New build front door sound proofing

Phonesis

Phonesis

Phonesis

Associate
Joined
25 Jan 2009
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UK
Just moved into a new build apartment and can't figure out if I am expecting too much here but here goes.

The place is very well sound proofed in general (which was a selling point and promoted in the literature etc). I never hear much at all coming from above or below me and the guys below me party a fair bit haha. However, the front door to the apartment doesn't seem to offer much (if any) sound proofing and, as a result, I can hear it whenever my neighbour comes and goes from their flat (which has a front door very closely positioned to mine in the communal hallway area). To make matters worse, there is a solid fire door leading off to communal stairs and it slams shut so loudly I am often getting woken up by it.

Seems like the front door could be of a more sturdy nature to me, which I guess would help with the sound proofing. It is unfortunate but luckily I only share the floor with 2 other flats and the other one is further away. It's just this one neighbour who is close to me I can hear coming and going at night (they seem to do shifts). Could be a lot worse though but I am wondering if I should raise this as a snagging issue? Is it really acceptable in a new build?

Alternatively, I could politely ask the neighbour to not let the fire door slam shut behind them. The sound of them coming in and out of their flat is less of an issue just an annoyance.
 
If soundproofing was promoted to you as a selling point, then I don't see the issue with you raising it with them to see if there's anything they will do.
 
I would maybe look at why the door is making such a loud noise does it have a closer at the top? They wont be able to do anything regarding sound proofing to your door.

We used to live in a flat with only one other flat on our floor, could hear them going in and out every time.
 
Is it just a cheap ass pvc door? If it is just get a proper solid wood core composite fitted.
 
If its new build it will probably be a grp door which is insulated. Does it have a manufacturers stamp anywhere on it along the training edge?
The fire door can be adjusted but it also has to close fully so the closer may need to be like it is in order to 'seal' the gap properly.

I appreciate this may not help but perhaps gives some context.
 
Thanks all, the fire door has got a closer on top I think yes. So guess it might just need adjusting? I will raise it. I was tempted to buy some pads and stick them in door frame to soften the slam but guess it would breach fire safety... only small pads though?

My front door seems like it is pretty solid wood actually. I will dig out the info if I find a stamp and share here for thoughts. There is basically no sound proofing from communal hallway though. But I hear practically nothing from my neighbour once they are inside their flat. I know they play music etc too as can dimly hear it only when I go outside into communal bit. Could be far, far worse at end of the day. I could hear the snoring from the flat below me at the flat i came from before moving here!
 
In terms of the outer fire door it sounds like the closer needs adjusting or replacing. There should be a screw on the closer turn it clockwise by 1/8th of a turn at a time and test it until it shuts smoothly. If it doesn't help then it's probably broken.

For the noise through your front door, it's likely airborne noise that is travelling through a gap. Carefully inspect your door for any air gaps and see if you can plug them with brush strips / seals / door adjustment. To put it in context listen to the different between a window fully closed and one just adjar. Even the slightest air gap will cause a lot of noise to travel through.
 
The gap around a flat door should be no more than 3mm. It should be a firedoor as well so the margin should not be too large to allow smoke ingress or egress and have either an intumescent strip and or a smoke (brush strip) inside the door lining.

The closer in the communal will be adjustable but the builder should do this not you as that is a fire door as well and a should be adjusted by a chippy, again the margin shouldn’t be more than the width of a pound coin.
All this stuff can and should be raised with your housing association and the builder (by the HA) as defects because they shouldn’t be there.
 
You may need to nag them to change the closer.
We had one at work, always used to be a pain because of the wind, it was wound up to the max so it could close against the wind, but this mean't it was shutting with a force like an elephant was leaning on it.

We discussed with a contractor on site and they said we needed a more advanced one. That allowed not just the strength of the closer to be adjusted, it it also had a second adjuster which bled the pressure as the door was close to closing. So the final close of maybe the last inch happens much slower and does't have anywhere near as much force. This was mainly to do with the risk of fingers getting trapped due to the speed the door was closing.

They are significantly more expensive but work much much better, they are harder to setup though. The manufacturer actually came to refine ours as whilst it worked we still wern't happy on first install. Works well now.
 
So I have raised it this morning. Said about both the fire door closer and concerns over my front door not being fitted right. Here are some pics. My door seems sturdy. Perhaps though that gap is tad too wide? Sadly, it is just way place is designed having my neighbour's door so close I guess. At least it's all I ever seem to hear. Nothing else like music etc.

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Always going to be difficult to get a door seal to block out as much sound as the rest.
If the fire door is the main issue focus on that first, as i posted above there are closures available that will soften the final close, so try to get them to agree to do that first would be my suggestion.
 
Yeah have pushed fire door issue more. But have just said I would like them to at least confirm front door is correctly installed too.
 
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