Have you soundproofed a party wall? Did it work?

autoboi

Just looking for opinions/reviews from people who have completed domestic sound proof work.

Has it worked?
What / who did you use?
What was the approximate cost?

Background:
The noise from one of our neighbours never stops. It can begin at 5am with alarms going off and goes throughout the day - TV's, roaring, banging, guitar, piano, clog dancing - I can't work out what they do be doing. If we're lucky it might end at midnight, if we're not then its one of the kids screaming throughout the night. This is not a COVID issue and we are all suddenly home. We work shift (including nights) and study and this has been ingoing issue.

We have spoken to them. They basically don't care. Finically we can not afford to move but we have to do something, the OH burst into tears yesterday.

Bonzo Delaney

What walls are on the party walls eg stairs, toilets, showers, fireplaces , kitchens .
Basically and ideally you build another wall of the party wall not touching the existing wall at all. Insulate it with acoustic insulation and then slab with a sound blocker slab. Bare walls are ideal for this but when you've fixtures like above the cost rises in multiples.
Sound will still travel through floor and celing joists if built in to party wall.
You'll never elimanite the sound but above would go along way to an acceptable level.

autoboi

Walls look like cavity blocks with batten, plasterboard and then skimmed.

Party walls:
Kitchen - Blank wall - double socket
Hall stairs and landing - our stairs is attached to party wall, other then that blank walls
Bedroom 1 - Blank Wall - double socket
Bedroom 2 - Blank Wall
Ensuite is the only problem, It was going to get pulled anyway so this will just force us to do it!

Bedroom 1 and the kitchen are the worst. We thought about maybe just doing them, but unsure if its a waste of money not doing the lot.
I think we are reasonable in our expectations - if they slam a door I assume it will still be heard but not listening to every conversation would be thrilling.

Gumbo

autoboi wrote: »

Walls look like cavity blocks with batten, plasterboard and then skimmed.

Party walls:
Kitchen - Blank wall - double socket
Hall stairs and landing - our stairs is attached to party wall, other then that blank walls
Bedroom 1 - Blank Wall - double socket
Bedroom 2 - Blank Wall
Ensuite is the only problem, It was going to get pulled anyway so this will just force us to do it!

Bedroom 1 and the kitchen are the worst. We thought about maybe just doing them, but unsure if its a waste of money not doing the lot.
I think we are reasonable in our expectations - if they slam a door I assume it will still be heard but not listening to every conversation would be thrilling.

Cant see the party wall being cavity blocks to be honest.
When was the house built?

There are some threads on here from people that tried it. Generally this only works if both sides do something at the same time as its impossible to acoustically insulate the whole wall without moving structural elements etc

Blisterman

Got some 37.5mm insulated plasterboard fixed directly to the face of the existing plaster in an apartment. Was skeptical as it's not really a recommended way of soundproofing, but it's been remarkably effective. I've gone from being able to make out conversations next door to barely hearing a thing.

That's just my experience. If I were to do it again, I'd go with the tried and tested suggestion of a new stud wall built not touching the existing as Bonzo Delaney's suggestion above.

Yellow_Fern

Do you know if your joists run into the party wall?

harryo87

Blisterman wrote: »

Got some 37.5mm insulated plasterboard fixed directly to the face of the existing plaster in an apartment. Was skeptical as it's not really a recommended way of soundproofing, but it's been remarkably effective. I've gone from being able to make out conversations next door to barely hearing a thing.

That's just my experience. If I were to do it again, I'd go with the tried and tested suggestion of a new stud wall built not touching the existing as Bonzo Delaney's suggestion above.

Hope ok to revive this thread! Curious as I am currently looking at an option called Mustwall 33b. I was unsure whether you can simply apply to existing plasterboard - sounds like you have done something similar?

harryo87

Hope ok to revive this thread! Curious as I am currently looking at an option called Mustwall 33b. I was unsure whether you can simply apply to existing plasterboard - sounds like you have done something similar?

Yellow_Fern

harryo87 wrote: »

Hope ok to revive this thread! Curious as I am currently looking at an option called Mustwall 33b. I was unsure whether you can simply apply to existing plasterboard - sounds like you have done something similar?

Im no expert but I think you can without problems however I think it would be a mistake to do that. If you have plasterboard you'd want to open it up and ensure there is no holes in the walls to the neighbours. If you find holes, some cement plugging would make a big difference. Also the gap behind drywall can amplify sound. To it right, even if it costs more.

autoboi

I would tend to agree with Yellow_Fern.

We did a trial run in our box room as we were having other works done. We added an additional layer of sound board to the existing plasterboard. Did it make a difference - yes but absolutely minimal. If were were not having the other work done and I had gone ahead and paid for this I wouldn't be impressed.

Mustwall 33 given the bulk I would imagine will give you better result, you're going to have to plaster anyway - Id also do it properly even if it costs a few euro extra. If it works you won't be sorry. If it doesn't you will always wonder!

harryo87

Thanks for sharing your experience, I was very tempted to chance my arm and throw it up! I've since contacted a few contractors and their advice is the same as yours, that being 'if you're going to do a job, do it right'. Thanks again

mrcheez

I had it done. Most rooms apart from one cupboard which is attached to the wall and was too much of a job at the time to move. The cupboard ended up short-circuiting the sound proofing, but at least there was 70% less sound coming through.

You really need to almost create a detached property within your house (move stairs off wall etc, or get a new stair in) and you do lose some space.

Overall I'm happy enough with it apart from the short circuited sections I mentioned.

Company that did it is no longer in business... although they did a good job. Pricey enough several grand for both sides of the terraced house.

I had it done around 2017 so the technology might have changed.

harryo87

Thanks for your advice!

E mac

autoboi wrote: »

I would tend to agree with Yellow_Fern.

We did a trial run in our box room as we were having other works done. We added an additional layer of sound board to the existing plasterboard. Did it make a difference - yes but absolutely minimal. If were were not having the other work done and I had gone ahead and paid for this I wouldn't be impressed.

Mustwall 33 given the bulk I would imagine will give you better result, you're going to have to plaster anyway - Id also do it properly even if it costs a few euro extra. If it works you won't be sorry. If it doesn't you will always wonder!

Out of curiosity are the neighbours still as noisy as ever? Were you able to do anything ?

Yellow_Fern

E mac wrote: »

Out of curiosity are the neighbours still as noisy as ever? Were you able to do anything ?

In my own situation I am still planning what to do but I have started my internal soundproofing. I had a waste water pipe that was noisy so I am in process of soundproofing with Tecsound FT55 AL. Suprisingly challenging job as the pipe runs through a concrete floor but it is going well.

autoboi

E mac wrote: »

Out of curiosity are the neighbours still as noisy as ever? Were you able to do anything ?

Noise cancelling headphones have made a huge difference as I use them while studying and it cuts out most noise - I would highly recommend. Their behaviour has not really changed.

E mac

autoboi wrote: »

Noise cancelling headphones have made a huge difference as I use them while studying and it cuts out most noise - I would highly recommend. Their behaviour has not really changed.

My sympathies...you shouldn't have to live in your own home like this.