Are all apartments noisy

SeaSpray

My Mum's looking to move to a (preferably detached) bungalow, but with them being a bit expensive I thought about a ground floor apartment instead. Would there be a lot of noise coming through the walls in a modern apartment or are they soundproofed in any way?

She has lived in a semi detached house before and had a lot of noise from the neighbours, loud music/parties etc, so doesn't want to be in the same situation again.

tim123456789

New build apartments have to conform to very stringent sound transfer tests.

As long as they do you will not hear your neighbours, but I guess that there might be a few flats that get missed

tim

SeaSpray

tim123456789 wrote: »

New build apartments have to conform to very stringent sound transfer tests.

As long as they do you will not hear your neighbours, but I guess that there might be a few flats that get missed

tim

Thanks very much That's great and some apartments I've seen online look great inside, really bright and spacious, and finished to a high spec.

Where would I find information about the sound transfer tests? Are the results graded in any way or do all the properties get a pass/fail? How would I know if a property had one of these tests, other than just relaying on the EA? Is it part of building regulations?

tim123456789

It's a building regulation.

AIUI for a small commercial build/conversion the fact that the property has a received a building certificate from the LA should mean that the test was done, and passed (check with the local Building Control dept).

For a large build the BI will probably issue the certificate(s) having seen only the test results for a (random) sample flat of each type meaning that it is theoretically possible that the insulation was missed on any individual flat. This is a small risk but there's probably not a lot that you can do to avoid it.

For an amateur conversion there are lots that are done without full BR compliance that the builder doesn't bother with getting a building certificate. You should run a mile but they obviously sell to someone because you see them every week on e.g Homes under the hammer - saw one today that I believe didn't comply with the regs (not for this reason)!

tim

pinkteapot

If your mum is sensitive to noise issues after problems with neighbours, she'll be MUCH happier in a detached bungalow. I've lived in a few flats and had friends in others, and no matter how new they've been there has always been some amount of noise.

If you go for a flat, top floor is best by a mile, as sound mostly comes down. She may be able to hear washing machine spin and if the upstairs neighbours have TV speakers she may get a bit of bass noise. She might get lucky with very quiet upstairs neighbours, she might not. Why take the risk if she doesn't have to?

Depending on her age and whereabouts you are, you sometimes see flats advertised in buildings that are for over 65s only. Probably quieter neighbours there, unless the person upstairs is going deaf and starts turning the TV up!

SeaSpray

She's too young for the over 65 flats. A washing machine would be no problem, its just the excessive loudness from roudy people. Detached bungalow would be ideal, its just price that the problem, as she's currently in a 3 bed semi house, that might be more 'first time buyers' category so isn't worth a lot.

witchy1066

what about a park home , some lovely sites around the company,
or a residential caravan park (not holiday)
they are usual for over 55's retired or semi retired ,

TrickyDicky101

If your mother is sensitive to noise (as I am after living next door to very loud neighbours in a semi), then choosing an apartment over a detached property (of whatever type) would be a huge risk: she may well not be in a position to change her mind should the worst happen. No amount of sound proofing will remove all noise from attached neighbours.

I_have_spoken

Yes, all flats are noisy. I'd never go near a ground floor unless hearing was on the way out.

Footsteps, loo flushing, peeps having sex, TV - it's like being in the same room.

SeaSpray

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Yes, all flats are noisy. I'd never go near a ground floor unless hearing was on the way out.

Footsteps, loo flushing, peeps having sex, TV - it's like being in the same room.

Ah yes she's had the noisy footsteps, people having sex, but no toilet flushing - in the semi detached house.

SeaSpray

witchy1066 wrote: »

what about a park home , some lovely sites around the company,
or a residential caravan park (not holiday)
they are usual for over 55's retired or semi retired ,

There's none of them in the part of the country where we live.