Sound Insulation- 1985 Mid-terraced House?

ben1985

Evening all,

I've exchanged contracts on a lovely mid terraced house, which is a nice step up from my flat. I've just got one question will it be noisy inside with neighbours both sides?

I'm just asking because my dad had a mid terraced house (this was built in 1900's though) and you could always hear neigbours both sides, am I right in assuming that my new property (definitley built 1985 as seen planning permission asked for in 1984) will be a lot quieter than a property built at the turn of the century?

Kind Regards

BW

ankspon

No,i bought a house in 2006 and a flat in 2009,both new builds when bought and the sound proofing is terrible

olly300

A 1980s house will have very bad sound insulation.

A house or flat that gained planning permission after 2000 should have insulation so you shouldn't hear the neighbours but unfortunately you can hear people go toilet in the property if it's quiet.

quatro

1980's houses aren't built to a particularly high standard in my opinion - they were chucking them up then. Noise could be a problem just hope your neighbours are reasonable and intelligent people with some consideration for others.

slobs

I had 1980's mid terrace, it was the worst house for noise I ever lived in, we could hear the neighbours both sides in the bedroom...It got so bad one night we banged on the wall and cheered when they finished!
Also had a 90s house, almost as bad, hearing the neighbours peeing etc is not pleasant.
Now living in 50s house, solid as a rock, you can hang heavy stuff on any wall and never hear a peep from the neighbours at all, would never live in modern house again.

bitsandpieces

Depends on the house (and neighbours). If you've really exchanged contracts then you're committed to buy - you'll find out what it's like when you move in!

ben1985

Thanks for replies so far. Yes, I've definitely exchanged so I will let you know how bad it's not (hopefully!) when I complete at the end of May.

Then again, in reference to my original question, whilst far from the quietness of a detached house it should still be a little better than my dad's 1890 mid terrace I hope:D

BW

Annabee

Our first house was a 1980s terrace. Every morning I was woken up by the neighbour's alarm clock. You could hear literally everything, and it wasn't nice knowing the neighbours could hear us as well... (I presume)

After 20 years we finally made it to a detached and no longer have this problem. A lot of houses in this country are so badly built its unbelievable.

However hopefully yours will built to a higher standard.

I always thought Victorian houses were built with thicker walls and the sound insulation would be better. From what you say this isn't true though.

amcluesent

Stud-walls are the worst for letting noise travel. I had a 1980s mid-terrace and all the walls (inc. internal) were breeze-block and plastered. It was OK for noise, certainly couldn't hear voices/rumpy-pumpy.

mumcoll

Our first 'bought' house was a 1960's semi. We could hear everything - man next door weeing, washing up, opening and closing his curtains (old style metal runners) etc. etc. And when his girlfriend moved in, we heard all their rows and then their making up (Eeeewww!) Within 6 months we had moved to a modern detached as I just couldn't live with the noise.

carefullycautious

I lived in a mid terraced 1980s house with stairs between each house and never heard a peep from our neighbours. In fact it was the best house we lived in.