Description
Construction work has been going on since early March. The construction team is only two men, using mostly noisy, consumer-grade power tools. They have gutted and sanded an apartment's entire interior (with the windows open, making ridiculous dust), and have demolished and are rebuilding a 3-storey balcony from scratch; they also did major roof repairs and removed a chimney. They are bringing untreated lumber straight from Home Depot and are sawing it in the yard. Using a nail gun all day long. They play music over a portable speaker all day. The noise and dust have been crazy and I am awakened by their construction work most days of the week. I'm having trouble having my work-from-home meetings.
This is a large building (<9 units), which I'm mentioning because I know Cambridge/Mass laws are different for large buildings. Does the owner not have a responsibility to 1) any amount of prefabrication for this extensive work? 2) hiring a large enough crew to make speedy work of these changes?
With a crew of 2, I am foreseeing this going on until the snow starts, not having been able to open our windows for the whole summer.
7 Comments
City of Cambridge (Verified Official)
Public Works - TS (Streets & Sewers) (Verified Official)
d (Registered User)
Update: apparently what is being rebuilt is an extension of the house, not a new balcony. They are building on a rotten wood foundation (I repeat: a rotten wood foundation with squirrels living inside). The extension is made of plywood and 2x4s with no cross-bracing. Nothing is pre-fabricated. I feel sad for the future occupants of this building who will be breathing formaldehyde, slowly poisoning themselves. Also, such a wall could be pre-fabricated in a shop and installed in a day instead of bothering neighbors for weeks on end. They are using circular saws on scaffolding and throwing construction debris onto piles from the 3rd floor roof. This is a workplace safety disaster as well as a complete abdication of any construction technology.
Had to cancel my meetings today because the nail gun and compressor are just too loud to be able to communicate with my colleagues. Are neighbors not entitled to ANY information about what is going on so that we can plan our lives accordingly?
Is this really construction in Cambridge in 2020?
d (Registered User)
Acknowledged Inspectional Services - AT (Admin) (Verified Official)
d (Registered User)
The noise has been so bad this week that I have had to cancel meetings and I am losing money and completely unable to enjoy my home. You can hear the nail guns, hammers, mallets, saws, and pumps all the way down the street. I am stressed and unable to think for my job. This low-quality construction work isn't even bringing new housing units to Cambridge, just two extra bedrooms. Why is it lasting months?
Cambridge hasn't updated its noise regulations since the 90s. Can I recommend something like what New York does, where construction work requires a noise mitigation plan:
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dep/environment/construction-noise-rules-regulations.page
?
Closed Inspectional Services - AT (Admin) (Verified Official)