someone or something to insulate house against noise

rover25

We live in a semi detached house and are plagued with noise from next door. We have already spoken to them to keep music down etc and they have done so a little. However we just can hear so much from them - doors closing, cupboards closing, hum of tv, dog barking in their kitchen and when we are in bed in the morning when it's quiet and they get up it sounds like they are in our kitchen!
Can anyone offer advice or know anyone who has something done to help with a similar problem. Thinking that may need to build an independent wall of original and fill with insulation material.
Thanks

rover25

Would a regular joiner /builder be able to do this type of thing. Just seen loads of classifieds in local paper advertising their services now with the effects of the credit crunch hitting

jenny-wren

We have the same problem. Belfast City Council have been no absolutely no use at all leaving us with the choice of moving house or attempting to insulate the walls.

We are going to try to do the job ourselves using a product called 'greenglue'. You secure plasterboard to the existing wall, add a layer of greenglue and then another layer of plasterboard. It's a product designed for acoustic insulation, looks a bit like silicone sealant and works by dampening the sound waves ... well that's how I think it works anyway. My bro has used it and has noticed some improvement in his house (although if he did it again he says he would use more greenglue on each sheet of plasterboard).

My OH tried to insulate one wall by building a stud wall an inch away from the existing wall and using mineral wool insulation. It didn't work so the wall came down again!

There are a few companies in England that supply greenglue. I got a price from James Langdon at http://www.rpg-europe.co.uk/. They can send it to NI by courier but if you can arrange collection and delivery cheaper yourself then they are happy to advise you of the weight, box it up and label it for you.

It's not cheap though. We reckoned we would need 18 tubes to insulate a dining room and living room (approx 7ft 6in high by 13ft each) and were quoted £188 inc. an applicator but excl. delivery. Parcelforce seem to charge around £20 for delivery.

I can't find any info quickly on the RPG site so I'm not sure if they're still doing greenglue but I found it on another site http://www.novatone.co.uk/acousproducts/Iso.htm

I think it's becoming more readily available in the UK now but has been around for a while in the US.

Here's a link re. greenglue on an AV Forum http://www.avforums.com/forums/room-acoustics-audio-video-calibration/848736-green-glue-where-buy.html

I'd be interested to know how you get on as we're about ready to order some greenglue to use in our house ... so I don't have to look at bare brick and plaster dust over Christmas! Feel free to PM me.

Good luck. I know just how stressful it can be having to listen to every cough, sneeze and squeaky bedspring through the walls!

dmxdave

Sorry folks but most of the noise will be transmitted through the structure (doors banging, cupboards closing etc.) rather than normal air carried sound waves. Insulation may improve some of it but it is very difficult to stop it.

rover25

Thanks for your reply. Glad to know we our not on our own! We only bought 1 and half yr ago so def can't move cos of neg equity!
Oh dear, I really thought building the independent wall would work. Did the wall not work at all?
Is green glue supposed to minimise impact noise as well as airborne (music/tv)
Other thought was finding out if there is a cavity in the party wall and if so, pump/fill in insulation. Don't know how to check this out though.

rover25

Dave, Is there nothing we can do?:o

jenny-wren

My brother insulated his living room walls and ceiling in his 1930's house to reduce the noise of the pensioner's TV next door and it did work. To keep costs down he used close to the minimum Greenglue recommended. I imagine if you were to use the maximum recommended amount per plasterboard sheet you would get better results. Probably wouldn't hurt to make sure your floors are also well insulated.

My OH says that Greenglue works by spreading the sound across the wall rather than transmitting it through the wall and the sound energy (regardless of its source) is dissipated. You can read all about it on the Greenglue website http://www.greengluecompany.com/

I doubt you have a cavity wall between the houses given that if builders used additional materials they would surely advertise the fact or charge you extra! You may be able to tell by looking at the rafters in your attic to see if you there are one or two layers of brick supporting them.

Any sound insulation experts out there that can help? I'd appreciate any advice before we put in an order for Greenglue.

vincennes_2

Hi

We had the same problem a few years ago with our neighbour. Thankfully, they moved and the new neighbour is quiet enough (single man). However, we realize we may be living on borrowed time. We asked different builders and each one said nobody could guarantee any type of insulation could work. Something to do with the way the sound travels...In the end, we have decided to move to a detached. This is the only way , you can be guaranteed to have a full night sleep.

rover25

Can I ask was your brothers problem just the tv sound or did he have probs with impact noise like cupboards banging.
I take it that this is the builders fault? Can NHBC do anything to support us?

dmxdave

rover25 wrote: »

Dave, Is there nothing we can do?:o

Please someone tell me I am wrong BUT in a semi or any other type of attached property unless noise pollution was a consideration in the design and build stages there is not a lot that can be done with sound transmission through the structure.

Girlzmum

vincennes wrote: »

Hi

We had the same problem a few years ago with our neighbour. Thankfully, they moved and the new neighbour is quiet enough (single man). However, we realize we may be living on borrowed time. We asked different builders and each one said nobody could guarantee any type of insulation could work. Something to do with the way the sound travels...In the end, we have decided to move to a detached. This is the only way , you can be guaranteed to have a full night sleep.

Our last neighbour made our lives hell for almost 2 years but finally moved out in January. The new people have been working on it on and off since then, still haven't moved in because all the work is being done by incredibly rude workmen at unsocial hours (has continued until 10 at night because they know that the council will do nothing before then) As soon as I graduate and secure a decent job we are moving to a detached house, I will not go through this again.