Are modern new builds soundproofed???

teddysmum

I think some of the noise level depends on whether there is a staircase on an adjoining wall.


My son's new house's 'other half' has this and the last neighbours (with a young child ) created quite a lot of noise (child on stairs).

WeAreGhosts

I've had ...

1950s semi - pretty bad, could hear every cough, sneeze, telly, doors etc ...

1970s semi - can't remember any noise from the attached neighbour - had most noise from the detached next door!

1910s semi - could hear everything that went on in the bathroom!! literally felt like there was one brick separating us.

In a detached at the moment, but the windows are terrible, so can hear neighbour's doors, cars, vans, birds etc.

It does depend on the builder!

DD137

I'd imagine it varies from development to development

2004 Maisonette here and I can hear absolutely everything. If I havent got the TV on I can hear word for word conversations in the maisonette above me. Doors opening and closing, you can even hear when they go to the toilet! The whole thing was clearly built on the cheap

[Deleted User]

We've lived in a few houses too! Currently in a 1930s semi-detached and the only thing we hear from next door is the hoover!

PasturesNew

My sibling bought a new build. While it was empty the site agent showed her round - being empty it'd hear anything going on next door. Agent offered to show her round next door too as it was considerably larger - they went in and there was a workman going about his building business with the radio blaring out - couldn't hear a thing next door! 2009 build, ~£200k

I can't hear a thing my neighbours do, except the once a month or so when they seem to race a single elephant up the stairs. That's it, no noise whatsoever through the adjoining wall. No telly noise, no people noise, no pet noise, no hoover noise, nothing. There's 3 of them and a dog there too. When I've been outside and I can hear they've got visitors (as they've got all their doors etc open and they've got a particularly noisy (loud/booming-voiced male) visitor in their house, once I come inside again I can't hear a single thing. 2010 build, ~£200k

GaleSF63

kimbyanne wrote: »

However, my parents lived in a Taylor Wimpey new build semi a few years ago, and you could hear the neighbours sneeze.....

I can hear my neighbour sneeze.

It's the flat above me. I can't hear the TV or doors opening or shutting or conversation or washing machine except when it's spinning, or many footsteps (and it's laminate flooring).

But I hear the sneeze.

Must be some sneeze!

[Deleted User]

Ok thanks its food for thought, there are new builds going up for around £250K 4 bed semi's but on the other side of the village i could get a 3 bed detached for the same price or maybe a bit less. The detached has a nicer view just a little smaller than the 4 bed's. (tbh it will be only me and my 5 ear old daughter when she comes to stay on occasion weekends) and it is a Taylor Wimpy site...

I think i'd be better off with the 3 bed detached tbh...

kataklysm

Interesting, I was thinking of starting a thread about this.. who lives in what, and what is soundproofing like..

I live in a 1998 Bovis end terrace and the walls may as well not be there. I can hear chairs moving around, conversations, music, plumbing, everything. The windows are very bad for sound too.
My last house was a 1984 Barratt mid-terrace, and the only audible noise was when someone walked up or down the stairs, or was putting up a picture etc. Noise from outside was very audible though.
Before that, a Victorian mid-terrace, which was silent except for the occasional party. But I know someone in a similar terrace that can hear everything.

It's almost pot-luck. I'm looking at a Bovis new-build next (out of necessity), but I wonder whether things have really improved that much?

OP, if I had the choice between a smaller detached property and an attached with an extra room, I'd go for the detached every single time. But then I am overly sensitive to noise .. There'd still be something for me to moan about I'm sure!

katepower

I live in a flat built in 2004. The person below me has a chronic cough that is worse at night - I haven't slept since he got it which should tell you everything about the new build flat. (2004 is new build to me!)


However, I read that post-2004, tests and requirements for soundproofing newbuilds became much more stringent so I'm hoping you wouldn't have to worry too much.

chimmo12

I've had 1930's terraced - Wouldn't even know you had neighbours

Then went to a 2008 Newbuild flat - again wouldn't know you had neighbours apart from upstairs had quite a noisy washing machine and it that rattled slightly.

Then a 2010 Newbuild townhouse - absolutely awful - Could hear every single word through. The couple next door used to argue a lot too which didn't help because you could hear every word until 3am. I had to record them for Environmental health (as they complained to environmental health about us having friends over until 11pm one Friday night!!) and you could hear every word played back perfectly.

I now have a 1970's detached and hope to never go back being attached to anybody especially not in a new build!
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