Need a silencer for tile wet saw...

[branimal]

Kind of ridiculous question for you guys.

I gotta cut tile tomorrow to finish up my bathroom. I live in a condo and the board president who is the only one within earshot who will bust my balls lives two floors below the cutting location.

How can I quiet down the screeching sound so I don’t rack up a fine?$$$

I’m thinking put some rubber under the saws stands. Maybe put cardboard under each piece I cut. Any other ideas?



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[tatra]

Maybe one of these for rental if there is an issue ? Never used one so have no idea as to the finish quality of the cut ?

 

[branimal]

What will the styrofoam ice chest do?


I don’t think the tile break will work. I’m cutting 12x24” 3/8” thick porcelain tile at angles.


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[The Cobbler]

what is the screeching sound? from the blade cutting the tile?

for the vibrations from the saw I would try high density styrofoam and a pc of ply under the contact points

 

[branimal]

what is the screeching sound? from the blade cutting the tile?

for the vibrations from the saw I would try high density styrofoam and a pc of ply under the contact points

Screeching is the blade on the tile. That’s the worst part.

Got both high density styrofoam and ply laying around - those are good ideas.



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[The Cobbler]

does your saw have a double groove pulley? Mine does & it's set to the slower RPM and I don't recall hearing that bad a noise while cutting tile. I could see higher rpms making more blade noise on the tile

 

[bad_idea]

Knock on the guy's door. When he answers the door, kick him in the balls. He'll be too concerned about his balls to worry about the saw noise.

 

[Dustball]

What kind of tile saw do you have?

 

[branimal]

I live in a duplex (4th and 5th floor). I’m cutting on 5 and I just recorded the noise with my phone on 4. Most of the sound I hear is NOT the high pitched screeching but a more deeper sound. Maybe that noise is vibration generated and could be significantly deadened by the styrofoam idea.

No way to upload the clip unfortunately.


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[branimal]

What kind of tile saw do you have?

Horrible freight 10” Brick/tile saw with dewalt xp4 blade.


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[landlord30]

cut it outside

 

[glentre]

Lay all your full tiles first. Then, take measurements of all the tiles you need to cut, making paper sketches or templates if you have to. Then take your saw to wherever noise will not be a problem (friend's house ?) and cut all your pieces at once.

Glen

 

[PugetDude]

Be proactive, not reactive. Knock on his door, tell him you're remodeling your bathroom and ask him what time of day is best for you to be cutting tile. I seriously doubt they have a noise ordinance that forbids any type of construction at any time...

Ask him for a copy of the Association noise ordinance if he gets pissy.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Did those condos literally grow from the ground? No, they didn't. Men with tools built them and men with tools need to maintain them.

They have to allow noise for maintenance, no other way. Talk to the guy and explain how life works.

 

[Viper98912]

Yes, just talk to the guy and tell him you've got some tiles to finish cutting and will be working from x time to x time (I suggest 9 am to 5pm at most). Ask him if this causes him any issues (most likely he will say no).

Then get to work...

 

[rustyjames]

cut it outside

My thought too. Unless it's freezing?

 

[glentre]

I have this same saw and it makes a lot of noise. Cutting outside his condo will be heard by more folks than if he did it inside his own place. My neighbor about 75 Yds away could always tell when I was cutting my patio pavers outside because he could hear it easily from inside his home.

I worked many days when it was below freezing for that winter project and just filled the saw sump with hot water to start and it never froze so long as the saw was in use. Must drain the pan and the pump at the end of every day, however. I agree with others who advised talking to the neighbors first and telling them when he will be cutting. It's only a bathroom......it's not going to take long to make the cuts. If there are objections, make the cuts elsewhere off site.

Glen

 

[edog1]

Find out what that noise ordinance policy is and then get to work. I think you are being too considerate of one person. Why bother asking his opinion or if he has any issues unless you ask all of your neighbors and schedule all your work around what is acceptable for everyone. If he is unhappy im sure they will add more rules to the association forbidding tile work from your unit.
Tiles can be very expensive so make plenty of practice cuts and then start tiling your kitchen next.

 

[kd3pc]

better to ask forgiveness, than permission.

 

[Firstram]

No help on how to keep the noise down but, I have saved a lot of labor over the years. I'm not sure how you are dealing with the cleanup and wash down water disposal.

To save time and avoid spills, whenever I'm above the 1st floor or doing a remodel in a finished house. I set up a 40 gallon Brute trash can with a sump pump and bring my water supply to the room I'm working in. This way I have a constant supply of fresh water for wiping, cleaning and mixing. When the can is full, I whip up the water with my mixer, drop the pump in and the thinset and grout will all get pumped away.

I have been using the same 1/4 hp pump for years with no problems. Everything is so diluted nothing really sticks to the impeller other than a light coating which falls off when dry.

 

[branimal]

To clarify, I am able to cut tile Monday - Friday 9-4pm. I wanted to make some cuts over the three day weekend to finish the job. (Saturday, Sunday and Monday - New Years). I’m going to wait until Tuesday and restart the project. I’ll template the complex cuts today.

I live in Manhattan, NYC so cutting tiles outside isn’t an option.

And yes that saw is loud.


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[branimal]

No help on how to keep the noise down but, I have saved a lot of labor over the years. I'm not sure how you are dealing with the cleanup and wash down water disposal.



To save time and avoid spills, whenever I'm above the 1st floor or doing a remodel in a finished house. I set up a 40 gallon Brute trash can with a sump pump and bring my water supply to the room I'm working in. This way I have a constant supply of fresh water for wiping, cleaning and mixing. When the can is full, I whip up the water with my mixer, drop the pump in and the thinset and grout will all get pumped away.



I have been using the same 1/4 hp pump for years with no problems. Everything is so diluted nothing really sticks to the impeller other than a light coating which falls off when dry.

Great idea with the sump pump. My next reno job will be a slightly more residential area where I can pump out dirty water. Where do you send the dirty water?

Your gonna laugh but I cut tile in the bathroom I’ve just renovated bc that’s the only wet room I have. Working on the second bathroom now. City life.

I’ve got a tarp on the wall and floors, but I know the floors are getting swamped with dirty water. I cringe every time I go in there. The grout is a dark color so that’s my only solace.

I mix in those 2 gallon (?) bucket liners and sometimes in the big 5 gallon hd buckets.

Getting rid of dirty water - I let the water settle and pour out the top coat in my toilet or my kitchen sink. (I’m replacing that p-trap for my next project). The murky water gets tossed in the sewer. And the bucket gets tossed in the trash.

Renovating in New York City is a pain. I’ve got notify the building manager every time I want to bring in studs, sheet, mortar you name it. If I don’t I’ll be getting a letter from the condo board lawyer.


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[dogdog]

Cut slower and you won't have that screeching noise. Also new blade helps. The screeching sound is from the blade hitting the tile dry without enough water wetting it.

 

[Firstram]

I usually dig a hole and send it. I have to break up the crust that forms once in a while to keep the water flowing thru the sand. At the end of the job I shovel the hardened sand/dirt into the trash. All residential in NC. I cant imagine getting away with this in NYC. Decanting the water is probably your only choice.

 

[ddawg16]

I'm in the 'let them know in advance'.

I don't know how they can stop you. What happens if something breaks and a plumber has to come in and do demo?

I'm willing to bet, with advance notice, it will be ok.

 

[dogdog]

co-op and condos usually works like this any construction you have to give advance notice to the managements. Adhere to the work hours in the manual, unless it is an emergency fix outside of the allowed time frames, which the super would needed to be notified.. I think OP was trying to work outside of the allowed work hours. It would be fine as long as no one complains.

As far as the dirty water, let settle in another 5 gallon bucket over nite, bleed off the top layers and bag the rest in a contractor plastic bag dispose of it as usual... you can strain it through an old T-shirt if you wanted it to be more dry... not an issue I have done that for my ...... that is in Manhattan. and as well as helping a friend's condo in Jersey City... although that building wants $250 fee for any constructions....... still have to adhere to the work hours but they are more lax... in other word, these rules are different from building to building, and all dependents on your neighbors as well. As long as you don't have certain whiners or weiners you are fine.

 

[the gypsy]

All I have to say is if you have only a couple of hours of tile cutting, buy him and his better half a couple of tickets to a long movie (the longer the better) or a play, and do the cutting then. Best of luck. Thinking outside the box I hope it helps.

 

[ford33]

There are allowed work hours in many communities and HOA's also have them. If it is today, Saturday, you should be fine to work. If he complains about the noise agree that it is loud but you are working within the rules on the property.

I would suggest you tell him today that you are working but you are not asking for permission.

 

[Gotcha640]

Holiday weekend is reasonable to ask for quiet. Your plan to cut templates this weekend and cut tile Tuesday seems fair. This was the agreement we came up with last time I lived in a condo. I work in a plant, and coming home from a noisy construction site to my neighbors hammer drilling for new stairs and cutting for a roof deck wasn't going to fly. Work days, work hours.