struggling to settle in my new home.

Deanomfc

Hi guys.

I've been living with my partner in our new home for five months and it's been a struggle for me getting used to the traffic noise. We opposite a newsagents and a general store and get a lot of cars coming in, much more than I anticipated when we researched the area. The slamming of car doors and engines revving up is doing my head in and I'm considering leaving already (which would cost me a fortune). It's driving a wedge between me and my partner. We even got new windows in and it hasnt made a difference.

What I want to ask do you get used to it? We've spent all this money, it seems a shame to let it all go because it's a lovely house.

Ebe_Scrooge

In my experience you will get used to it over a few months, it's quite surprising how much noise you can get used to.

Unfortunately there is no cheap and easy way to combat the noise. Double glazing can make a big difference, but that certainly ain't cheap. You could try hanging some heavy curtains up, that will help to a small extent, but only when they're closed.

On thing that can be quite effective is to plant a hedge or trees along the edge of your garden. It depends very much on the situation of your garden as to whether this is possible, and again it's not the cheapest option, but trees can absorb a surprising amount of traffic noise.

But as I said, no remedy is going to be cheap, so just take comfort from the fact that you will get used to it :-)

DKLS

I had this in reverse, I lived in a lovely flat bang in the middle of the student area of Leeds and near to the local ambulance station, hence there was pretty much constant noise, and my neighbour was a Dj who had regular after club parties that went on til 8am and I moved to the countryside and I couldnt sleep, it was so damn quiet, I really missed the noise.

After a few months I got used to it.

theburt

you'll definitely get used to it - had a simlar problem in a flat i lived in a few years ago. when we checked it out it was lovely and serene - we just didn't bargain for the karaoke night and bar that pumped out club music till two in the morning!!

It is very depressing to start off with but eventually you do get used to it and then only the reallty loud stuff gets your attention . . . in the meantime play music etc in your house so that you don't dwell on it too much,as that will make it ten times worse.

allan673

you will get used to it. i used to live onthe main road of a dual carriageway.

hgvs and buses flying by, literally 10 feet from the bedroom window, the room used to shake when hgvs went past.

i did get used to it.

ClareEmily

You will get used to it honestly, we lived right by a railway line for 5 years, and we never noticed the noise of vibration after a while, but all our visitors were shocked lol

ic

I live off a main road. I eventually moved my bedroom into the smaller back bedroom of the house, not because of the traffic, but because of the neighbour's kids. The room was separated by more than one wall so quieter, cooler as the back of the house is north facing, plus it was away from the noise and the street lights of the road. Do you not have this kind of option? When I'm in the living room I don't really notice the road noise at all, usually because I'll have the radio or tv on.

dander

Definitely agree with everyone else, this kind of noise is something you get amazingly used to. I used to live on a busy junction just up the road from the hospital - we got completely used to the sirens of the ambulances going by - and just didn't hear it conciously.

I think, though, because you have got as wound up by it as you have so far, you are probably in the difficult position where you are now sort of listening out for the noise and it might take a bit of work to break yourself of that habit. If you find it wakes you in the mornings/at night - you could try getting some little foam earplugs from Boots - they are very effective and you don't notice you're wearing them - although I can see that's not a permanent solution, but it might help you get some sleep while you're getting accustomed to the sounds of your local area.

surfsister

what about ear plugs if you can't sleep? i always use these on hol at holiday camps and always sleep through discos etc.

i think you can sound proof walls to an extent with some type of sound insulation. google if interested but it will be expensive.

Try keeping a radio on at home with pleasant music you like to mask the sound. I have noisy neighbours and forget them when i put the radio on.

Good luck.

tandraig

I live in a valley and there are two main roads - one just below me and one dead opposite -oh and a railway line - busy one! there are trains every ten minutes and between police fire and ambulance service the noise of sirens is more than frequent - its almost constant. But you get so used to it that on holiday recently i complained it was too quiet!
I do find that you dont notice noise you are making yourself as annoying so as another poster says put tv on or play music.

Slinky_Malinky

I`m sorry to say that I have not got used to noise. I don`t notice it in the daytime but I am a light sleeper and at night the passing traffic disturbs me. I also have very noisy neighbours, not only loud music but they are a household of two parents and their two adult children. They like a drink and their bathroom is downstairs so every weekend they are all up and down stairs to the loo. It scares the bejesus out of me when half asleep as it can sound like someone is coming up my stairs!

ETA - would love to try ear plugs but as I`m on my own with my son I worry he could call out for me and I wouldn`t hear him.