existing home will now be put on the resale market, waiting to be purchased by new homeowners.
When that day inevitably arrives, you’d eventually have to endure the ruckus caused by the organised chaos that is your new neighbours’ renovation. But just what contributes to all that noise? And how long do you actually have to put up with the noises for?
More importantly, is there any way you can alter your lifestyle temporarily to cope with the additional racket?
Understanding the Hacking Protocol
Thankfully, our government has given this some proper thought. HDB regulations only allow renovation contractors to spend three days to complete all the necessary hacking works. This includes the dismantling of existing cabinetry, the removal of wall and floor finishes, and the hacking of any interior walls.
It also states that works can only be done between 9.00am and 5.00pm on weekdays. Which isn’t a huge concern for the vast majority, since we now live in a post-COVID world, where most of the workforce is back in their offices.
But hold your horses – there are potentially noisy processes that can, in theory, be done within the HDB rulebook on Saturdays too.
Processes With Minor Noise
Under the general guidelines, renovation works can be carried out on Saturdays too. This means that masonry and carpentry works can be done on a day that you may very much prefer sleeping in on.
The noise emitters in the former come from the cutting of tiles and hollow blocks to fit the space required. Contractors often mitigate this noise by doing these processes either within the confines of the bathrooms, or in the household shelter. Expect to have to put up with periodic noise for up to seven days.
In the carpentry installation phase, carpenters will use routers and jigsaws to clearance and finish the cabinetry. Routers tend to emit a louder noise, and unfortunately, tend to be used for longer periods than jigsaws. Carpentry can also take up to a week, depending on the complexity of the project.Also expect to have to put up with the sounds of drilling, especially in the latter stages of the renovation. A handyman usually comes in on the very last week of the job, taking up to a full day to completely wall-mount any fixture the homeowner has requested for.
Possible Ways to Cope with the Noise
It is unlikely that you’d be affected by the noise of the major hacking works, as it usually only takes place during office hours. Where it may most likely affect the vast majority of the population, is the works that occur on Saturdays.
Make use of this opportunity (or excuse!) to have a short getaway with your loved ones. If you have no choice but have to remain in Singapore, consider spending most of the afternoon out of your home. But if even that isn’t possible, the minor noise emitted by those processes can usually be blocked out by keeping your room door shut!
