Impact noise from neighbours

Joe Jones said:
It's a tricky one but if you're feeling the sound of kids running then it must be travelling through the ground. It could be something you can't change like concrete foundations joining the properties (why I wouldn't know). Or maybe it's because the paths running down the side of the fence are physically coupled by the fence posts and the foundation. Separating these will reduce the physical transmission....certainly needs more thought into the correct solution but that's the likely culprit for what you've described.


Soundproofing sounds difficult and this is what the 'specialist' companies want to sell their services on but a lot of it is just common sense when you think about how sound travels. Soundproofing is just looking for weaknesses and addressing those. Some of it is easier to DIY than others. Like in an old house make sure every gap is filled with caulk, or thicken up the walls by using two layers of plasterboard (stuck together with carpet adhesive) which adds mass and vibrational dampening.
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It’s definitely travelling through the ground. The problem is the structure of the house is amplifying it like a drum (through the walls and ceiling)

We did consider paying for an acoustic survey of the property, but again it’s just extra money that we don’t want to spend.
 
Reesespieces92 said:
So just making your path gravel was enough to reduce the noise?
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sneak in and make the neighbours path a gravel one......folk don't tend to run on gravel paths. kids will only run on it till they trip, fall and rip the knees outta themselves.......so even if there's no science behind this, there's definitely a win :p joking aside i doubt making your path gravel will make much difference unless you disconnect your paths sub base from the neighbours (from your explanations it sounds very much like both paths are physically connected)
 
It's probably the gate transferring all that noise into your house. Looks like a really tight fit.

The only thing I can think of is to take off the bit attached to your house and put some thick mass loaded vinyl between the house and the post to try and absorb any vibrations.

Perhaps shave down the edge of the gate so that it isn't squeeze against their side of the fence, again to stop vibrations passing through into your side.
 
Joe Jones said:
It's probably the gate transferring all that noise into your house. Looks like a really tight fit.

The only thing I can think of is to take off the bit attached to your house and put some thick mass loaded vinyl between the house and the post to try and absorb any vibrations.

Perhaps shave down the edge of the gate so that it isn't squeeze against their side of the fence, again to stop vibrations passing through into your side.
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Thanks for your input. I think it’s definitely worth trying first to see if we notice any improvement.
 
I wonder if it's because you have two reflective surfaces there (the walls) and nothing to absorb the sound. 6x6 wood panels are about £200 each, but that's a lot less than £7K. I am just not sure how you could "try before you buy".

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I see that layout is not great I can imagine a few thudding noises as it's close. I had the same in my old semi detached and it didn't bother me it the noise through the walls that sent me mental, I'd take this any day off the week .

I guess because your so close there will always be noise. I can only recommend a white noise machine.
 
SpellowHouse said:
I wonder if it's because you have two reflective surfaces there (the walls) and nothing to absorb the sound. 6x6 wood panels are about £200 each, but that's a lot less than £7K. I am just not sure how you could "try before you buy".

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It the thudding from the ground where the issue is I should imagine, it must carry via the slabs and bounce back from the wall.

Although it won't help, this issue is very minor compared to other neighbour noise issues, trust me on that one.
 
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ants83 said:
I see that layout is not great I can imagine a few thudding noises as it's close. I had the same in my old semi detached and it didn't bother me it the noise through the walls that sent me mental, I'd take this any day off the week .

I guess because you’re so close there will always be noise. I can only recommend a white noise machine.
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Like I know they’re not doing anything wrong, it’s just driving me mental with the thudding sometimes.

Crazy to think being inside the house makes it sound worse than being right next to it outside.
 
Im surprised no one has suggested a trench... Take up your tiles and dig a 2 or 3 foot deep trench, doesn't have to be wide, but it would dampen all noise from vibration.. You could probably fill it with wooden planks or something soft that will absorb low thumping sounds. Maybe you live on solid clay? Maybe some soil in the gap would work if you do?

If the sound is coming through your walls then your house is paper thin.
 
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ChroniC said:
Im surprised no one has suggested a trench... Take up your tiles and dig a 2 or 3 foot deep trench, doesn't have to be wide, but it would dampen all noise from vibration.. You could probably fill it with wooden planks or something soft that will absorb low thumping sounds. Maybe you live on solid clay? Maybe some soil in the gap would work if you do?

If the sound is coming through your walls then your house is paper thin.
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A trench isn’t a bad idea… we would just want to insure we can still access down the side of the house.

Although our house is brick built, the upstairs is all stud walls and there is dot and dab plasterboard everywhere. After trawling through many forums I can tell that these don’t help the situation.

However, we aren’t in a position to sell. So would rather try and think of potential solutions to improve our house structure.
 
Maybe something like this filled with sand then lay slabs over the top

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Then do the trench idea down to the footings, filled with gravel? Maybe sand bags? Or as above trench under slabs filled but with sand bags?

On the fence side maybe plant some shrubs but maybe too narrow?
 
The only trench you would need is close to the fence. As Dis86 mentioned the land could be heavily compacted and most likely clay which is almost as good as concrete when compacted (which is good at transmitting vibrations).

The only problem with a trench is you'd need to go deep, like really deep to ensure you can remove as much compacted soil between the two properties to decouple them. Only needs to be a spades width and then compact down with gravel. This would need to snake around any fence posts (or just offset the whole trench and run under your pathway).
 
Joe Jones said:
The only trench you would need is close to the fence. As Dis86 mentioned the land could be heavily compacted and most likely clay which is almost as good as concrete when compacted (which is good at transmitting vibrations).

The only problem with a trench is you'd need to go deep, like really deep to ensure you can remove as much compacted soil between the two properties to decouple them. Only needs to be a spades width and then compact down with gravel. This would need to snake around any fence posts (or just offset the whole trench and run under your pathway).
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Seems like a low cost idea. Well worth a go first, along with decoupling the gate/adding absorbers.

Also echo (pun intended) the comment about the sound bouncing off the walls between the houses.

Looks like a crap design by the house builders. Rushing to build and make a quick profit, I guess. Cram it all in as cheaply as possible then move on.
 
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Wait, what? You have noise issues with neighbours and you are in a detached!? :O This is literally the reason I want a detached in the future if possible. Tell me this is unusual for the love of god.
 
Reesespieces92 said:
Like I know they’re not doing anything wrong, it’s just driving me mental with the thudding sometimes.

Crazy to think being inside the house makes it sound worse than being right next to it outside.
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I totally sympathize and understand. People like to make light of noise issues bothering you. I'm sensitive to it as well. My neighbours are loud AF when in their kitchen. They don't have soft close cupboards and like to slam them shut. Our lounge is literally next door so sometimes when we watch TV we hear it. :(
 
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