DaveyDave wrote: » Moved into a new end of terrace house a few months ago. Having issues with the noise from the house beside us as we're hearing everything. In our bedroom we could hear the guy having a normal conversation, soneone plugging something in, hear footsteps constantly, doors slamming all day, things banging etc. I was upstairs and could hear the guy shouting when he was downstairs at the time. Even if I move to the other side of the house I'll still hear it. I'll be in the office on the furthest side of the house and still hear them. My girlfriend had some friends over in the living room the other day and I could barely hear them from upstairs with the door open. The sound within our own house is very good but we hear absolutely everything from them. Some of our neighbors have said they don't hear anything from their neighbours. One of them had a newborn and the neighbor heard nothing. Someone also said a neighbor had a karaoke party and barely heard anything, but I can hear nornal talking. It's 215mm block laid flat on the party wall, that's all I know. Is there anything I can do to find out if the wall is done properly? A neighbor had an issue where the house next to him could hear his water pump anytime he used the taps (which is surprisingn as they're very quiet). I imagine I'll have to get someone out to have a look at the wall?
sydthebeat wrote: » so they actually have a hallway and presumably a stairwell between their living space and your house ??.... the locations of the wall vents arent great, but not the main issue in my opinion based on that photo. the party wall being 'dot n dab' would be must more significant
DaveyDave wrote: » Staircase is between the living room and kitchen, so it's just their hallway between the living rooms. Main bedroom at the front of the house is the whole width of the house so back to back with them. I was hoping the hallway would help with noise as I have surround sound, but if I can hear them talking from their living room, across the hallway and into my living room I feel that something is off. I'm hearing doors closing every 5 ****ing minutes in their house. I'm hearing them talking now as I'm sitting in the living room in silence but my washing machine in the utility room beside the living room is barely audible when it's on. It doesn't make sense to me that I can barely hear things in other rooms of our house but can hear these people talking through a brick wall.
Yellow_Fern wrote: » No expert but there is probably a gap in the party wall somehow, such a gap might exist in between your own rooms even if they are all drywall and skim. may need to open the wall.
Atomic Pineapple wrote: » Had the same issue in a new build, we were able to hear next door pulling the cord to open and close their blinds! We could hear conversations, but couldn't make out the words unless there was shouting. Sounds from TV's and music was coming right through our house. We even asked the neighbours to keep it down, they agreed, but even at lower volumes it still came through. We spent months trying to get the builders to prove that our house was tested as part of the regulations, and get them to perform a sound test. However, they just kept fobbing us off saying they had the certification for the estate, which is all they needed. When we tapped the wall it sounded clearly hollow so there must have been as significant gap there. We cut our losses and sold the house because in addition to that, there were other quality issues that the builders were washing their hands of. In addition, the estate committee had started organising meetings to discuss the general build quality, or lack of, every month. I assume had we stayed we would have had to put significant money into getting it addressed?
DaveyDave wrote: » That's what I have to figure out, I think I'll have to have someone out to look at the wall somehow before bringing it to the developer. Don't know what kind of person would need to come out though?
DaveyDave wrote: » The neighbors aren't friendly people so I think access will be an issue, that rules out the sound test. How would an air tightness test help? There's a built in wardrobe covering about 90% of the party wall in the bedroom which will possibly be an issue. Something tells me this is going to be an expensive diagnosis.
Calahonda52 wrote: » . The neg A/T test works with a thermal camera as the reduced pressure caused increased air flow through any holes and generally the increased velocity of the air flow causes a lower temperature which the thermal camera will pick up. With the built in wardrobes that wont work for that section of wall. The positive pressure test will drive the smoke out through any gaps. Looking at the front picture again. where is your wall vent for the small window like next door? Whats the buildup of the external wall? are the vents ducted all the way through?
DaveyDave wrote: » The vent near the small window is on the side of the house. The external wall is cavity, 100mm insulation, block work, timber frame, plaster. Vents are ducted all the way through, either 100mm or 120mm diameter I believe.
thomas anderson. wrote: » Have the same problem in my house, only 15 years old. My plan is to put another layer of plasterboard up on the party wall with some Green Glue in between the sheets, Will lose some width in the room but will be worth it.
listermint wrote: » Itll still have to be plastered, why not tear it down and install proper insulated board and then plaster.
Yellow_Fern wrote: » OP, have you any technical drawings? Often the the builder can provide them. If they can be obtained and maybe one the of the professionals here could give their thoughts
Dont Be at It wrote: » Similar problem, old red brick house. Had also planned on putting another layer (or 2?) of high density plasterboard on party wall. Then possibly built in storage in front of that. Interested to see if anyone else has done similar and what are people's thoughts on it.
Yellow_Fern wrote: » As I mentioned I am not expert but I think high density plasterboard is not enough, but do use it. Aim to install it on studs attached to the wall with decoupling fixing eg genie clips and fill the gaps with dense rockwool slab (not roll). if that is too much hassle there are DIY rubber mats that can slapped onto the wall. But first try to narrow down the noise and if its from joists or just general wall etc.
