Upstairs Apartment - Noise

Baz99

Hi all,

I live in a upstairs apartment and there is quite a bit of noise coming from downstairs -doors banging, loud voices etc. The occupants underneath me are perfectly nice people and are just getting on with their daily lives. The floor between us in wood and not concrete, and I have wooden floors which is probably exascerbating the problem........

I was wondering if there was anyway of retrospectively noise proofing an upstairs apartment and what kind of cost would be involved?

Any opinions or advice would be very welcome.....

Baz99

NinjaTruncs

In fairness Baz, if you think downstars are noisy for you, imagine how noisy you are to them. Espically since you have wodden flooring down every step you make will be heard by them.

Baz99

Fair enough...... just wondering if I can noise proof (apart from removing wooden floors - which I am prepared to do)

RKQ

Everything is possible.
You will have to take up the original timber floor for the best result - the timber floor can be re-laid.

Or your neighbours could remove their ceiling - either way it will be messy!

The building up of layers is the best option.

Martron

i have heard of this been done before. now i am sure i will be corrected on something as my memory on this is not great.

but what if you lift the timber florrs you have down. and lay plasterboard on top of the original floorboards then relay the timber floor over the plasterboard. i haeard the plasterboard is dense enough to block some sound.

RKQ

1. Remove existing floorboards and store to relay later.
2. install 100mm Rockwool between floor joists ( careful not to insulate cables or neighbours spot-lights!)
3. Install 50mm wide strips of 5mm thick rubber to top of all joists (or lay metal top hots on joists to support 19mm plasterboard between joists.)
4. Lay 18mm thick plywood sheets in brick pattern over floor, screw every 450mm centres.
5. Lay 5mm thick rubber mat underlay over plywood.
6. Re-lay timberfloorboards.

Double slabbing your neighbours ceiling would really help alot. As would rubber at wall junctions etc but you will be retro-fitting and not totally demolishing your interior.

I've heard of plasterboard laid on ply and can see how it could work well!
Very cheap too but would fear water / spills damaging plasterboards etc.

Baz99

Thanks RKQ, thats a great help. Any ideas on what that project may cost (based on a 850sqft apartment)?