Any sound insulation gurus in here!?

mpj88 · 27 Oct 2014 at 08:40

Hi all,

There has just been a new building construction started opposite my girlfriends flat. In her bedroom she has a double glazed window which has a hinge at the top (only opens a certain amount due to being high up I guess). This is recessed into the wall, so in the room theres a windowsill and this distance is all around the window.

She keeps getting woken up by loud noises, sometimes at hours when they shouldn't be using loud machinery (raised with council etc. don't go there!)

So my thought was to constuct a wooden frame that could be placed into the alcove. I could then put something like this, link, on the side facing the window. Would obviously like the wood as tight to the walls as possible

Thoughts? Am I wasting my time!?

Xire · 27 Oct 2014 at 08:55

Ear plugs.

No seriously, they are a god send.

Orionaut · 27 Oct 2014 at 08:59

Two sheets of glass 6" apart can reduce the sound of a WOT gas turbine engine to a low murmur!

(the optimum spacing for double glazing for soundproofing is not the same as the optimum spacing for thermal insulation!)

pitchfork · 27 Oct 2014 at 09:22

Acoustic treatment isn't sound reduction and sound reduction isn't sound proofing.

Acoustic treatment = Improving acoustic qualities ie. reducing or increasing reverberation of soundwaves in a space

Sound reduction = What it says on the tin

Sound proofing = Completely isolating a room for outside noise and the outside room from the room inside the noise. Very specialist and expensive.

If it's the window you're concerned about you could in theory construct a timber box and stuff if with rockwool. Then use high density foam strips to seal it against the reveal.

But realistically it won't have a dramatic effect, newbuilds are crap for noise, thin walls and poor construction quality. She's best off with earplugs unless she wants a major job on her hands.

mpj88 · 27 Oct 2014 at 09:29

Thanks for speedy responses!

She has already resorted to ear plugs just wasn't sure if I could improve it any further.

Its not a new build. I think it used to be an old post office building, very thick walls. Never hear neighbours. Hence why I was thinking the window was a weak point. There's also one of those draft vents above the windows (in alcove).

Ideally I'd like any construction to be removable during the day so she can still open window. Its also a rental so cant go screwing things into the wall!

pitchfork · 27 Oct 2014 at 10:04

Yeah my thinking was to make the box to the size of the reveal, use the high density foam around the edges to seal and then two handles to place/ remove the foam stuffed box "panel" in and out of the reveal.

Being an older building she will need to ensure plenty of ventilation is reaching the room though so I wouldn't advise using it unless needed, damp is primarily caused by poor ventilation in older properties. They need to breathe, when people start sealing them up they have problems.