Poor Party Wall Sound Isolation

The front door opening and closing causes vibrations which travel through the structure of the houses. Sound travels better through solids than through air, so your girlfriend talking normally is less likely to reach you as the sound is dissipated by the air.

Likewise, the kid coughing probably has the head of their bed right up against the party wall.

That is a pretty good result, difficult to believe you can hear normal conversation through a wall that achieves these numbers, I would be very hesitant to go tearing into anything at haste.

https://pickapro.ie/sound-proofing/Cunas?gclid=CjwKCAiAleOeBhBdEiwAfgmXf3ZVTVcc789osoRKJ43pEHqJ9oCcD5rBZ3chSGPqG0cCLTKuqQjxexoChiQQAvD_BwE

Have you tried a professional company,. Just pulled this up on a Google.

Professional companies will only really engage if you're committing to a proper job which generally means losing 6 or 7 inches off the width of the room.

Horrible Situation to be in if you are not used to it, We moved into New Build 4 Bed Semi during the boom, The neighbors were sound too but we could hear everything down to the toilet activities. The house had risen in value by 30% (bought off plans) so after 6 months as a result of the noise issues (could not relax at any point of the day or night) we sold and moved to a semi-rural location to a new one-off house, We added 40k to our mortgage but never looked back. Soundproofing is possible, Have a look at this guy's approach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErGqRzzz_Vw

I think this is our issue.

Watched Tim Horton video there on YouTube and surprised to see a DIY job that I think I'm capable of. Building a steel partition wall isolated from existing wall, then filling with a blocker like a wool, then plasterboard, then using an acoustic sticky cover thing, then slabbing...

I couldn't do that on existing walls given the cavity behind the dry line, so would be going back to the block to start the partition etc...

Wondering if a proper sand and cement plaster job might be sufficient on its own now though. Only one way to find out I guess

would you mind sending me a pm with the details of the company you used. i’m going to get my home tested. i firmly believe the party wall in my home has issues with regards to sound.

I didn’t go for a sound test in the end. Based on endless hours of research and speaking with various people across various industries i don’t feel it’s worth it. The sound test may fail at higher frequencies and pass at lower frequencies, the overall result is based on the average.

The builder doesn’t care, their 1 in 40 or whatever amount they need to do in terms of sound tests passed.

Im going down the route of having a professional company apply acoustic materials to the party wall to help reduce the noise. I’m realistic that i will hear some noise but what i’m hearing is unbearable, not that my neighbours are noisy, it’s poor workmanship on the party wall (based on my research).

Sound transfer issues with new builds are more common than you would imagine. It’s a sensitive topic as people don’t want to discuss for fear of offending neighbours. A development with sound transfer issues won’t do anything to help the value of peoples homes either.

I have settled on a company to do the work so helpfully will pull the trigger in the coming weeks

We're going ahead with pulling down the plasterboard wall that is in the bedroom and putting up a studwall away from the party wall, filling with rockwool and then vinyl and 2 layers of acoustic plasterboard. Will do the ceiling as will and try and address flanking sounds by going as far as possible without ripping up too much of the room. Getting a builder to do all of this, not chancing it myself. It's such a sting to have to do this to a new house but sure. Next house is going to be detached.

Maybe a a forth night before the builder starts, try to start removing the plasterboard in a few samples areas. Walls are very complex and varied. Often you might think of something after seeing the wall that the builder might not realise. The more time the wall is exposed the more time you have to figure out the problem. Slow is better. You want to see how the party wall is built. Are there gaps in the blocks, shared joists etc. I don't know how is specing the materials, but it will help them.

Of course, it will look ugly and it makes a huge dusty mess (possible breezy too), but this is a job that requires immense thoroughness.

Hi Yer man. We are in a similar situation with our new build Semi-D. Let us know how the soundproofing measures go for you as I am thinking of ripping down the internal dry lining against the party wall and filling with acoustic insulation too. I think the void behind the plasterboard is causing a 'drum effect'. It is amazing how these Party Walls comply with the current noise regs but we can still hear normal conversation from next door through the wall.

Hey! Yeah got it done there a few week ago. It has definitely improved things but unfortunately impact sounds are still making it through. My madlad neighbour slams his doors all over the house so I can still hear that but can’t hear him talk to his wife anymore so that’s good at least. Not sure if I would spend this money again to be honest, it’s a marginal improvement.

Just wondering has anyone used these 'acoustic panel' things that you see in hardware shops?

e.g. Smoked Oak Acoustic Wall Panel 2.4m x 600mm | Woodie's (woodies.ie)

I can't imagine they're much use, but at the same time, I can't face ripping up carpets, tearing down plasterboard and losing six inches off the room if there was a less painful option that might give some benefit.