Noise & Noise cancelling two questions

boxer234

Hello Everyone 

I live in a mid terrace cottage (three of us in total) it’s 1800s so I assumed had fairly thick walls.  One of the properties is a rental I’ve lived next to three sets of tenants and never had an issue with noise normal family stuff.  The other side is a privately owned second home.  They have never been here much but have recently decided they want to spend more time so are gutting the place.  They have moved out and hired a builder to move in for 3 months.  

He started two weeks ago and it’s been hell! I am noise sensitive and work from home 50% of the time.  The noise radiates through both properties (mine and the next door rental) she also wks at home and is finding it tough.  I understand day time work I have to accept but my issue is he is living there so works into the evening not terribly late but I can’t relax or wind down.  I had a polite word with him about the evenings last night was better.  My questions:

what is a reasonable stop time?  I don’t want to be difficult but 12 hours of builder noise a day is a bit much for me.

Noise cancelling headphones\ ear buds do they work?  Can anyone recommend.  They seem to vary in price but if it will help me manage the noise for the next three months I’m happy to invest if they work.  Mostly so I can relax in the evenings and read or watch TV.

housebuyer143

boxer234 said:

Hello Everyone 

I live in a mid terrace cottage (three of us in total) it’s 1800s so I assumed had fairly thick walls.  One of the properties is a rental I’ve lived next to three sets of tenants and never had an issue with noise normal family stuff.  The other side is a privately owned second home.  They have never been here much but have recently decided they want to spend more time so are gutting the place.  They have moved out and hired a builder to move in for 3 months.  

He started two weeks ago and it’s been hell! I am noise sensitive and work from home 50% of the time.  The noise radiates through both properties (mine and the next door rental) she also wks at home and is finding it tough.  I understand day time work I have to accept but my issue is he is living there so works into the evening not terribly late but I can’t relax or wind down.  I had a polite word with him about the evenings last night was better.  My questions:

what is a reasonable stop time?  I don’t want to be difficult but 12 hours of builder noise a day is a bit much for me.

Noise cancelling headphones\ ear buds do they work?  Can anyone recommend.  They seem to vary in price but if it will help me manage the noise for the next three months I’m happy to invest if they work.  Mostly so I can relax in the evenings and read or watch TV.

Sorry to hear this. 

I have the Sony WH1000XM3 headphones and they are brilliant for sound cancelling. They do better with constant sounds, so like aeroplane noise, a generator, washing machine, extractor, and it will render those sounds to nothing - which is impressive. I literally can put the oven, extractor, washing machine and dishwasher on all at the same time, and if I put on the headphones and stand in the kitchen, it's complete silence.
It isn't as good with sudden sounds but it still does a good job dulling them down and I suppose if you listened to something through them rather than have them silent t like I do then it will probably reduce the sound even more. 

I'm really noise sensitive and these headphones are a necessity.

They have the XM4 version now but I'm not sure how good these are. 

Bigphil1474

There's a semi-legal / voluntary scheme for builders which limits when noisy work can happen, although that can be varied for urgent works. Generally large building sites follow it. The hours they are supposed to operate for noisy work are:

"Mondays to Fridays: 8am to 6pm

• Saturdays: 8am to 1pm
• Sundays and Bank Holidays: No work which can cause noise allowed
• For some local authorities, these times can be slightly different, such as 9am to 2pm on Saturdays, so it is worth checking with your own council to see exactly what the regulations in your area are."

Worth looking a what your local council rules are. If the builder is a reasonable sort, maybe suggest they keep to these hours, so at least you know when peace and quiet will ensue. They can always do non-noisy work outside of these hours.

anselld

Check your local council website, but generally accepted noisy building hours are 8am-6pm M-F, 8am-1pm Sat.

On-the-coast

Sadly for you 12 hours of building noise isn’t unreasonable.  At least there’s an end in sight (unlike antisocial neighbours). 

Sound cancelling headphones can be great - make sure you test the long term “feel” - I’m quite sensitive to pressure on my ears (and heat) so I find some sorts quite uncomfortable if worn for more than a few hours. 

boxer234

Thanks everyone I have gently asked if he could respect the evenings we will see if he does. @On-the-coast there is an end in sight but I could cope with a few weeks, 3 months I think I will slightly lose my marbles.  I am assuming headphones can be sourced in store I wonder if it is worth trying some for comfort. @housebuyer143 yours sound good.  The drilling in the day can be pretty constant.  Needless to say I won’t be worrying about my dog barking a few times anymore! 

HouseMartin567

In terms of noise cancelling headphones, I like Bose Quiet Comfort. I’ve had both over-ear and in-ear and I find over-ear more effective. Looking at the Bose website I see there is now a Quiet Comfort Ultra but I have not tried them - pricey though!

stuhse

You have to frame it that this is only temporary while the works are being done- far better than problem neighbours !.   When im working on my own house i try to stop noisy operations by 8pm and definitely by 9pm.

 I can assure you that the latest apple ear things (whatever they are called) work a treat...my teenagers simply do not here me when i speak to them these days.  

If they are doing a noisy task into the evening time and you want to relax,  think outside the box, you don't have to sit there and listen too it getting angrier and winding yourself up.  Go for a walk, go for a bike ride,  go visit friends or relatives for a couple of hours,  take your newspaper and go sit in the local pub and sip on a drink...its suprising how long you can make one drink last !

One day it will be you having work done on your property.

DullGreyGuy

boxer234 said:

Hello Everyone 

I live in a mid terrace cottage (three of us in total) it’s 1800s so I assumed had fairly thick walls.  One of the properties is a rental I’ve lived next to three sets of tenants and never had an issue with noise normal family stuff.  The other side is a privately owned second home.  They have never been here much but have recently decided they want to spend more time so are gutting the place.  They have moved out and hired a builder to move in for 3 months.  

He started two weeks ago and it’s been hell! I am noise sensitive and work from home 50% of the time.  The noise radiates through both properties (mine and the next door rental) she also wks at home and is finding it tough.  I understand day time work I have to accept but my issue is he is living there so works into the evening not terribly late but I can’t relax or wind down.  I had a polite word with him about the evenings last night was better.  My questions:

what is a reasonable stop time?  I don’t want to be difficult but 12 hours of builder noise a day is a bit much for me.

Noise cancelling headphones\ ear buds do they work?  Can anyone recommend.  They seem to vary in price but if it will help me manage the noise for the next three months I’m happy to invest if they work.  Mostly so I can relax in the evenings and read or watch TV.

Realistically the question is do you want to have 12 hours a day of building work for 3 months or 6 hours a day of building work for 6 months? There is certainly an argument for getting it over and done with and return to peaceful existence quicker than dragging it out over a longer period of time. 


Yes noise cancelling headphones work, over ear works much better than buds. Another vote for Sony Sony WH1000XM* - the * represents the generation, Sony have sold the latest generation for circa £400, currently they are 6th generation, but rather than discontinue the older generation they just reduce their price so right now you can buy 4th, 5th or 6th generation with the former being half the price of the later. 

Buds, on ear and over ear all work fairly well if you are playing music through them, only over ear really work well if there is no sound coming through them though. I would recommend going to a shop where you can try them, particularly if you arent thinking of having music or podcast playing, the deadening of all sound is a strange sensation and some find it oppressive if used for an extended period of time. 

Myci85

stuhse said:

You have to frame it that this is only temporary while the works are being done- far better than problem neighbours !.   When im working on my own house i try to stop noisy operations by 8pm and definitely by 9pm.

 I can assure you that the latest apple ear things (whatever they are called) work a treat...my teenagers simply do not here me when i speak to them these days.  

I they are doing a noisy task into the evening time and you want to relax,  think outside the box, you don't have to sit there and listen too it getting angrier and winding yourself up.  Go for a walk, go for a bike ride,  go visit friends or relatives for a couple of hours,  take your newspaper and go sit in the local pub and sip on a drink...its suprising how long you can make one drink last !

One day it will be you having work done on your property.

Had to laugh at the bit about your teenagers not hearing you with the airpods...I can confirm that half the time my teenagers don't hear me when they've not got them in, so I'm not sure the research is reliable 😁

boxer234

Hello everyone thank you for your responses it is good to know the headphones work and to put some perspective on the situation.  @stuhse you make a good point I am getting more irritated because I’m irritated.  

  I think we all have our preferences I am a morning person I am up early for a long walk with the dog, then the pool or gym before work.  I tend to work on my laptop in the evening with my shows in the background (I can’t use public internet at cafes for example). By the end of the day I’m done.  The dog is on the go all day and is always reluctant for an evening walk.  (Luckily it’s not upsetting him or I would be a psycho)  However since the weather is lovely and  he does like a pub and I will try taking my book to the pub in the evening for dinner.   I will be having work done in the future but I don’t own a second home so will be living it in myself and certainly will not have a live in builder. 

@DullGreyGuy gun to my head I would prefer the work in the day, if it was day contractors I would not have started this thread.  It’s the evening stuff I’m finding really hard to manage.  Our houses are the size of a postage stamp and I can hear everything.  The other night he was working on the wall by my bed and it sounded like he was in the room.  Honestly I’m a dull not grey woman and need my sleep to function  .   I know known of this is my neighbours problem so I’m just looking for ways to manage really.  I am hoping to get away for a few days in half term.