Sound Proofing

mimi1234

Thanks all for your advice.

Soundproofing is not an option as it would be too costly and everything would have to be soundproofed.

I am looking to move, and detached would be ideal, but first I would need to win the lottery! I currently live with my elderly Mom and she is adamant she will not move or be forced out, which is fine and dandy, but her health is deteoriating and all this thudding and slamming and crashing is not good for her health. I'm also suffering mentally and physically. One loud door slam last week made me think I was having a heart attack, the pain my chest was frightening!

We've tried to reason with the NN but they are having none of it. Not only are they immensely rude but they are confrontational, and a "chat" only leads to more slams and more even more noise than before.

But I will keep looking and hopefully reach a positive resolution.

Only 5 hours until home time and I am dreading it already! It's not good is it?

Noctu

It really isn't and I remember those feelings all too well.

Have you been on noisyneighbours.net ? They're a good bunch of people in a similar situation.

In the meantime, I'd recommend Howard Leight 'Laser Lite' earplugs, white noise playing through speakers, radio on, and some large glasses of wine...

Jon_B_2

Everyone says new builds are rubbish, but I've never had this problem in a new build.

iammumtoone

Have you tried complaining to the council (or who ever it is you need to complain to in these circumstances)?

Is the house rented or privately owned? If rented maybe a letter to the landlord may have some effect?

Good luck.

mimi1234

Noctu wrote: »

It really isn't and I remember those feelings all too well.

Have you been on noisyneighbours.net ? They're a good bunch of people in a similar situation.

In the meantime, I'd recommend Howard Leight 'Laser Lite' earplugs, white noise playing through speakers, radio on, and some large glasses of wine...

Thank you. I take it you have now moved?

I am actually a member on noisyneighbours.net but the regulars seem to have disappeared. But yeah, it's good (well not good, but you know what I mean) to know there are others out there who are suffering and some in a much more awful way.

I will definitely look into the earplugs. Currently, I am having to put in some very deep ear phones and listen to music all night long hoping I will eventually fall asleep. Not good I know but beggars cannot be choosers.

iammumtoone wrote: »

Have you tried complaining to the council (or who ever it is you need to complain to in these circumstances)?

Is the house rented or privately owned? If rented maybe a letter to the landlord may have some effect?

Good luck.

Thanks for your advice. Our home is owned as is their's. The Council are not interested in doing anything at all. I actually work for the Council so I thought they might have "stuck up" for me, but slamming doors day and night is supposedly normal household noise! The Council only take interest if both properties were owned by the local authority.

The easiest thing would be to have a chat with them and discuss how it is affecting us, but no, they resort to intimidation and bullying and harassment. The last time we had a "chat", we ended up with a dead rat on the car and another time he decided to get his power washer out and hose all the junk in his yard into ours in broad daylight!

Oh well. I should stop complaining I guess. There are loads of other people out there who are in a much worse situation than me. Must keep playing the lottery and hoping for the best.

iammumtoone

mimi1234 wrote: »

Thanks for your advice. Our home is owned as is their's. The Council are not interested in doing anything at all. I actually work for the Council so I thought they might have "stuck up" for me, but slamming doors day and night is supposedly normal household noise! The Council only take interest if both properties were owned by the local authority.

Sorry to hear that, some councils must be better than others. My friend had issues with her neighbours they came out and carried out some noise level tests. In the end they said there was no complaint as it was just 'standard' noise but at least they investigated and the situation improved as the neighbours knew they were being monitored. In this situation one house was private and the other local authority so maybe thats what makes the difference.

Noctu

mimi1234 wrote: »

Thank you. I take it you have now moved?

I am actually a member on noisyneighbours.net but the regulars seem to have disappeared. But yeah, it's good (well not good, but you know what I mean) to know there are others out there who are suffering and some in a much more awful way.

I will definitely look into the earplugs. Currently, I am having to put in some very deep ear phones and listen to music all night long hoping I will eventually fall asleep. Not good I know but beggars cannot be choosers.

Glad you're looking into earplugs. They're the only things that gave me some sanity some days! You can buy a mixed pack from sellers on eBay/Amazon to try out different sizes etc. I couldn't get away with listening to music, I did try it.

You can play white noise through speakers - I think the site was raining.fm for some good rain noises - or there's other sites where you can play all sorts of ambient noise such as cafe noise, thunderstorms, forest. This really helped me.

Yes, we moved a year ago. Funnily enough we (hubby and I) both still wear earplugs to sleep - once you get used to them, they really help to get a good night's sleep. But we managed to move to a detached house - a new build (we part exchanged our house with the builder) and honestly, we couldn't be happier. It took a few months for me to fully relax and I still get a little knot in my stomach when I hear music blaring from a car - but it was so worth it...

If moving is a possibility in the future, have you looked into doing a spreadsheet or something similar to see how long it would take if you saved £X per month for a deposit/rent/etc?

PasturesNew

Any chance of doing any new/small extension? Just a small room only adjoined to your house that you can build to be superquiet... so you at least have a sanctuary?

If budget's tight and if most people agree that most things you can do are very disruptive and ineffective, and if you're on a tight budget, it might be worthwhile looking at whether a small extension's an easier/better way of dealing with it without moving.

mylilangel

I currently live in a 2007 built terraced town house, and touchwood never heard a sound from neighbours either side, even when they have have a party. Same for my neighbours, they have never complained from either side.

The building regs are quite stringent about noise, and the person who wall mounted my TV on the party wall was also very appreciative of the thermalite, and the way partition walls are constructed nowadays.

mimi1234

Noctu wrote: »

If moving is a possibility in the future, have you looked into doing a spreadsheet or something similar to see how long it would take if you saved £X per month for a deposit/rent/etc?

I'm so happy for you. Awww.

Yeah, I am saving up like mad. Everything I have in my room like clothes and shoes that I have no intentions of wearing have been sold on eBay to get as much money together as possible. I've been house hunting like a person possessed but have not had much success.

I did find a property which I thought I really liked and put an offer in, but after having a few friends look at the floor plan etc, found that it was more hassle than it was worth so I pulled the plug on that, but will keep looking. I went in with my rose tinted glasses and was so excited about the house, common sense went straight out of the window. I was searching on Zoopla and Right Move during my lunch break today.

Hopefully something will come up soon. Sometimes I think I must be a really evil person to deserve this non stop nuisance! It's non stop and it's so bloody annoying. Sorry if I am being dramatic.

PasturesNew wrote: »

Any chance of doing any new/small extension? Just a small room only adjoined to your house that you can build to be superquiet... so you at least have a sanctuary?

If budget's tight and if most people agree that most things you can do are very disruptive and ineffective, and if you're on a tight budget, it might be worthwhile looking at whether a small extension's an easier/better way of dealing with it without moving.

Actually, I had never thought of that. We do have a tiny porch where none of the noise travels and I did put a chair in it but it's just so uncomfortable in there. However, if this keeps happening, I might just put a sleeping bag in there and slum it out if I can at least get some rest. It might be uncomfortable but if the noise is not there, I will be more than happy!

Thanks for your advice guys.