Party wall in semi detached

bluestarlight

Is it usual to be able to hear your neighbours talking, snoring, coughing? The walls in our 1930s semi detached are so thin, my neighbours arent doing anything unusual like playing loud music, but I hear every detail of their lives!

We are intending to have a false wall with sound proofing added by a plasterer. However the rooms are quite small to begin with, so I would be disappointed if it took away some space but didnt work because the wall itself wasnt the issue.

The ceiling is original lathe and plaster, is it likely the walls are too, could this be the problem? Could sound be coming from the ceiling? I think we have a wall between us in the attic but would need to check.

I lifted the carpet at the corner to see if it was also coming through the floor but I cant tell because of the underlay which is glued down.

Any other ideas apart from earplugs and grin and bear it?

Thanks!

shegirl

I've just had my 1930's semi soundproofed. The builders said the noise through the party wall is common.

I've lost 6 inches off each wall but it's been effective enough for the quiet neighbours. If I had the neighbours I did at my old house (stupidly noisey with booming music and screaming) I don't think it would've touched it tbh

savemoney

We get noise from next door and I am sure vice versa in 1920's semi. I can hear him laughing and tv on if we are quiet enough. Just have to live with it unless you go at great expense to sound proof

evoke

Same problem in my 1950s 3-bed semi. Can hear the family next door just going about their normal business. It's probably why the previous owners had fitted wardrobes against the party wall. I got rid of those to make more space so will have to put up with the noise.

The neighbours have been there for over two decades and when I first moved in they did keep mentioning whether they were making too much noise so I guess they are fully aware of the issue too.

It can be embarrassing at times, particularly at night...

Southend1

I can hear my neighbours through the party walls too (1920s mid terrace). I think it's pretty normal. I just "tune out" and don't notice them most of the time, though if they were particularly noisy people it would undoubtedly be annoying.

Noctu

Same in our 1960s semi. Hear living noise easily and of course anything louder like parties. We had the walls soundproofed with specialist acoustic rock wool and 2xlayers of acoustic plasterboard, and shoved lots of rock wool in the void underneath floorboards. All done properly with the boards standing proud of the floor (so it doesn't transmit through it), special acoustic glue, no nails or screws going through to the original wall. I would estimate there has been around 20–25% reduction in sound which was very disappointing considering the time, expense, and effort. Our house is now on the market and we will be moving to a detached. Seriously, if it bothers you (as it does us), just move, it's much, much easier!

bluestarlight

Thanks all.

We've only just bought it, so unfortunately moving is not an option for a good few years.

Its just annoying to not be able to relax in our bedroom and having to wear earplugs every night. She has a very loud annoying voice, though I dont think its on purpose. If a family with kids or party lovers moved in, it would be an absolute nightmare.

shegirl

bluestarlight wrote: »

Thanks all.

We've only just bought it, so unfortunately moving is not an option for a good few years.

Its just annoying to not be able to relax in our bedroom and having to wear earplugs every night. She has a very loud annoying voice, though I dont think its on purpose. If a family with kids or party lovers moved in, it would be an absolute nightmare.

That's why soundproofing was so important to me. My neighbours are an elderly couple. When they pop their clogs their house will likely be bought by a family which equals noise!

dizziblonde

Sounds bad to me - our house is very late 1920s and we can just about be aware of next door's alarm going off on a morning (not to the extent it would wake us up but it goes off about 5 mins after ours and you can just about hear it) and the odd cough when he's got a really bad one but that's about it.

bluestarlight

shegirl wrote: »

That's why soundproofing was so important to me. My neighbours are an elderly couple. When they pop their clogs their house will likely be bought by a family which equals noise!

Did you just do the wall, or the floor and ceiling too?

bluestarlight

dizziblonde wrote: »

Sounds bad to me - our house is very late 1920s and we can just about be aware of next door's alarm going off on a morning (not to the extent it would wake us up but it goes off about 5 mins after ours and you can just about hear it) and the odd cough when he's got a really bad one but that's about it.

Their alarm sounds like its in our room!