I purchased a condo at Pride Condo

[travelling_man]

Many years ago, I lived across from the beach in central Pattaya until the building was sold.  Then I moved to the darkside and have owned a house for 15 years so far.  During that time, I either kept rooms in town, or grabbed hotel rooms for 2-3 night binge stays.  Two years ago, I started thinking about moving back to town permanently and looked at a few condos - both buying and renting.

I have never enjoyed renting but wasn't sure if I wanted to take on a new purchase, especially since I was only finding units that would require the creation of a new company.  I harped on the buy-vs-rent discussion much longer than I should have (https://forum.pattaya-addicts.com/topic/367684-renting-versus-buying/page/2/?&_rid=29954#findComment-5505956) and (https://forum.pattaya-addicts.com/topic/367684-renting-versus-buying/page/4/?&_rid=29954#findComment-5692343).  

 

I was interested in two complexes although I looked at others. 

The Pride Condo. I was surprised at how few units were ever available at the Pride, as well as how there were never any nightly AirBnB listings.  If you are buying, you don't want to see nightly rentals available.  As to unit sales, there was virtually no turnover.  I believe that the lack of turnover of units said a lot about the Pride -- People purchased here and didn't sell.  The only Pride units I did find for sale were always in Thai name.  (https://forum.pattaya-addicts.com/topic/371655-the-pride-condos-rarely-a-turnover/#comment-5593856).   I was surprised to read many negative comments here on PA about the Pride, but I was glad people shared their true experiences.  I think negative comments based on experience can be the most important.  

Centara/Azure Avenue Residence (CAAR) (Areca side of Building A).  I stayed a few nights in Building C before, and was not impressed.  (https://forum.pattaya-addicts.com/topic/366430-centara-avenue-residence-and-suites/#comment-5642026).  Room-to-room noise in Building C was TERRIBLE, so I assumed that building A would be similar.  

These were my two choices that made the cut, and I knew that I would eventually end up in one of them.  Both were small low-rise buildings in the central part of town with easy access to everything; had easy access to parking; easy access from parking to the room (CAAR was better on this metric as you could bypass the lobby); both were on sides that didn't get cooked by the sun; and both were in the same gross price range.  But The Pride condo was larger (61sm) vs CAAR (44sm).  And the Pride had a large walk-in closet -- an important feature for condos that never have enough storage.  

The Pride had the ugliest, cheapest "floating wood grain floors".  They are disgusting; and I knew that meant mandatory remodel.  CAAR had ceramic tile and the units looked more modern.  But, I could see remodeling in my future at CAAR also, as there was NO space for any amount of clothes.  CAAR was the worst for storage space.  Some of the Pride's floor space was wasted in the design but there was never a feeling of being cramped when I toured the Pride.  CAAR felt cramped.

I never spent a night in the Pride - I wasn't interested in renting 6-12 months just to see if I liked it.  But never sleeping in a similar unit could have really backfired if I was wrong about the condo.  I took this chance even though I posted and suggested to others that you should stay a month in a building before you buy.  🙄  Do as I say, not as I do ... it seems.

 

I made an offer that was accepted and I completed the purchase.  I now own at the Pride Condo.

Remodeling is mandatory now, and the next post will begin a chronicle of what changes I am making, and what vendors I am using.  There are things I hate; things I dislike; and some things I just want to change "just because".  It is going to be a long process.

 

 

 

 

[CampariO]

Great location, just behind the mall and short walk to LK Metro.

But:

Are there still flooding problems after the drainage system was installed in Soi 15? Image on Google Maps from 4 years ago:

[travelling_man]

I see this all the time.  As if there are no other streets in Pattaya that flood.   🤷‍♂️ LOL

I really can't answer you with more specificity.  I am aware that 4 years ago, water from the Soi went into the garage and damaged some vehicles.  My understanding is that has been fixed with the water barrier bump at the entrance.  I will pay more attention to the street and watch to see how much water builds up ... but Pattaya has done so much work that everything drains super fast and I can only assume that this soi does the same.  

Grand Avenue parking garage flooded (28" of water) the worst years ago, but no one mentions it now.  Same with Pride, the water issue is not a point to discuss.  At least, it wasn't a concern of mine. The rainfall during the time frame you mentioned, btw, was the worst in 10 years.  

If it is raining that hard, I am not going anywhere.  LOL

[Firewood]

My friend who lives there loves it. I hope you do too.

Wishing you success on the renovation.

[jetdoc]

9 minutes ago, travelling_man said:

Grand Avenue parking garage flooded (28" of water) the worst years ago,

When we stay wife's condo at GA she parks her truck in the garage and the recent rain storms, zip water in the garage, have to believe drainage work has made a difference. Not sure but looks like Pride's parking is grade level so shouldn't be a concern.

[Petesie]

I was offered a new unit at the pride many moons ago when it was built, price for the larger unit in Farang name was 1.7m when we were getting 79 b to the GBP.

Like a muggle I hesitated...then chickened out as I was new to Thailand. 🙈

[frantick]

9 hours ago, CampariO said:

Great location, just behind the mall and short walk to LK Metro.

But:

Are there still flooding problems after the drainage system was installed in Soi 15? Image on Google Maps from 4 years ago:

I lived many years at Avenue Residence until last September and once Soi 15 construction was finished, never saw any flooding even when Soi Diana was up to your knees. 

Congratulations on the condo purchase. 

[jaynewcastle]

Once you have lived there 6 months or so, will be interesting to hear what you think is better than you expected, and also worse

Will be interesting to see what changes you make to your apartment as well

Hope you enjoy your new home

 

 

[travelling_man]

After seeing the units online for years and then in person, I had a few initial ideas of what I would want to change.

While sitting at the land office with the seller, there was a paperwork issue and the process took hours longer than planned.  We sat around, drank coffee, and just talked about lots of unimportant things.  But, he mentioned that while his house was being built, he stayed in one of his rental units and changed the glass in the bedroom to double pane to reduce noise.  

I felt so stupid, because I didn't think about changing the cheap glass they used for something much better.  Immediately added "change all glass" to the list.

Last weekend was the first time I slept in the condo.  I only have one wall shared with another condo - the other end of the condo is an emergency staircase (the other side is the hallway).  I never read or heard complaints (or I forgot about reading them) of hearing noise from other rooms.  So I was shocked when my neighbor began having a conversation with someone in Europe but didn't need to use a phone.  I never heard him before -- and I never heard him since.  It was strange.  But I decided that I would look into noise reduction.

Most of the trucks and motorbikes are quiet.  But you can clearly hear the ones that aren't!  Lack of outside noise was an important benefit that I was seeking.  I assumed I was safe owning at Pride, because there was a lack of bars anywhere near the building.  I knew I wouldn't have to worry about the noise that bars generate.

And there I was on Saturday night with music and a PA system (100% in Thai) so loud that I couldn't hear my tv on normal volume.  Where the fuck was that coming from?  The Intimate hotel on the side of The Avenue was having a special event.  The sound followed the driveway until it ended at the Pride Building - and into my condo.  I was in a panic.  It was louder than the live band near my old room on Buakhow!  Centara (building C) and The Edge (Diana side, of all places!) suffered from bar noise, and I thought I was safe at the Pride.  Hopefully this was a "one-off" event.

All of these reinforced the idea that the windows need to be changed to something that will help with noise reduction.  Even better if it had an insulating value.  

I guess I will see this Saturday if the hotel has another event.  

 

 

 

 

[Love_to_eat_Thai]

Congratulations on the condo ownership.  Many people will tell you it's a bad idea to own a condo here, but lots of us do and make the best of it.

If you're seriously considering a remodel I would suggest documenting what things you need/want to change

1. Within 0-3 months
2. Within 1 year
3. Can wait until much later.

Make sure you can get a good nights' sleep regularly, if that means reordering the list to prioritize sound abatement then by all means do so.  

In my specific situation the bed that came with the condo was pretty much knackered and the hot water heater kept tripping its circuit breaker, so I prioritized getting both of those sorted within the first month.  The aircon was next on the list, the existing unit still worked but was undersized, old and inefficient.  I took a few months to research what I wanted, brand, size, and most importantly the company that would be doing the install.

[freedom42]

That alley where you turn North at the 7-11 heading to Soi Diana is somewhat known as "piss alley". All the win riders stop and piss there. Stinks to high heaven on that alley. 

[jaynewcastle]

As  noise-sensitive person, unwanted noise, be it neighbours, music, traffic etc is my biggest concern if I moved to SE Asia, where most people don't seem to care about noise at all

I hope any noise from your neighbours above & below is not too bad, your noisy neighbour next door is quiet & any music events outside are very infrequent

Every trip, finding a quiet hotel is a priority for me

Edited July 9, 2025 by jaynewcastle

[jetdoc]

14 hours ago, travelling_man said:

I only have one wall shared with another condo

The one she owns at the base is the same, but being on the 7th floor has a unit above and below. The one at GA only shares one wall with another condo and being on the 8th floor only has a unit below and things that walk on the ceiling don't make much noise so no problem there. It is next to the elevators but never dinging noise unless door is open.

[travelling_man]

12 hours ago, freedom42 said:

That alley where you turn North at the 7-11 heading to Soi Diana is somewhat known as "piss alley"... Stinks to high heaven on that alley. 

I have heard and read about that for years, but I haven't experienced it (yet).  I don't know if it is time of day dependent or specific location dependent, but I have not noticed anything.

 

2 hours ago, jetdoc said:

has a unit above and below.

Yes, I have a unit above and below.  I haven't experienced any noise from them, and hope that I don't as noise from top and bottom is not fixable.

 

15 hours ago, Love_to_eat_Thai said:

documenting what things you need/want to change

1. Within 0-3 months

My plan is to complete the remodel within 3 months. The office only gives 2 months of remodel authorization at a time and I want to be finished.  I hate dragging things out.

The only thing that could derail my plans is if I run out of time before returning to the Philippines in a few months.

[Kandinski]

9 minutes ago, travelling_man said:

I have heard and read about that for years, but I haven't experienced it (yet).  I don't know if it is time of day dependent or specific location dependent, but I have not noticed anything

Ive stayed in the Pride for, combined, close to a year and smell has never been an issue in that end of the cut road. Closer to Diana though, in high season mainly, it can be quit overwhelming.

[travelling_man]

Windows are First

I have 10m+ (linear) of windows.   Here is an exterior picture, if you aren't familiar, with what the Pride looks like.  All three rooms are floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows.  

Even though there is no direct sun hitting the glass (as there is on the other side), I was quite surprised at how the condo temperature increased when the sun was out; and subsequently decreased when it was cloudy or night.  The windows do NOT get hot, which confirms to me that they aren't getting hit by direct sunlight.  

I had recommendations from people with personal experience for two vendors.  The first didn't sell triple pane windows and wanted me to measure it myself (!).  The second (LMK) spoke good English, and had huge (condo) contracts behind their name, and were completely knowledgeable on triple pane installations.  Only problem? Their factory takes 40 days to manufacture.   Once I met them (they measured twice - once with standard tape, and once with machinery to verify angles where the windows are to be installed), I was willing to wait.  

Without any experience in Thailand with windows, I imagined a rough estimate of about 150,000THB for the three windows.  I was accurate on the double pane quote.  But triple pane was more.  And when you realize how heavy the new windows are - and that doors and windows that open must be completely changed, the price is understandable.  If you are not familiar, you can't have sliding doors or windows with triple pane -- they are too heavy.  [EDIT:  I was told by someone else that you can have sliders with heavy-duty aluminum frames; but I am using UPVC].

The quote was 202,xxxTHB.  I paid 50% down and placed the order.

Here are some of the drawings that were submitted to me and to the condo office.

 

You can see that all sliding windows and doors changed to a heavy duty style that opens in and out.  I am interested to see if the doors actually have that many hinges!

 

Estimated date for the install is middle of August.  While I wait, I will be working on other aspects of the remodel.  Initially I wanted windows to go in first, before floors, but I can't wait that long.

Edited July 10, 2025 by travelling_man

[freedom42]

13 hours ago, travelling_man said:

I have heard and read about that for years, but I haven't experienced it (yet).  I don't know if it is time of day dependent or specific location dependent, but I have not noticed anything.

 

Yes, I have a unit above and below.  I haven't experienced any noise from them, and hope that I don't as noise from top and bottom is not fixable.

 

My plan is to complete the remodel within 3 months. The office only gives 2 months of remodel authorization at a time and I want to be finished.  I hate dragging things out.

The only thing that could derail my plans is if I run out of time before returning to the Philippines in a few months.

They piss right around here

Just go walk over there and have a whiff. I have to admit, sort of like a dog pissing on another dog's territory, I have had a piss several times in the same spot right after having seen a fresh spot of piss and a departing win rider, as it is a dark place, and sometimes a guy has to go making the trek between bars. 

 https://www.google.com/maps/@12.9289149,100.8822293,3a,75y,95.33h,74.79t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sPfoe5-Xugf4UR-NLTIgQpQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D15.214996451403309%26panoid%3DPfoe5-Xugf4UR-NLTIgQpQ%26yaw%3D95.32568421355684!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcwNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[frantick]

4 hours ago, freedom42 said:

They piss right around here

Just go walk over there and have a whiff. I have to admit, sort of like a dog pissing on another dog's territory, I have had a piss several times in the same spot right after having seen a fresh spot of piss and a departing win rider, as it is a dark place, and sometimes a guy has to go making the trek between bars. 

 https://www.google.com/maps/@12.9289149,100.8822293,3a,75y,95.33h,74.79t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sPfoe5-Xugf4UR-NLTIgQpQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D15.214996451403309%26panoid%3DPfoe5-Xugf4UR-NLTIgQpQ%26yaw%3D95.32568421355684!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcwNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

I walked/motorbiked that Soi for nearly 5 years. Sure, it smells, and some days worse than others, but then so do the drains, the propane-burning baht buses, dried squid carts, etc. You get used to it.

Boy do I miss it. 🥰

[Scuba+]

When I was a noob i wanted to live central Soi 15, glad i eventually bought in Pratumnak, flood free zone, walkable to Buakhao/walking st or baht bus, quiet

[travelling_man]

I never imagined this thread would have a half-dozen+ posts on it about pissing in a soi.  

🤷

[travelling_man]

Now we return to the boring topic of this thread - The Pride Condo.  

Specifically "Cheap and Shoddy Construction".

I started looking at and reading about The Pride about 2 years ago.  I have kept other rooms in town and thought about renting or buying, but never pulled the trigger.  At the time,  I remember reading only one complaint -- and that was someone that wrote that the building was poorly constructed, extremely noisy and not worth the money.

Even today, I have searched for negative reviews about the Pride and can't find anything (other than flooding from 5 years ago, and a bitchy receptionists who no longer works here).  So what is the truth?

I already discussed the windows.  I don't think they are "cheap" or "bad" - they are typical quality for basic construction here.  It can be improved easily so it is off my list.

The Floors

It is probable that in 2009 when the units were released, the floor looked amazing.  I am not a fan of floating, cheap and quite fake, wood grain slat floors.  Others don't seem to be bothered by it.  IMO, floating floors sound "hollow" and when you "tap" them or you drop something metal on them (keys), the sound echos through the condo.  

The other problem with this type of floor is cleaning with too much water.  If you have a maid for example that likes to have a very wet mop, the edges of the slats begin to buckle up.  I don't know what causes them to "shrink" and expose the joints.  

 

Gypsum / Sheetrock Walls

This shocked me more than anything.  In the photo, you will see my television wall where I plan to mount a large TV.  As I looked at it, I noticed a line running down the wall.  One of the lines is believed to be aircon leak (per Chris the aircon man); but the other line indicates where concrete block stops and gypsum/sheetrock begins.  

So yes, my television wall that needs strength to support the tv, is half cheap, crappy sheetrock.  The TV wall mount will need to be installed half in concrete and half in sheetrock.  

I have no knowledge of construction (especially with concrete) so I didn't know that condo builders cheat when it comes to electrical connections in the wall.  In this wall, my electrical runs through the sheetrock.

PS:  Yes, I know the air deflectors look cheap or "trashy" - because they are!  But they work like a dream, moving the airflow away from the couch and off of the bed.  I'll talk about air conditioning changes in another post.  

 

Hollow Block or No Block

After the above discovery, I began looking at all my electrical outlets and "tapping" the wall where the outlet is located.  And every place where electrical is installed, a "hollow" echo is heard when I tap from the electrical out (or light switch) up to the ceiling.  

I went to the internet and began searching "hollow block" and learned some things.  First, hollow block IS often used in a wall where electrical (or plumbing) needs to be run to save time.  Second, hollow block IS good for sound insulation, which was a surprise.  

With my lack of construction knowledge, I can't say this method is "cheap" or not.  Since this is done on every wall, it makes it difficult to determine if it contributing to sound coming through the wall (or over the wall, or??).  

I get noise from the hallway.  I am trying to figure out how the noise is getting in and from where.  

 

Door Leaks

I know I am expecting too much, but I assumed they would do better with the doors.  Every door to every condo is an "exterior" door and should have been installed with a thresh-hold to stop noise and air leaks.  I'm attaching a picture just to show when I mean.  When the door is closed it makes a seal.  Obviously this isn't done.  And now, I don't believe I can add it because it changes the "look" of the existing doors.

 

The next picture isn't from my door, but the one just down from my condo.  I had to use it because you can't get a more clear picture of noise and aircon leakage than this door.  I could drive a small car under that door.  (Yes, the building is in need of a paint job, and they have been sealing the outer building walls in preparation).  

I have done what I can to stop the air leak of my door.  Before, I could stand outside my door and enjoy my aircon with the door closed because I was providing air to the outside.  

 

Noise - and Noise between units

This is the problem that worries me the most.  It is not bad, but the tenant next to me appears to never be at the condo.  I'm afraid if he was there, I would be unhappy.  

I am trying to find people that specialize in sound proofing condos, but am falling short.  I made contact with a sound-proofing material supplier in BKK, and they are passing my name and number to Pattaya contractors who buy from them but NO ONE has contacted me.  

In the picture, I drew an arrow to the ceiling.  The ceiling is metal.  I don't know what I was expecting, but metal wasn't on my list.  The real unknown is how far into the space above my condo, the actual walls go.  Finding the answer to that is beyond me, so I will continue to find a contractor. 

I have a sliding door to my walk-in closet.  The supporting wall for that door is METAL.  Not concrete; not gypsum.  

On a funny note, this afternoon just after lunch, I didn't have the tv or music on and walked into my closet.  I could clearly hear a woman moaning from sex.  The closet is next to the hallway.  I'm guessing it is coming from the unit above but I am not sure. 

This is the shared wall to the neighbor and the wall where I was able to hear him talking.  His condo is a mirror of mine, so we would both be sitting in the same area.

Motorcycles with modified mufflers and trucks with muffler issues are VERY loud in the condo.  I hope the triple pane windows will reduce some of that.    

 

TL;DR:

Although there was some cost cutting when building the condo, it isn't bad.  Most of it can be addressed (I believe!).  I haven't noticed noise from above or below (except the moaning) and that is very good.  I wonder how much I am disturbing the unit below me when I drop my keys on this crap floor.

Mounting the TVs will be a challenge, but I hope to hire someone who does it for a living, since there is a mix of wall type.  

I don't know how tile installers work, but I hope they use something like float or whatever it is called so there is no space and hence no echos under the tile.  

 

[freedom42]

At Mr DIY they sell a thing that goes under your door like this. https://www.lazada.co.th/products/pdp-i4992850201-s21064697970.htm

It does well to keep dust, light, and maybe some sound out of your room as well. 

 

[travelling_man]

@freedom42

Thanks.  I neglected to mention that a few of those arrived from Lazada earlier this week and they work great.  And it isn't permanent so office won't complain.  I guess I will change them out every few months.

I also added door weather stripping... But the opening is only big enough for the top half of the door otherwise it won't close and latch. But it helps a lot.  

Also stops the sound of the door hitting something hard when it closes.  

[pogo]

You need to get a drop down door seal, which fits into the bottom of the door and drops down when the door is closed

https://www.dfsfixings.com/ProductGrp/Ironmongery/FireControl/Drop-Down-Seals/CCE-Superior-Seals?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21101459255&gbraid=0AAAAAocCa8aSwQq_Kk4_5u-0wMH_SssFq&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj8jDBhD1ARIsACRV2TsnT4Mtmc4CtnriQHIw6YwigP2cBIYiiOc3ntYru1LWRYNVE_PVQv0aAqOYEALw_wcB

[ttbvi]

4 hours ago, travelling_man said:

Now we return to the boring topic of this thread - The Pride Condo.  

Specifically "Cheap and Shoddy Construction".

I started looking at and reading about The Pride about 2 years ago.  I have kept other rooms in town and thought about renting or buying, but never pulled the trigger.  At the time,  I remember reading only one complaint -- and that was someone that wrote that the building was poorly constructed, extremely noisy and not worth the money.

Even today, I have searched for negative reviews about the Pride and can't find anything (other than flooding from 5 years ago, and a bitchy receptionists who no longer works here).  So what is the truth?

I already discussed the windows.  I don't think they are "cheap" or "bad" - they are typical quality for basic construction here.  It can be improved easily so it is off my list.

The Floors

It is probable that in 2009 when the units were released, the floor looked amazing.  I am not a fan of floating, cheap and quite fake, wood grain slat floors.  Others don't seem to be bothered by it.  IMO, floating floors sound "hollow" and when you "tap" them or you drop something metal on them (keys), the sound echos through the condo.  

The other problem with this type of floor is cleaning with too much water.  If you have a maid for example that likes to have a very wet mop, the edges of the slats begin to buckle up.  I don't know what causes them to "shrink" and expose the joints.  

 

Gypsum / Sheetrock Walls

This shocked me more than anything.  In the photo, you will see my television wall where I plan to mount a large TV.  As I looked at it, I noticed a line running down the wall.  One of the lines is believed to be aircon leak (per Chris the aircon man); but the other line indicates where concrete block stops and gypsum/sheetrock begins.  

So yes, my television wall that needs strength to support the tv, is half cheap, crappy sheetrock.  The TV wall mount will need to be installed half in concrete and half in sheetrock.  

I have no knowledge of construction (especially with concrete) so I didn't know that condo builders cheat when it comes to electrical connections in the wall.  In this wall, my electrical runs through the sheetrock.

PS:  Yes, I know the air deflectors look cheap or "trashy" - because they are!  But they work like a dream, moving the airflow away from the couch and off of the bed.  I'll talk about air conditioning changes in another post.  

 

Hollow Block or No Block

After the above discovery, I began looking at all my electrical outlets and "tapping" the wall where the outlet is located.  And every place where electrical is installed, a "hollow" echo is heard when I tap from the electrical out (or light switch) up to the ceiling.  

I went to the internet and began searching "hollow block" and learned some things.  First, hollow block IS often used in a wall where electrical (or plumbing) needs to be run to save time.  Second, hollow block IS good for sound insulation, which was a surprise.  

With my lack of construction knowledge, I can't say this method is "cheap" or not.  Since this is done on every wall, it makes it difficult to determine if it contributing to sound coming through the wall (or over the wall, or??).  

I get noise from the hallway.  I am trying to figure out how the noise is getting in and from where.  

 

Door Leaks

I know I am expecting too much, but I assumed they would do better with the doors.  Every door to every condo is an "exterior" door and should have been installed with a thresh-hold to stop noise and air leaks.  I'm attaching a picture just to show when I mean.  When the door is closed it makes a seal.  Obviously this isn't done.  And now, I don't believe I can add it because it changes the "look" of the existing doors.

 

The next picture isn't from my door, but the one just down from my condo.  I had to use it because you can't get a more clear picture of noise and aircon leakage than this door.  I could drive a small car under that door.  (Yes, the building is in need of a paint job, and they have been sealing the outer building walls in preparation).  

I have done what I can to stop the air leak of my door.  Before, I could stand outside my door and enjoy my aircon with the door closed because I was providing air to the outside.  

 

Noise - and Noise between units

This is the problem that worries me the most.  It is not bad, but the tenant next to me appears to never be at the condo.  I'm afraid if he was there, I would be unhappy.  

I am trying to find people that specialize in sound proofing condos, but am falling short.  I made contact with a sound-proofing material supplier in BKK, and they are passing my name and number to Pattaya contractors who buy from them but NO ONE has contacted me.  

In the picture, I drew an arrow to the ceiling.  The ceiling is metal.  I don't know what I was expecting, but metal wasn't on my list.  The real unknown is how far into the space above my condo, the actual walls go.  Finding the answer to that is beyond me, so I will continue to find a contractor. 

I have a sliding door to my walk-in closet.  The supporting wall for that door is METAL.  Not concrete; not gypsum.  

On a funny note, this afternoon just after lunch, I didn't have the tv or music on and walked into my closet.  I could clearly hear a woman moaning from sex.  The closet is next to the hallway.  I'm guessing it is coming from the unit above but I am not sure. 

This is the shared wall to the neighbor and the wall where I was able to hear him talking.  His condo is a mirror of mine, so we would both be sitting in the same area.

Motorcycles with modified mufflers and trucks with muffler issues are VERY loud in the condo.  I hope the triple pane windows will reduce some of that.    

 

TL;DR:

Although there was some cost cutting when building the condo, it isn't bad.  Most of it can be addressed (I believe!).  I haven't noticed noise from above or below (except the moaning) and that is very good.  I wonder how much I am disturbing the unit below me when I drop my keys on this crap floor.

Mounting the TVs will be a challenge, but I hope to hire someone who does it for a living, since there is a mix of wall type.  

I don't know how tile installers work, but I hope they use something like float or whatever it is called so there is no space and hence no echos under the tile.  

 

See if you're allowed to change your door and get a solid core one (you can look up the different types to see which is best for reducing sound), and make sure that it is built to spec so that it seals tightly and you don't have any gaps. 

Edited July 12, 2025 by ttbvi