Sound proofing the ceiling in a flat?

redherring

Hi, i'm in the process of purchasing the down-stairs part of a very small semi-detached house, which the coucil describe as a 'flat.' the conversion was carried out before sound-proofing became a requirement. Bobthebuilder2 states that it is the responsibility of the council to ensure adequate sound-proofing in their properties, but when I reminded the council of this, they stated that it was the leaseholders responsibility ie mine! I have found out that the council failed to re-apply for planning permission (they were given five years to convert into flats 'otherwise it remained a house') and they didn't even apply for Building Regulations, which, for a (bedroom) extension, they were obliged to do! If it wasn't for the £26,000 discount, I wouldn't be buying it, but I'm hoping that the (annoying/noisy) person uptairs will move out so I can put in an offer for the 'flat' upstairs. Flats? All the council did was brick up the living room door and put on an extra front door. I understand that conversions like these aren't carried out anymore, buty what i can't understand is why 'build' them in the 1st place?!

Radsteral

its called soundproofing but it doesnt do what it says .. it mainly reduces it by 25 -30 percent.
ideally the old ceiling needs to be left there and an extra ceiling be built below if the heigh allows it.
sound check plasterboards are applied , as expensive as some 60 pounds per sq m

superstat

After having problems with noise coming from downstairs upstairs I conducted a little search to see what I could find.

I am a building professional and the below shocked me so I feel it is a duty of mine to highlight some of the incorrect information below.

bobthebuilder2 wrote: »

Many flats and flat conversions built in the uk, are substandard, often the companies given the contract to build them, cut corners and made cost savings by using beams which were not strong strong enough to adequately support the floor above, the beams between flats or conversions, should be 8 or 9 inch thick, and the floorboards should also be strong enough to prevent them creaking under the weight of a person. the problem ? once something has been nuilt it's not so easy to change. one solution is expanding foam, or cavity wall insulation, this is minimally invasive and provides both noise reduction and strength to the inferior floor above without increasing it's weight greatly,...

The insulation would provide some relief to the travel of sound but in no way what so ever would it add strength to the floor.

bobthebuilder2 wrote: »

...this can also be done in the walls to prevent sound penetration travelling down them. However, companies such as carpetwise have a lot to answer for, selling thin, poor an inadequate carpet and underlay, at overinflated prices, this has the effect of people choosing the much cheaper option of laminate flooring. Filling the cavity with expanding foam will work very well, however, you will not get a builder or tradesman who will reccomend this, simply because, if any work needs to be carried out, electrics or pipework, they must first remove the foam to get access to whatever they need access too. It should be the responsibility of councils to ensure the properties they own, were in the first place, built to the right specification and it is also there responsibility to ensure adequate soundproofing in there properties, instead, people feel hate towards there neighbours, simply from walking accross the floor.

Good luck with all your sound issues. I think I am going to breach my neighbours very loud bedroom habits face to face!

savemoney

This thread is over 3 years old superstat I very much doubt bobthebuilder2 will be back they only posted once in Nov 2007




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Last Activity: 10-11-2007 12:13 AM