How to cheaply sound proof a room

tori.k

We are in the process of buying a small home, it's a conversion so has a bit of an odd layout (flying freehold think L shaped) so our downstairs bathroom is under the stairs and bathroom of the neighbours property.
Ours is a small bathroom that includes big under stairs cupboard that for obvious reasons can't be removed, this cupboard has large Louvre doors electric and the bathroom pipework running through it so my thinking is it would make a great utility space, I'm guessing it's housed a dryer before but not a washing machine, thinking of the neighbours is there a cheap and easy way of reducing the noise from a washer/ dryer I don't envision to much of a problem but like to be considerate. This would make use of a redundant space in a small house and free up much needed kitchen space.

Tahlullah

Kingspan insulation on the walls and Anti-vibration rubber feet on the washing machine. The Kingspan won't be particularly cheap, but depends on the thickness you buy. Its that or egg boxes.

bertiewhite

Polystyrene sheet?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

I don't think standard insulation board offers much soundproofing, Kingspan do an acoustic board:

https://www.kingspan.com/roe/el-gr/products/insulated-panels/learning-center/kingspan-panels-sound-insulation

offering an additional sound insulation of 31 dB. A washing machine is roughly 80 dB but if the conversion was done correctly the dividing wall should have decent soundproofing already.

If I'm reading your post correctly, the room you wish to soundproof is against your neighbours bathroom, best idea would be to put the washing machine and/or tumble trying on, pop by to introduce yourself and while you are there ask to use the loo. This way you can judge for yourself if it's a problem (if you ask the neighbours to listen out then they might find a problem because you've pointed one out rather than it really being there).

tori.k

It's solid stone wall building from the 1840, converted into current form in 1985 so doubtful about the stairs having any sort of sound proofing, next door is currently also empty they should complete the same time as us, we've had some title issues so guessing they have the same problems as the place sold 8 weeks ahead of us. We are planning on ripping the bathroom to replace with a large walk in shower before we move in, so will put in some triline/ kingspan and some acoustic underlay under some vinyl flooring in the cupboard as suggested. As you rightly say I really don't want to draw attention to something that may not even be an issue. We don't have a lot of laundry nowadays.

Strider590

Acoustic soundproofing tiles are dirt cheap, you'll get a pack of 20 for £25-£30 and they're really effective, but whilst they look kinda cool in a gaming/music room, they'll look stupid most anywhere else.

zoothornrollo_2

Strider590 wrote: »

Acoustic soundproofing tiles are dirt cheap, you'll get a pack of 20 for £25-£30 and they're really effective, but whilst they look kinda cool in a gaming/music room, they'll look stupid most anywhere else.

Yeah but it's only a cupboard.
There is acoustic plasterboard as well as acoustic celotex / kingspan, but that is expensive for what might not be a big issue.

Grenage

You really need mass for soundproofing; stuff like compressed fibreglass batts.

As long as the floor is stable, it shouldn't be too noisy.