New loft dormer - traffic vibrations

Sanoffo

We had our loft dormer built a few months ago - an extra bedroom with ensuite in a 2 bed London Vic terrace. We just moved up and are feeling small vibrations when lying in bed - they feel like bus break vibrations happening every 6-10 mins (similar time buses come). The A-road with the buses has a row of houses in front before ours so is about 60m from our foundations. The vibrations can't be felt on the ground or first floor of the house.

Does anyone know if there is anything that can be done to prevent these vibrations with extra bracing or anything? or what I should be asking the builder when I speak to him next week?

Thanks for any help in advance,
Andy

maninthestreet

Vibrations from a road 60m away with another row of houses between your house and the road seems unlikely.

Sanoffo

I over-estimated the road being 60m away. More like 25-30m...

unforeseen

Underground line?

Davesnave

I think it could be that a component of the newly converted loft is in sympathetic resonance with something in the outside world, like the sound frequency of bus brakes or an underground line.

The builder will probably know little about that, nor would they have a duty to sort it, but they might be able to guess what could be loose and vibrating in the roof space. As you say, it's probably something that just needs tying-in.

gamston

I agree with Davesnave, its something that resonances with an outside sound,
if its a regular sound, you need to be in the loft and slowly workout where the sound comes from, (will take a long time)
you could try taking out some of the stuff "you" have put in there or maybe take everything out and workout if its something in the bulid or its things you are adding (or a combination of the 2)

Sanoffo

There isn't an underground line within a good 1/2 mile so pretty sure it's the busses.

There isn't much else in the room right now except for a bed which isn't touching any walls - I am hoping the vibrations are coming from the plywood that sits on top of the joists. If the joists beneath are vibrating then not sure if/how it can be fixed further.

The bed is situated here:
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sew_what

Have you laid carpet or a hard floor? Could you try something to reduce vibration under the feet/castors of the bed. A small piece of the rubber matting you can put under washing machines might work?

Sanoffo

Good idea - will try some of that matting. Carpet is down at the moment so it's going to be a right rigmarole to upheave and take a closer look.

Furts

Sanoffo wrote: »

There isn't an underground line within a good 1/2 mile so pretty sure it's the busses.

There isn't much else in the room right now except for a bed which isn't touching any walls - I am hoping the vibrations are coming from the plywood that sits on top of the joists. If the joists beneath are vibrating then not sure if/how it can be fixed further.

The bed is situated here:
[/url]

Traffic vibrations are something I have come across. Plus there was nothing that could be done to stop it. But look at your roof with an careful eye. You will see that the majority of your rafters have been cut away. No wonder you have issues and concerns!

You may say the structural roof timbers have been carefully designed, carefully beefed up, carefully trimmed, and subjected to scrutiny by a Structural Engineer and then the Building Inspector. If so then fine, but then there is the floor. The same applies here. Again if the answer is everything is spot on then there is nothing you can do about matters.

But you are then left with the Velux. These are heavy items and glazed units like this do cause sound reflections. Again nothing can be done about this.

newgirly

We have a mid terrace and suffer from this in our loft room, it's known as "bus shudder" :rotfl: my best friend has a very large house set back from the main road and also suffers from it in her loft room. Every now and then you notice it but it doesn't bother me and we are on a main road in London with double decker's every 8 minutes.