soundproofing in flats

jee

I've had an offer accepted for a victorian conversion flat. When I was at the property the neighbour from downstairs came out to tell me that if I'm the buyer I need to sound proof the floor. She "kindly" suggested sound deadening boards which I'm thinking can be expensive.
The flat is going to be carpeted throughout (apart from kitchen and bathroom)- are the sound deadening boards the only option or can I get away with laminate floor underlay (the reasonable priced stuff from the big chains) and some good carpet underlay on top of that topped off with carpet.
Anybody have any experience/suggestions? The flat is upper floor semi detached.

Ransoman

The green fibre laminate underlay boards that you get from b&q are excellent at soaking up sound and are fairly reasonably priced. I used them when I fitted laminate floors to my parents house and you can't hear any footfall noise at all (unless you wear heels). A layer of this and good quality carpet insulation and i doubt the neighbours below will have an issue.

Edit: it costs about £25 for a pack large enough to do a big room.

Tr1pp

you need to soundproof the floor? Im probably being cynical here but you dont need to do anything which is for the benefit of the neighbour downstairs only.

I would Just lay carpet and some good quality underlay as you plan on doing anyway and leave it at that.

Your downstairs neighbour should try soundproofing their ceiling.

jee

Thanks Ransoman. I agree Tr1pp- I'll be checking first how bad the noise if it affects me from downstairs.

antenna

You have to soundproof the walls,floors and ceilings of the room where the noise is made,once the noise is in the fabric of the building it is very had to stop the noise from entering adjoining rooms or neighbours flats.

anotherbaldrick

If the neighbour downstairs is talking to you about it it is obvious the flats have a noise problem. The worst noise will be fron your flat to the one downstairs which is why she would like you to do something. Their is no way she can stop your noise from anything possible in her flat. You might say this is her problem and you are going to ignore it but murders have been committed over such situations where the neighbour has been driven mad and resorted to the carving knife.

sunshinetours

Bigger issue might be the neighbour downstairs. May be worth visitng again getting a feel for the neighbours? Its not your flat yet so not your probelm yet - if you buy it it will be your problem

DaftyDuck

I suggest tap-dancing lessons... a home study course!

If the neighbour downstairs is complaining about noise now, and you are already intending to put carpet down, I'd just say to her "I'm spending £X on soundproofing measures, so it should be a bit quieter"...

Jonesya

If £25 per room for some extra underlay buys you a happy, harmonious relationship with your future neighbour then I'd say that is a bargain.

phill99

I don't see why you should be putting sound proofing down unless there is a stipulation in the lease. Some flats have lease conditions that state floor coverings should not permit sound of greater than x dB. But as this is a conversion, then this is probably not the case.

BlueC

phill99 wrote: »

I don't see why you should be putting sound proofing down unless there is a stipulation in the lease.

Maybe because it is courteous to his downstairs neighbour?

I don't see that he "has" to do it (he doesn't), but it would probably be a fair thing to do if the noise travel into the downstairs flat is bad. Afterall they both have to share the building and get along.