soundproofing in flats

Norman_Castle

What is on the floor at the moment?. I live in a victorian house converted into flats and the noise does travel between flats. I am connected to four different flats and the biggest difference is the neighbour!.
Fitting thick underlay will benefit your neighbour more than you, but fitting good soundproofing will also allow you to relax more in your home. Cloud 9 underlay can be cheap on ebay and is apparently good for sound reduction. In my experience people who complain about noise tend to be quiet themselves.

jee

at the moment there is cheap thin carpet and thin underlay. I'm going to take it up and look at the floor as well. Do sound deadening boards works over floorboards and then underlay? I'm not keen on mineral wool insulation between joists as I'm thinking it could cost a fair bit.
Luckily I have no neigbours above me! I always go for the top flat because of noise.

phill99

BlueC wrote: »

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.

My point is that if you elect to buy a flat in a converted house, you do so with the knowledge that the sound insulation is not up to the same standards as a modern purpose built flat. Sound transmission is inevitable. But I don't thnok it appropriate that you can ask your neighbour too install a paticular type of floor covering solely for your benefit.

jee

agree with Phil99 you can't demand a type of flooring BUT because all the carpet has to go in new I don't mind looking at sound deadening options. If it was all done up with new carpet then I wouldn't even consider buying the place.
Has anybody used mdf boards over floor boards to sound deaden and are they any good?

ladylouise62

You could consider approaching the complaining neighbour regards part payment. Investigate the options, decide how much you can afford to pay, they give them the opportunity to add to that for greater soundproofing.

breadlinebetty

phill99 wrote: »

My point is that if you elect to buy a flat in a converted house, you do so with the knowledge that the sound insulation is not up to the same standards as a modern purpose built flat. Sound transmission is inevitable. But I don't thnok it appropriate that you can ask your neighbour too install a paticular type of floor covering solely for your benefit.

A decent neighbour who wishes to live in harmony with their fellow neighbours will try not to upset them. Each person is responsible for THEIR apartment, and if they're too mean or anti-social to care about the noise they make by walking around on thin cheap carpet in THEIR flats, then they shouldn't expect their downstairs neighbour to take their right to a peaceful life into account if they choose to play rap music at the poudest legal decibals 24/7.

Tit for tat and all that........

Believe me - stuboorness and meanness will come back and bite you on the bum!! What's more, you'll end up losing THOUSANDS when you try to sell one day - neighbour disputes due to nose etc knock THOUSANDS off the value of a property!! For the sake of splashing out a couple of grand all you're doing is storing up future trouble for yourself.:money:

motch

jee wrote: »

at the moment there is cheap thin carpet and thin underlay. I'm going to take it up and look at the floor as well. Do sound deadening boards works over floorboards and then underlay? I'm not keen on mineral wool insulation between joists as I'm thinking it could cost a fair bit.
Luckily I have no neigbours above me! I always go for the top flat because of noise.

I bought a top flat for similar reasons to you, less chance of noise disturbance, although one neighbour plays load music now and again to the early hours of the morning. Luckily once every couple of months only though.

Did you buy the flat in the end? and if so have you added some soundproofing?