How to block out my neighbours' noisy bedroom antics?

[eldredevans]

Some new neighbours moved in to the flat next door and they’re much louder than the previous occupant. I think our bedrooms are connected and at night if they raise their voices I can hear them. I'd rather not know about their once a week schedule or their arguments so I'm thinking about how to cut the noise down a bit.

I've had a good look around the forum about noise insulation but there doesn't seem to be anything similar to my situation. Firstly I'm not that great at DIY but more importantly I live in a rented flat and the landlord would not be pleased with any permanent changes.

With this in mind, the first thing I was hoping to try is blocking the air vent in the wall which is actually right by our heads at night and seems to transmits a lot of the noise. I've attached a picture of it. I am aware of the potential problems of blocking an air vent but we nearly always have windows or the flat door open so I don't think this will be too much of a problem.

Basically I was wondering whether anyone could suggest the best sort of material and method to prevent noise coming though it? I think I might just about be able to get away with the landlord with using expandable foam but I've read that this is really too light for good noise reduction. I don't think there's any easy way of removing the vent as it seems part of the wall but even if there was I don't think the landlord would be happy.

I'd really appreciate it if anyone could suggest a simple method of stopping as much noise as possible coming through this vent? I realise this might do little to solve the problem but it is the easiest first step and hopefully might reduce it to a tolerable level.

Thanks

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• eldredevans
• 12 Aug 2010
• 1

Untitled

• eldredevans
• 12 Aug 2010
• 1

 

[Nige F]

That is ventilating an old flue - the flue then probably is one brick thick to next door - and if their fireplace is open , in comes the noise.

 

[eldredevans]

That is ventilating an old flue - the flue then probably is one brick thick to next door - and if their fireplace is open , in comes the noise.

Excellent - I did wonder why when I put my ear to it I could hear 'everything' from next door. Incidently there is also another identical one of these in the sitting room of our flat which is across from the bedroom but shares the same 'party wall' as the bedroom (if that makes sense).

I'm sure no-one uses a fireplace so I assume that covering this up runs even less risk of causing condention etc. Can anyone suggest a good sound proofing method of covering this (or material to put inside it)? I looked at 'vent covers' even though I didn't think they'd do much for noise but now I understand why none seemed to fit!

 

[RonnyRaygun]

I'm sure no-one uses a fireplace so I assume that covering this up runs even less risk of causing condention etc.

The vent isn't there to prevent condensation in the property; it's there to prevent dampness in the flue. It allows air from the flat to circulate in the flue and reduce stagnant air in the flue and allow moisture to evaporate.
If there's no cowling on the top of the chimney pot, this can make matters worse.

Can't say whether or not to block it up though; it could well not cause you any problems. Our house has got two blocked up chimneys, no cowlings, and no vents...and no problems

I do keep meaning to install airbricks though

 

[eldredevans]

Can't say whether or not to block it up though; it could well not cause you any problems. Our house has got two blocked up chimneys, no cowlings, and no vents...and no problems :

Thanks for the advice. Assuming that I do want to block it up to reduce the noise what do people think would be the most simple and effective method/materials to use? I know this is possibly a simple task (e.g. expandable foam or filling with newspaper) but I just don't know what method is most effective?

 

[MisterE]

Take the cover off and stuff as much of this stuff in there as you can, being sure to plug all gaps...

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Heavy-Density-Insulation/invt/161189

As said though, blocking the vent could cause issues with damp in the chimney wall.

 

[Blagard]

I don't think there's any easy way of removing the vent as it seems part of the wall but even if there was I don't think the landlord would be happy.

As you are in a rented property I think you should ask your landlord if he can do something about it.

You don't want to lose any security deposits and get bad references by messing around with it.

Short term, a bookcase with some foam on the back parked tight up to it may help, especially if you fill it with books!

 

[OwainDIYer]

Put a speaker close up to the vent and play some nice music up the chimney.

Or remove the vent and put a speaker *in* the chimney.

It's coming up to halloween.

 

[Donkmeister]

I used to have the same problem, but with two guys in the flat downstairs It was funny the first couple of times but after a week we realised we didn't really want to hear two chaps at it (although from the noise I heard, one of them was certainly enjoying whatever the other one was doing.)

If you don't fancy losing space to insulation and furniture, you could broach the subject of the paper-thin walls with the neigbours. Some people might enjoy the thought of an audience, but I think most would move to another bedroom for their exercise, or at least shift their bed to the other side of the room.

If you want to be more subtle, playing music or talking loudly in the bedroom should ensure they realise how clearly everything can be heard.

 

[eldredevans]

As you are in a rented property I think you should ask your landlord if he can do something about it.

Thanks for all the suggestions especially the stuff about music and halloween . Luckily the landlord is reasonably relaxed about me doing minor stuff so if removing the vent is the best thing to do I can probably get away with it. He's actually a family friend so we don't have a tenancy agreement or security deposit etc.

Take the cover off and stuff as much of this stuff in there as you can, being sure to plug all gaps...

If I've been inspecting the cover and thinking about the best way of getting it off but it seems to be part of the wall (see above pics). It has certainly been painted over and I don't want to start yanking at it unless I'm sure it actually comes out. As you can tell I'm not that experienced at DIY so want to be careful that I do it in the right way and not doing something stupid!

If I do get it off is the 'Heavy Density Insulation' recommended above what other people would suggest as well - or is there something a bit cheaper (or more effective) around? I know I don't need to get as much as £43 but I'm still a student on a budget!

Thanks for all the help so far

 

[mointainwalker]

Buy a roll of ordinary fibre loft-insulation for a few pounds and stuff as much as you can into the void.

It is possible the vent was not designed to be removed and - intentionally or not - it may be mortared into the wall,

If it is just a facing to conceal a hole in the wall, there ought to be some fixing method that undoes, if it extends further back into the flue, it may be the bricks holding it and removal would need more than a screwdriver.

What do you see if you shine a torch through vent slits ?

 

[eldredevans]

What do you see if you shine a torch through vent slits ?

When I shine a touch into it there is a strong metal backing just behind the vent slits with lots of tiny little wholes. I've tried to capture this in the photo. Most of the little wholes were covered with black dust so I brushed this out of the way which is why it looks so dirty!

There's no obvious fixing mechanism to remove the vent. The picture might look like there is a bit of crack under the vent but it is actually completely painted over and is very flush with the wall. When I pull on it there is absolutely no give - so it feels completely solid and unremovable (this could just be my inexperience though and maybe an hour with a screen driver could fix this?)

Ideally I would like to try and get the vent out but maybe I should just squeeze some of the fibrt loft insulation into the holes? It just feels so solid and I don't want to start hacking at the walls unless I'm sure it will come out? Not really sure what to do now!

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• eldredevans
• 14 Aug 2010
• 1

 

[Blagard]

The vent is almost certainly fixed with an adhesive such as used to secure plaster coving. The mesh at the back of it is simply a fly screen to stop larger insects entering the property. There is a high risk of breaking the vent and/or the plaster it is affixed to if you try to remove it.

Short of opening up the chimny breast i.e. demolishing the bricked up front, there is very little you can do that will have any significant impact.

If opened up, a further skin of brickwork could be added to the back and by making sure all existing brick joints were fully pointed up you should then be getting back to normal sound insulation levels on a permanent basis.

There is no guarantee this is the only weak spot for sound transmission, so you could still have other issues to address