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Lack of sound insulation in block of flats

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urv123
urv123 Posts: 7 Forumite
in House buying, renting & selling
Hi there
I've purchased a property on a ground floor block of flats and to say that it could do with some soundproofing is an understatement!
However, the issue i'd like to ask for help with is the following..

Everytime the tenants in the flat above me go to urinate/use the toilet, I can hear them very loud and clear in my flat. What is causing this and is this a problem which can be resolved? I read somewhere that it could be that the SVP pipe needs insulating, but when i'm in my bedroom/in the toilet, it sounds like they're in the room urinating on top of me! It's so loud!
For now, i've tried the following:

1.Soundproofing the ceiling in the toilet with rockwool, 2x15mm plasterboard & a sheet of tecsound.
2. rockwool around the SVP pipe...which has made no difference...do i need to do anything specific here?

Is there anything else I can try/do to stop the sound of people urinating above me?! How is this sound travelling? Any advice/information would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

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  • Norman_Castle
    Norman_Castle Posts: 11,871 Forumite
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    edited 5 June 2017 at 10:29AM
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    An insulated floating ceiling may help. The toilet will be fixed directly to the floor so the sound will travel directly through the floor/ceiling structure. A floating ceiling is separate from the current floor/ceiling so should hopefully reduce the noise.

    Asking them to whizz on the side of the pan would be cheaper.

    If you try this please update your post with the results.
  • EachPenny
    EachPenny Posts: 12,239 Forumite
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    Norman_Castle wrote: »
    Asking them to whizz on the side of the pan would be cheaper

    :rotfl:

    As Norman Castle says, if the toilet is fixed directly onto the floor and the floor/joist/ceiling construction is the typical wood and plaster then the whole floor/ceiling will be acting like a loudspeaker magnifying the tiniest noise. If you've ever stood in a shed with a tin roof in the rain you'll understand the concept.

    A floating ceiling may help a bit, but it would only be similar to placing a piece of cloth over the front of a loudspeaker. The only way to really cure the problem is to break the solid path that allows the sound of urination in the toilet to be transmitted to the floor/joist/ceiling construction. This would mean getting the upstairs neighbour to install a floating floor with a layer of insulation underneath.

    Unfortunately unless the neighbour is easily embarrassed, the most you are likely to get them to do is to add a 'Please urinate quietly' sign near their toilet.
    "In the future, everyone will be rich for 15 minutes"
  • westv
    westv Posts: 6,085 Forumite
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    Is someone taking the p*ss here?


    :D
  • Norman_Castle
    Norman_Castle Posts: 11,871 Forumite
    Photogenic First Post Name Dropper First Anniversary
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    urv123 wrote: »
    For now, i've tried the following:

    1.Soundproofing the ceiling in the toilet with rockwool, 2x15mm plasterboard & a sheet of tecsound.
    Did this make any difference with regard to airborne sound such as talking?
  • urv123
    urv123 Posts: 7 Forumite
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    Norman_Castle wrote: »
    An insulated floating ceiling may help. The toilet will be fixed directly to the floor so the sound will travel directly through the floor/ceiling structure. A floating ceiling is separate from the current floor/ceiling so should hopefully reduce the noise.

    Asking them to whizz on the side of the pan would be cheaper.

    If you try this please update your post with the results.

    I tried this and no improvement :(
  • urv123
    urv123 Posts: 7 Forumite
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    Norman_Castle wrote: »
    Did this make any difference with regard to airborne sound such as talking?

    It's definitely made a difference regarding airbourne noise, but not impact noise.
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