What's the best option for someone who can't afford a detached place? Do the higher rise flats tend to be more soundproof than the 2-story flats?

I just don't know what to do. I'm sick to death of the noise of slamming doors and rumbling subwoofers. Weekend lie-ins? PA! No chance.

How does anyone put up with this ****? It takes over your life.

Im in a similar situation to yourself.

Currently living in a 1-bedroom mid-town house which is only about 10 years old and yet the soundproofing is shocking.

I can hear almost every sound from next door, especially doors, movement up and downstairs - even plugs being inserted into sockets and being switched on!

Im moving out this weekend - temporarily back to my parents but looking for somewhere thats semi-detached or detached. When viewing properties Im going to actually test the adjoining wall quality and preferably try to see the neighbours.

In this day and age I would think that good soundproofing would be a high priority on new properties, obviously worse now than older properties.

Its sooooooo annoying that other people make so much noise without consideration of their neighbours!

go for an older property if you can, we lived in an old terraced house and never heard a thing, we're now in a slightly 'moderner' terrace and hear pretty much everything.
afraid i dont know about flats though!

Sheff2006 - I can't decide if it is my neighbours being inconsiderate or whether the soundproofing is just that bad! Problem with these new builds is the use of those self-closing doors, but they're not the good ones that slow the door before it shuts, the door just slams shut at full force everytime. Good luck with the move. Hope you get the peace and quiet you deserve.

honeyb35 - Thanks. I hear mixed views about old vs new builds. Some have said the pre-war terraces were built better, but others have said they were not built to withstand modern noise such as subwoofers and surround sound systems.

I've heard that the higher rise flats are built using different structure and materials than 2 storey flats (I've always lived in the converted house flats, never the high rise) and that's why they tend to be more sound proof. Is this generally true?

if you end up with inconsiderate neighbours i don't think there is anything you can do other than try to go down the detached route.

i've had problems in old terrace/new terrace/old apt/new apt and know a friend who had problems in a modern semi.

thankfully, live in a detached now.

We are lucky our neighbours are not too noisey but you can hear them walking around upstairs and slamming doors. We live in an excouncil semi but all the living rooms ie lounge and main bedroom adjoin the party wall so you just get used to the noise.

We lived in a flat at Cornish Place, a relatively new development from an old steel works. We moved out after 10 months the noise was so bad. I could hear footsteps, music and when she decided to bring someone back at the weekend, I could hear other things too! I was shocked that a new development could be built with such bad soundproofing.

We moved to a terraced house around Endcliff Park. Peace at last we hoped. Nope . . .we had students next door who decided that singing Common People full volume at 5 am was ok. However, our neighbours now are families and we don't hear a peep. It's very peaceful. The bottom line is that some houses, flats, etc, will be worse than others, and I will always be sure to check this out next time we move in a few years. However, if your neighbours don't give a toss, I think you're going to have problems whatever the thickness of your walls.

We lived in a flat at Cornish Place, a relatively new development from an old steel works. We moved out after 10 months the noise was so bad. I could hear footsteps, music and when she decided to bring someone back at the weekend, I could hear other things too! I was shocked that a new development could be built with such bad soundproofing.

We moved to a terraced house around Endcliff Park. Peace at last we hoped. Nope . . .we had students next door who decided that singing Common People full volume at 5 am was ok. However, our neighbours now are families and we don't hear a peep. It's very peaceful. The bottom line is that some houses, flats, etc, will be worse than others, and I will always be sure to check this out next time we move in a few years. However, if your neighbours don't give a toss, I think you're going to have problems whatever the thickness of your walls.

It's just an unacceptable way to live isn't it?

Yes, I know, we should be thankful that at least we have shelter and warmth and a bed to sleep in...but the psychological torture of not being able to relax after a day's work, anticipating the next SLAM of the door or heavy footsteps pounding above you... it's clear to me why stress is at an all time high in this country. If you can't relax when at home, when can you relax??

I can't believe how miserable the simple slamming of a door can make me. WHY DO THEY HAVE TO SLAM AROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!! Primitive, inconsiderate morons.

It's just an unacceptable way to live isn't it?

Yes, I know, we should be thankful that at least we have shelter and warmth and a bed to sleep in...but the psychological torture of not being able to relax after a day's work, anticipating the next SLAM of the door or heavy footsteps pounding above you... it's clear to me why stress is at an all time high in this country. If you can't relax when at home, when can you relax??

I can't believe how miserable the simple slamming of a door can make me. WHY DO THEY HAVE TO SLAM AROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!! Primitive, inconsiderate morons.

Thanks for the good luck message for my upcoming move.

You have got it in one about the psychological torture that neighbours force upon us. Many a time recently since my dodgy neighbours moved in last December, Ive been sat downstairs or laid in bed just waiting for the next sound disturbance.

There was one Friday night a few weeks back when they were singing nextdoor - this was gone 11pm so I got ready and went out for a walk just to calm myself down. Life shouldnt have to be like this when you are in your own home though.

I feel exactly the same as you do about the doors slamming issue!

When I lived in a flat I could hear the bloke upstairs having sex throughout the night! Well the bed squeeking and one of his many girlfriends screaming like she was being murdered or summat! I had the constant smell of weed from my next door neighbour anall along with their ****ty music on full blast! I was so glad to get out of that dump!

I bought my flat about a year ago. Six months ago new people moved in to the flat next to mine and they make loads of noise. I can't sell because of the housing market so I'm stuck. I've been looking into soundproofing my wall and I've been looking at lots of websites. I'm really starting to worry that I'll never be able to relax in my own home again. :(

I bought my flat about a year ago. Six months ago new people moved in to the flat next to mine and they make loads of noise. I can't sell because of the housing market so I'm stuck. I've been looking into soundproofing my wall and I've been looking at lots of websites. I'm really starting to worry that I'll never be able to relax in my own home again. :(

Last I looked at soundproofing the guarantees being made were very reassuring. They can do a lot with party walls now. As you've bought the place you should see it as an investment. There will be an increasing number of people looking for a flat with good sound proofing. I know I was!

I feel your pain. Do you know if they're renting?

I know exactly how you feel Soundman from when I had my own flat complete with excess noise! Also, had the same problem when I was renting - see my other posts in this thread.

I looked online about soundproofing when I had my flat but I decided to sell up and move out instead.

I really feel for all of you. I spent 7 years living in a 'well built' ex-council house. The bloke next door seemed to think it was ok to come home at all hours and stick his tv or stereo on full blast. If I complained it just got worse and the council could do nothing to help. In the end I sold up for £20,000 below market value, just to get away from him. It was literally making me ill. I then had an equally bad experience with an appartment at Kelham Island. I'm currently hiding at my parents detached home and feel sick whenever I think about having to buy or rent anywhere. Don't let it make you ill !!!

I'd recommend a house instead of a flat. If you're in a flat and there are people above you it's hard to escape the noise whereas if you're in a house you're more likely to be able to move to a different room if needs be.

The quietest terrace we lived in was designed so our lounge was next to the alleyway and our stairs were on the joining wall the other side. We didn't hear the neighbours and they didn't hear us. We had the odd loud party and they had occasional karaoke nights but the peace was kept!

The best designed semis (for noise, although they're then a little colder in the main used rooms as they're on outside walls) are those with the stairs next to the joining walls, that way your lounge and main bedrooms are on the outside walls. Unfortunately there aren't that many of them in Sheffield.

If you complain to the council about excessive noise (for those with people singing etc. not necessarily your ordinary living noises) they'll ask you to keep a diary and can issues them with warnings. If they're in a housing association or council property they could be evicted if they continue. Private landlords may also do the same.

I had the oppersite problem once I used to leave for work at 6am and my neighbours bedroom was next to our exit from our home and no matter when i left , she would always say I had woken her up !!! which upset me as i always tired to be careful when going out at that time in the morning, finally she moved, The new neighbour never heard me and i did ask !

Hi Teeny, I think some people (like me) are just really sensitive to noise. I often felt angry at the neighbours, but then realised it was just **** sound proofing!

Anyway I'm out of that place and now in a detached place. Paying about 50% of my wages towards rent, but hey, I'd rather be skint than psychologically tortured :loopy:

I hope this thread can help to give those suffering from similar noise troubles some support. I think this problem is more common than people think. The government should at least set stricter regs for sound proofing on new builds, if only to save the mental health bills on the NHS!!

Tiggerchick, yes I don't know why they don't build all semis using that layout... makes sense.

Don't blame yourself epiphany, you are not in the wrong.
There's nothing unnatural about wanting peace and quiet.
It's just that some people are plain ignorant, and don't give a t8ss about any of their neighbours. :|

My husband works shifts so goes out at all hours but I never hear him and I'm in the same house!! In general people do not like to be disturbed by other peoples noise but there is a huge difference between a hard of hearing neighbour having the tv on a bit loud or someone setting off to work at 4am or even a baby crying in the night than a 30-odd year old bloke coming in a 2am, off his face and deciding to play a load of crap 90's techno (with the odd celine dion or whitney huston track thrown in - freak!!) as loud as his stereo will go while screaming at his dog and dancing round in his underpants.

My husband works shifts so goes out at all hours but I never hear him and I'm in the same house!! In general people do not like to be disturbed by other peoples noise but there is a huge difference between a hard of hearing neighbour having the tv on a bit loud or someone setting off to work at 4am or even a baby crying in the night than a 30-odd year old bloke coming in a 2am, off his face and deciding to play a load of crap 90's techno (with the odd celine dion or whitney huston track thrown in - freak!!) as loud as his stereo will go while screaming at his dog and dancing round in his underpants.

Unfortunately all noise from neighbours is an annoyance. Our neighbours are having a baby soon and have for warned us we may be able to hear it. We get on with our neighbours so have said we will move into the smaller bedroom on the opposite side of the house so we are not disturbed by the noise. It is all about give and take and making compramises.

But unfortunately, not all neighbours are willing to even acknowledge your existence, let alone agree to a compromise. The guy I lived next door to put his tv/stereo on that loud that we could hear it in everyroom. There was no getting away from it, apart from moving out. All I can say is that living next to someone like that can have a serious adverse impact on your life and wellbeing, so get out if you can

If you are looking for a larger complex apartment then look for ones on a corner. Ours is on a corner and have corridoors on both sides - hence no neighbours. We therfore have only the reidents above and below. Either ours are very considerate or the building is solid as we never hear either of them. Our building is constructed with breezeblocks or ocncrete between the apartments (I know this as i have blunted about 4 brick drill bits putting up pictures) and this may help with the soundproofing too. I guess it depends on the particular property you are looking at, but when looking arround give the walls a good tap to get an idea of the quality.

Regards
John

Thats what I did John when I was viewing houses during the summer - tapping on adjoining walls! The estate agents must have thought I was crazy but its a good way to test the quality.

Lucky that you seem to be in a well-soundproofed apartment as these sound hard to find from what Ive read. I didnt know there would be any decently soundproofed ones in Sheffield.

I didnt know there would be any decently soundproofed ones in Sheffield.

This is an investment opportunity in the waiting for those with the capital!

This is an investment opportunity in the waiting for those with the capital!

How right you are!

I've had flats in Coode House on Riverside, and in Queens Tower, and left both due to endless noise from people upstairs.

Apologies for dragging up this old thread but I'm curious to know...

Which Sheffield apartments have the best soundproofing???

I live in an early 80's semi and it's down to luck. Since moving in, in 1983 I have had 5 neighbours. Three was quiet, one a family, was tolerable but it got worse when they they fitted laminate flooring. The couple we have now are the quietest we have have ever had. Next perhaps maybe the babies crying but we can't complain as once we had a baby up all night every night. My sympathies to you all you have noisy neighbours, it must be torture. There are soundproofing systems but you you will lose at least 40mm of your party wall to accomadate them. Personally if I can afford the loss of space its money well spent. A drywalling contractor will know how or for diy'ers go to Sheffield Insulations and seek advice.

Good luck!

Hi

Just about to move from a modern 2 bed apartment to a converted victorian mansion in a quieter area. I've spent the last 4 years in different modern city centre apartments and I've had mixed experience with noise.

From experience of living in them, most modern apartment blocks follow type 4wall design as set out in the british standards part E. You will get this on any new build over 3 stories where the builidng is built on a steel frame and internal walls are not used to bear load.

Type 4 walls consist of a steel or aluminium cross section with sound insulating material and a double layer of plasterboard on each side. Now how effective the sound insulation is depends on the workmanship employed, but a well made type 4 wall will block 50-60db of airbourne noise (think tv at normal volume, quiet conversation) anything above this such as music or carpet hoover etc can usually be heard (the level of transmission is also dependant on environmental noise such as traffic etc...)

Impact noise is very difficult to insulate against as direct impact causes vibrations that can travel through supporting struts and radiate out in other flats (your banging doors). We get this but asking the neighbours to install a cheap door sealant strip and adjust door return dampeners where possible has reduced this problem greatly.

So to answer your question on what type of flat has the best insulation from sound... It really does depend on the type of wall, and whether the building is purpose built or converted. The best advice I can give is to view as many flats and possible and give the wall a good bang with your fist in each, if the wall rattles and vibrates (and sounds hollow) then you are probably dealing with type 4 and the best you can hope for is the legal standard I've explained above. If it feels solid and returns a dull thud, then its probably breezeblcok with a small cavity, this is more effective (but heavier and more expensive) than modern type 4 walls and you should be ok with 60-70db of airbourne noise and an increased effectivness against impact noise.

Another recommendation I can make is to ask the agent or developer for floor plans of the building, this will help you visualise the space and check if your next door neighbour's kitchen ajoins your master bedroom for example....

Impact noise is often more to do with floor type than wall type, and where modern buildings do score well is in their almost universal use of concrete and cavity flooring which can block more noise than a normal internal floor of a house.

So the bottom line is, get to know your neighbours as much as possible, check the wall construction before committing to a new place, escpecially if sound transmission is a concern.

Gone on a bit but it can be a complex issue, and certainly not one to take lightly.

When i lived in jet-centro i never once hear the neighbours so there soundproofing must be ok.

There has been new stricter thermal and sound proof regulations introduced during 2006. Any new build , or old house that requires change of use permission needs to comply . The sound proofing is audibly tested. If it fails, it has to be upgraded, to pass and get the certificate. For homeowners, where its primarily the party wall thats the problem, then I can recommend the high density accoustic insulation that Wickes sell . They have information sheets on how best to use it. It is then replasterboarded, (sound proof plasterboard is twice as good as ordinary plasterboard) and finished off. Overall the cost isn`t too high, compared to the better living conditions created for oneself.

Thanks for the update davi.

I have to say, I was very disappointed with the 2004 build flat I was in last time. You could hear the upstairs toilet flushing, doors slamming and footsteps were very audible. I was woken up at 6am every morning simply because the person upstairs was up and about doing his normal every day activities!

It's good news that regulations are getting tougher. It's so important that people are able to enjoy their own space and peace and quiet. Excessive and intruding levels of unwanted noise can ruin your life, as many people have experienced.

What's the best option for someone who can't afford a detached place? Do the higher rise flats tend to be more soundproof than the 2-story flats?

I just don't know what to do. I'm sick to death of the noise of slamming doors and rumbling subwoofers. Weekend lie-ins? PA! No chance.

How does anyone put up with this ****? It takes over your life.


Hi there

do be too upset as it's no good for your health, there are steps you can take, if you are a council tennant you can report anti-social behaviour and you will be asked to make diary sheets and they will inturn run an investigation...

in the meantime if the music it's in the late or early hours your can call either the police or enviromental service (noise pollution) and they have new powers to remove the problem...

we have a similar problem here but we go around and ask them to turn it down and they do, you pay rent as well as your neighbours and you have rights same as them so you have to stand up and show them who's boss so to speak but be polite and if that does not work then report them to whoever owns the property and make diary sheets/logs of all the problems inc times and dates...

hope this helps

mickeyj

p.s...the housing aid team is based at firstpoint, and the anti-social team/s are bases at your local housing office

p.p.s all propeties houses or flats do not allow for people that like to play loud music, the main reason is extra sound proofing costs mega ££££ and would increase property prices/rents greatly