Detached vs link detached (for noise levels)

blizeH

Hi guys,

I'm looking at various houses now, there are two I really like - one that is link detached, and one that is completely detached.

Now I do like the idea very much of a detached house because it means not only do I have to not worry about my neighbours noise levels, but more importantly I like rather loud music at times and will probably end up getting a fairly big sound system somewhere down the line, so I'd want to be considerate of their noise levels that they can hear me just as much.

With that in mind, this house is only separated (with two others? I think) by the garages, so should I just rule them out and look for a proper detached, or is it not an issue and the noise won't travel anyway?

Sorry for the silly question, but I don't really know where to ask, and it is actually quite a big deal to me, so I want to be sure... :$ thank you!

Doozergirl

It won't make a blind bit of difference in terms of the noise travelling as long as the noise isn't in the garage!

blizeH

Ahh! Excellent, thank you

/hopes he doesn't live next to a welder or mechanic

haha

blizeH

I guess one issue is if they convert the garage to a bedroom like some people do... that'd be a worry, hmm...

IHateDida

I live in a link detached separated by garages and we don't hear the neighbours at all. But I would rather live in a detached as the delightful neighbours have hung a TV ariel on their house that hangs over our land - and are so far refusing to move it! There are things that you don't think about that make a link detached not quite such a good buy. The noise isn't an issue but other things are (for example they've also painted the side of our garage wall which faces into their garden without asking!). Go for totally detached if you can!

homehunter

My mum has a link detached and in the summer, the neighbour likes to tinker with his jet ski, before taking it out. Seriously. A jet ski in the garage, attached to the living room... :eek:

But that is kinda extreme

nickyx

We live in a semi but with thankfully a deaf neighbour as my son is a drummer! But we have had complaints from neighbours three doors down because the noise travels out of the windows, not just through the walls, so noise is a complicated issue. Would like a detached house though.

pastmybest

I have lived in both and detached every time. When I was linked by garage each side I had noise in stereo.

One side a chap with his gym stuff and mates that came most nights to workouts to music then a couple of cans by the sounds of it.

The other side was a bl**dy dolls house maker (big not small ones) who spent many evenings at it. NO better than mid terrace.

blizeH

Awesome, thank you so much for the replies guys! Sadly the link detached was my favourite, but after reading through this I think I'd be a lot better off with a detached, so I'll rule out that nice little link one I saw, d'oh!

/the search continues...

googler

Sound travels in a variety of ways.

Given the link-detached scenario, and assuming garages connect the houses, and you install your 'sound system' in a room away from the garage, then, depending on how loud you like it, you could get sound transfer through the frame of the house itself. Your sound system sets the frame of the garage vibrating, which transfers to the neighbours. It's usually the low end that travels this way. If you like reggae, this may be an issue.

If you get it loud enough that it can be heard outside the house, then airborne vibration will travel radially outward, and again, how loud you want it inside will dictate how much is transferred to the outside. Don't underestimate how much can be heard outside the house; I once lived in a detached house, and played quite a bit of electric guitar to amuse myself. I had a 50w guitar amp,which typically didn't get run at full tilt. Later, one of the neighbours from across the road and two houses along, whom I didn't normally socialise with, responded to a small ad I placed in the local newsagency, and in the course of conversation, asked "Are you the one with the guitar?"

What do you mean by a 'sound system'? A regular HiFi system? Home Cinema? A DJ setup? A band's Public Address System? What qualifies as 'loud' in your terms?

Mozette

My house is detached, but by a few inches from my neighbour's garage. My living room is next to the garage, and if they are in there, I can hear them.
I do tend to have my music on reasonably loudly, and I have said to my neighbours that if it is ever too loud, to tell me. They said that they had never heard it, so link detached, or very slightly detached would possibly make little difference, but if you get one that has a fair amount of space round it, that would definitely be my preference.