Semi detached sound proof

newbuild2020

Hi, it’s my first post! 

We live in a new build semi detached with very loud (and unpleasant) neighbours attached. 

We have put a stud wall in our adjoining living rooms to block out TV noise (which has worked really well the majority of the time) but we hear impact noise (footsteps) all the time. We have a steel framed house and don’t share joists, but they do both run into the party wall so this must be where the sound travels through the floor/ ceiling. 

Would insulating the upstairs floorboards help muffle the noise?

Also our lounge is carpet but I want to make it laminate. If we do this will we hear them more? I know they say carpet muffles sounds. 

Any help is appreciated! 

joe90mitch

I have not actually done any of this myself, but done a medium amount of research as we currently have extremely noisy neigbhours too, including one who purposefully puts a radio on loud - I feel your pain! Our situation is to grit our teeth and probably move in a few years, but then to proactively soundproof walls when we move into our new place.

Anyway, other people will come in with better advice I'm sure - but when you say "stud wall", was it literally just that? Or did you add soundproofing materials also? If the former, it could be worth watching the below videos to get an idea of what can be done with walls to soundproof them as much as possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_brIL4DwDQ&ab_channel=AliDymock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErGqRzzz_Vw&ab_channel=GosforthHandyman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGR2ofMloLU&ab_channel=GosforthHandyman

Note that the third one is a method to soundproof stud walls. But that he recommends not attaching the studs to the wall that has the sound issue (i.e. he attaches to the adjoining wall and chimney breast)

Sorry if I'm teaching a granny to suck eggs here

FreeBear

newbuild2020 said: Also our lounge is carpet but I want to make it laminate. If we do this will we hear them more? I know they say carpet muffles sounds.

I have one room that I put laminate down in - It seems to amplify any noise from elsewhere in the house. Next room to be refurbished/redecorated will have thick underlay and carpet.

newbuild2020

joe90mitch said:

I have not actually done any of this myself, but done a medium amount of research as we currently have extremely noisy neigbhours too, including one who purposefully puts a radio on loud - I feel your pain! Our situation is to grit our teeth and probably move in a few years, but then to proactively soundproof walls when we move into our new place.

Hi!

so we lost 120mm in our room (but it was big enough to not worry too much about this) and we built a stud frame, filled with rockwool and we had 2 layers of soundproof plasterboard behind and 2 in front of the stud wall. We then had a full plaster finish (no dot and dab as this carries sound apparently) and painted over it. It genuinely worked so well for the TV noise and I’d recommend anyone with issues with next door noise tries it. It cost us £800 but £400 of that was labour as we hired someone to do it! 

I know exactly how you feel. We are gritting teeth at the moment and saving for a detached house as soon as we can afford it. It’s a shame neighbours can make you dislike your own house 😢

I’m hoping someone has some tips on the impact noise so we can try to reduce those noise levels to make the next few years bearable. 

Good luck with your neighbours, I hope they end up moving to save you the hassle! 

joe90mitch

newbuild2020 said:

joe90mitch said:

I have not actually done any of this myself, but done a medium amount of research as we currently have extremely noisy neigbhours too, including one who purposefully puts a radio on loud - I feel your pain! Our situation is to grit our teeth and probably move in a few years, but then to proactively soundproof walls when we move into our new place.

Hi!

so we lost 120mm in our room (but it was big enough to not worry too much about this) and we built a stud frame, filled with rockwool and we had 2 layers of soundproof plasterboard behind and 2 in front of the stud wall. We then had a full plaster finish (no dot and dab as this carries sound apparently) and painted over it. It genuinely worked so well for the TV noise and I’d recommend anyone with issues with next door noise tries it. It cost us £800 but £400 of that was labour as we hired someone to do it! 

I know exactly how you feel. We are gritting teeth at the moment and saving for a detached house as soon as we can afford it. It’s a shame neighbours can make you dislike your own house 😢

I’m hoping someone has some tips on the impact noise so we can try to reduce those noise levels to make the next few years bearable. 

Good luck with your neighbours, I hope they end up moving to save you the hassle! 

Ah nice one - so my stuff was indeed teaching a granny to suck eggs Glad it made a difference, will leave other experts to comment on the floorboards etc questions!

Hope your neighbour situation settles also!

Phil4432

I'd say insulate all of the walls, including under the floorboards and attic.

Carpet instead of laminate.

That may make it more bearable.

Speaking from research, not experience.

We had rental idiots next door a while back; slamming doors and a barking dog.  They've gone thankfully.