By Stephanie Kohl
Marketing
I have a confession. I know my upstairs neighbor much better than he probably thinks I do. I have lived in many apartments in my life, but this is the first time I have ever lived on the first floor - meaning it is the first time I have ever had someone living above me. And let me tell you, I can hear EVERYTHING.
I can say with absolute certainty that there is no precast separating my apartment from the one upstairs. If there were, I certainly wouldn't know what time he got up each morning or that he vacuums his entire apartment every Saturday morning, or that (I'm assuming) he has an entire home gym in his living room and focuses on deadlifting every afternoon when he gets home from work. There is no precast between my apartment and the one next to mine either, and that guy snores.
Acoustics play a vital role in the design of a building, and the designer's selection of materials to build with. The building partition (floors, walls and ceilings) of each space offers a measurable level of privacy from outside noise and from physical impacts against the floors, walls, and ceilings themselves.
Due to its density and its ability to absorb sound, precast is an ideal choice for your latest construction project. Precast acts as a natural sound barrier, preventing neighbors from hearing into each other's units. As a building owner, assuring your residents they will not hear the footsteps of their upstairs neighbors or their neighbor's bass on Friday night are big selling points. I know I would agree to a higher rent if I did not have to hear my current neighbors.
When all is said and done, the common goal of architects, builders, and building owners is to acquire as much acoustical performance for the money as possible. Precast can help provide that value. Precast concrete provides high mass and insulation and Mid-States can transform this natural material into a variety of configurations, shapes, patterns, colors, and styles to meet almost any creative and functional vision.
Had my apartment been built using precast, I wouldn't be starting my apartment search all over again. However, my neighbors still got the raw end of the deal. After all, I have a preschooler.