I have recently moved ino a 1937 built semi and I can hear my neighbours every move. - He can no doubt here us too- anyway- to the point. We are due to decorate most of the rooms soon- is there anything on the market that I can apply to the walls to reduce the sound travelling - prior to decorating. It would really need to be as thin as possible. also -has anyone got any examples/experience of the product making any difference?
I can hear my neighbour snoring !
- Thread starter winker watson
- Start date
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Is there a fireplace in the room? Or worse, a removed chimney breast? It was not unusual to have just a single brick between the firebacks, and with heat the mortar was likely to be cracked.
Also, have a look at the party wall in the loft - not being plastered, any cracks or holes will carry the noise.
Think about built-in wardrobes, floor to ceiling.
Also, have a look at the party wall in the loft - not being plastered, any cracks or holes will carry the noise.
Think about built-in wardrobes, floor to ceiling.
JOHN D. Yet again top advice.. you have helped me alot today! Thank you sir.
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after speaking to a mate at work today, he suggested some accoustic panelling. or a rubber type acoustic membrane to apply prior to decorating. are there any pit falls you are aware of ? He also told me that my pvc double glazing is forcing the sound to travel towards the side walls when the older wooden frames and glass would have been allowing some sound out. more to it than meets the eye. !! regarding the loft idea you posted - would plastering this partying wall really make a difference to the rooms below? you were right about the chimney breast. it is much worse in the room above the fire place. the people before us had floor to ceiling fitted wardrobes. it is a last resort to re instate this type of design that I have just rived out !
how about building a false wall and insulating it well
If you build a false wall it has to be totally isolated from the "real" wall. Not touching it and mounted on fastenings made for sound proofing.
The sounds you hear from next door depends on many factors, (some of which you can control):
The reverberance of your next door neighbours house or rooms within house ie do they have carpets, fabrics, loads of furniture to absorb the sound?
The transmission through the party wall - mass of a wall is important to reflect the sound energy back. So double brick thichness walls, heavily plastered is generally best. As suggested in previous comments, make sure the wall does not have holes, gaps in plaster etc in bedroom and above bedroom in loft area.
Chimney stacks are a problem as the seperation in often only one brick thick at times. Block up the chimney if not in use but consider other implications of doing this.
Also check that the sound isnt simply coming to you via their and your open windows.
The reverberance of your room receiving the sound. Again loads of furniture, fitted wardrobes on the party wall, carpets, fabric and stuff to attenuate the sound in your room is good.
The level and frequency of sound. I think low frequency sound goes thru walls quite well. Not a lot you can do with a heavy snorer.
The level of background noise at night. At night, noise if of particular concern because background noise is low. If its really a problem, you can introduce a low-level background noise in your house via say a speaker in your loft (its called acoustic perfume!) so that you won't notice other sounds at night. Dont know of any makes but would be simply switched on and would emit a continuous broad spectrum sound that you wouldn't notice after a while.
Anyway, those are the main considerations. I do know that special acoustic materials are expensive and quite often don't work properly. The reason being that a heavy wall is best to reflect the sound back rather than special materials to absorb the sound as it comes through the wall.
Only other thing to suggest is sleeping pills and ear plugs!
Hope this helps
The reverberance of your next door neighbours house or rooms within house ie do they have carpets, fabrics, loads of furniture to absorb the sound?
The transmission through the party wall - mass of a wall is important to reflect the sound energy back. So double brick thichness walls, heavily plastered is generally best. As suggested in previous comments, make sure the wall does not have holes, gaps in plaster etc in bedroom and above bedroom in loft area.
Chimney stacks are a problem as the seperation in often only one brick thick at times. Block up the chimney if not in use but consider other implications of doing this.
Also check that the sound isnt simply coming to you via their and your open windows.
The reverberance of your room receiving the sound. Again loads of furniture, fitted wardrobes on the party wall, carpets, fabric and stuff to attenuate the sound in your room is good.
The level and frequency of sound. I think low frequency sound goes thru walls quite well. Not a lot you can do with a heavy snorer.
The level of background noise at night. At night, noise if of particular concern because background noise is low. If its really a problem, you can introduce a low-level background noise in your house via say a speaker in your loft (its called acoustic perfume!) so that you won't notice other sounds at night. Dont know of any makes but would be simply switched on and would emit a continuous broad spectrum sound that you wouldn't notice after a while.
Anyway, those are the main considerations. I do know that special acoustic materials are expensive and quite often don't work properly. The reason being that a heavy wall is best to reflect the sound back rather than special materials to absorb the sound as it comes through the wall.
Only other thing to suggest is sleeping pills and ear plugs!
Hope this helps
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