For the first time in my life I am now living in an apartment. I had the same fear as you. However, I am lucky I live on the main floor and no one beneath me. I have yet to run the machine but that is coming this month. I have a poundo board under the granite and with some of my stamps just as the leather is changing colour I will press the stamp into the leather it works good. As my neighbours are noisy the noise I make is nothing in compare to them. I also have a very thick granite slab and a pound board under it.. All my leather is in one bedroom (should have been the bigger one) I have two bedrooms. I also only stamp during the day as a rule.