Soundproofing

lydriver

Have been reading about how new build homes tend to be worse for hearing your neighbours through the walls etc, is this also true of the newest energy efficient homes? Does all the insulation not help with keeping the sound in/out?

Is there any kind of rule as to what flats would have the best sound proofing?

I'm assuming top floor is best?

Davesnave

There's a basic standard for sound insulation in the Building Regulations nowadays, which houses have to meet. That wasn't always the case, so in theory at least, a modern house will have reasonable isolation from its neighbours in this regard.

However, care in construction is also important with some methods of reducing sound transmission, so shoddy or skimped work may reduce the effectiveness of these measures in the real world.

In times past, the sheer mass of buildings often made them good at sound deadening. For example, I once lived in a large Georgian terraced house and I never heard my neighbours on either side.

Yes, top floor flats do not have the problem of people above moving around on unsuitable laminate floors, which is a major gripe on this forum. Again, in theory, the most modern, purpose-built flats should have decent insulation between floors, but I expect someone will be along shortly to say this doesn't apply to theirs!

Chanes

I would be wary about buying a new build that was not detached because of the noise (ours). You can hear the people next door stir their tea I've heard. But I think newer builds have better regs than the ones I know of, you could ask what the standard for through the walls noise transmission if for the builder you choose. Whatever, we tried to soundproof a friends house a while ago using resonance bars and suspended insulation and the effect was poor given the details needed for the work and the time to install it.

Cornucopia

In my experience, noise insulation in new builds is not just poor, but unpredictably so. I assume that's because there is insulation, but it breaks down with particular types, locations or frequencies of noise.

Red-Squirrel_2

My building was built in 2007 and the soundproofing is very good, I think new regs came in not long before it was started and they seem to have worked!

I have a corner flat, which probably helps a bit, as I only have people connected along one wall, but that has the drawback of being a bit more expensive to heat as more exterior walls.

nidO

I also have had a good experience with a new-build - I bought my flat in 2009 newly built and had neighbours above, below, and to either side of me and the flat was extremely well insulated (both both sound and heat), you'd pretty much never know I had (4!) directly adjoining neighbours.
Of course, construction standards do vary.

sniggings

nidO wrote: »

I also have had a good experience with a new-build - I bought my flat in 2009 newly built and had neighbours above, below, and to either side of me and the flat was extremely well insulated (both both sound and heat), you'd pretty much never know I had (4!) directly adjoining neighbours.
Of course, construction standards do vary.

so do neighbours

social or private housing?

In my experience, in a new build social housing, the SP is goodish between floors but you can still hear movement, so get a top floor if you can, my walls are very thick but the windows are not great at blocking sounds, so check those too, and also check walls as interior wall, such as hallways etc can e thin so you get the hallway noise.

lydriver

I'm a bit more concerned that other will hear me tbh, I have various musical instruments and listen to music a fair bit
was thinking maybe soundproofing one bedroom would be an option but post #3 isn't very reassuring

Red-Squirrel_2

What musical instruments? If you can get digital/electric versions that you can use with headphones or with a volume control that's a good solution for living in flats.

Chanes

lydriver wrote: »

I'm a bit more concerned that other will hear me tbh, I have various musical instruments and listen to music a fair bit
was thinking maybe soundproofing one bedroom would be an option but post #3 isn't very reassuring

In our first home, the neighbour sold and moved, the next owner stayed for two years and sold and moved. The third owner knocked on the door and asked if we had any idea how loud we were, they were really timid about speaking too. I realised we were the problem and sold up for a house that wouldn't cause those problems to a neighbour. I must have come across like some kind of thug to those other neighbours and I am upset they never knocked on the door and spoke to me. I know some of my friends can look worrying but they really ain't!

sniggings

Chanes wrote: »

In our first home, the neighbour sold and moved, the next owner stayed for two years and sold and moved. The third owner knocked on the door and asked if we had any idea how loud we were, they were really timid about speaking too. I realised we were the problem and sold up for a house that wouldn't cause those problems to a neighbour. I must have come across like some kind of thug to those other neighbours and I am upset they never knocked on the door and spoke to me. I know some of my friends can look worrying but they really ain't!

did you really think no one could hear you or had a problem?

imo must noise that warrants a complaint the people know they are loud.