Semi detached noise?

mymoneyfox

Hi,
Long time lurker and first time poster.
I recently moved into a new build semi detached (Built 2019) after living in a detached house my whole life. 
I'm curious from others on how much noise I should be able to hear from next door. The main noises I hear are banging, and when the neighbour closes the front door its makes quite a bang so I always know when they are in/out. Is this normal? I rarely hear voices unless we are both in the joining wall room and someone laughs extremely loudly

One thing I recently discovered whilst putting up some shelves was if I put my ear to any of the external walls of the house I can hear the neighbour as if they were inside the wall! Even on the opposite side of the house to the joint wall, if you put your ear on the wall you can hear the neighbour as if they were the other side. What would cause this, and should that be happen?
Whilst I have my builders warranty I just want to check it all sounds reasonable and normal and get the builder to check things if not.

Thanks.

PJBRFC

We had a new build semi from 2014 until early this year and the noise from next door was terrible. We could tell what room they were in and how many were in there. It was exacerbated by them installing laminate flooring all downstairs.

We now live in a 1964 semi and we hardly hear anything at all from next door. 

freesha

The issue is the new build, not the semi. I lived in a mid-terrace, so in theory should be twice as noisy as you have it. But it's an early-80s house, so much better soundproofing - I very rarely hear either side.

mymoneyfox

That's fair If this is normal and expected then that's perfectly fine. Never having the experience of living in a semi I wasn't too sure.
Can anyone explain why no matter where in the house if you place your ear on an external wall you can hear the neighbour as if they were inside the wall ? It's not really a problem as I wont be going around with my ear on the wall! I just find it quite bizarre that I can be on the opposite side of the house to the neighbour and hear them inside the wall.

theoretica

Putting your ear to the wall to hear next door is standard - you can hear even better if you put a glass to the wall.  Also doors, because any vibrations will travel through the structure - but some do need a firmer shut than others and this can sometimes be tweaked.  Does your own front door need a reasonably firm shut?

Black_Cat2

theoretica said:

Putting your ear to the wall to hear next door is standard - you can hear even better if you put a glass to the wall.  Also doors, because any vibrations will travel through the structure - but some do need a firmer shut than others and this can sometimes be tweaked.  Does your own front door need a reasonably firm shut?

Lol, I picture all the readers of this grabbing their glasses and propping their ears up against their neighbours walls!  Probably more exciting than watching the soaps! 😹

Heres_the_deal

I'd never want to live in a semi, terraced or flat again after some bad experiences with noise - regardless of being Edwardian, 50s, 60s or 80s built. The soundproofing on newer developments with neighbouring TV soundbars, sub-bass and food mixers (yes they're bloody loud) is ridiculously bad.

RelievedSheff

freesha said:

The issue is the new build, not the semi. I lived in a mid-terrace, so in theory should be twice as noisy as you have it. But it's an early-80s house, so much better soundproofing - I very rarely hear either side.

We lived in a 1930's semi for our last property and the noise transmission between the properties was terrible. So this isn't just a new build problem.

If anything noise insulation should be better in a new build than an 80's property as the building regulations and robust details have come on far more since the 80's. However in practice it isn't always possible to fully soundproof two adjoining properties. Noise travels in lots of ways and stopping it all is nigh on impossible.

I would say that hearing a front door shut and some impact noise is quite reasonable and we would have been happy if that was all you could hear at our last property!!

mymoneyfox

Thanks guys! All sounds reasonable and part of joint house living. My front door does sometimes need a firm shut, so I guess the neighbour has the issue as well and that's why it sometimes sounds like they are heavily closing it. They can hear mine too I would imagine.

I've not tried with a glass ! I understand what you are saying against the joint wall, but should this be the case on other walls as well? I can be in the living room or an upstairs bedroom (That isn't against the joint wall) and if you place your ear on the wall (Or glass lol!) you can hear the neighbour as if they were inside the wall.

Heres_the_deal

Is the house foundations pile and beams ?  That can create a soundbox under the floor that enables sound to travel from outside , and across joining properties.  Sound also travels along brick structure, not just through it.

moneysavinghero

Yes hearing doors closing is quite normal. Just wait till they start doing DIY, you will hear that. Baby crying all night. Voices when they have visitors. TV. If they are musical you will hear all their terrible instruments playing. Screaming kids. Yapping dogs.