Soundproofing solutions, suggestions needed please?

[viki83viki]

Hi,

we live in an old Victorian house that some years ago had the basement level converted into a separate flat. They were always owned by the same people until we purchased the house part 6 months ago.

The sound insulation between the 2 units is terrible! We can hear conversations, doors closing etc, not to mention loud music on the occasions that they have parties. It is currently empty and we have a key so experimented and found that they can hear pretty much every footstep we make - who knows how much of our toddler's noise is inflicted on them as she runs around and drops things etc.

What is our best option for soundproofing, does anyone know? We will probably only do our lounge at this stage, as that is over their lounge and hallway. It is about 19 square meters.

We were thinking that we would need to get up the floor to put something down between the joists? Also, we presume that changing our laminate floor for good quality underlay and carpet will help both us and them?

Thank you in advance!

Viki.

 

[harry0harry]

www.soundservice.co.uk

A very helpful company.

Please note anything to help sound reduction is expensive.

 

[luisdesign]

The most viable method would likely be to install a new ceiling in the basement flat. In your own property you can only really add carpet (or a sound deadening underlay to a solid floor finish), and whilst this will help both of you it's not going to give a massive reduction.

Interestingly though, when the house was converted into two flats it should have been sound insulated to appropriate levels. This would also have a degree of in built fire resistance. Perhaps the conversion was done without the proper consents or without regard to the regulations, in which case I would be more concerned about the potential lack of fire safety rather than sound insulation.