sound level thresholds from neighbours in new house

A

AKA

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Hi,

In new house 18 months. I'm having a problem with noise levels.

Basically, I'm in a 2 bed mid terrace - in the main bedroom when I am in bed I can hear the water running down the wall when my neighbour takes a shower, my neighbour coughing in the shower...etc.

On both sides I can hear light switches going on and off, televisions, radio all at normal levels i.e. my neighbours aren't doing anything unusual. If conversation goes a little bit over normal levels, I can hear word for word what they are saying...otherwise I can hear mumbling all the time.

I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with this before with the builder at snag stage or hired a sound engineer to test when they moved in? What was the outcome? I'm not sure I'd even would want to go down that road, it may be easier to move in a few years. Also, soundproofing when a house is already built is not that effective. Any info appreciated.

Thanks
 
not sure you can do anything about it...
did you check when you bought it if they were putting in sound insulation?
 
I didn't get anything above and beyond the standard building regulations - I'm wondering what the min building requirements are etc. I would in future.

However, even with min building regulations, I shouldn't be able to hear conversations word for word - it's like living with 2 other families as I can tell exactly what they are doing all the time.

It would be one of the reasons I couldn't stay in the house long-term. I've heard other people having similiar issues - who got a sound engineer out to test etc but I'm not sure what's involved and is it worth the hassle...

Any thoughts welcome.
 
There are previous threads on this topic, including one where a poster managed to force the builder to return and remedy the problem. Try the search facility.
Leo
 
That happened in our estate and the residents forced the builder to hire a sound engineer and test the sound insulation. The house failed and the builder put up sheets of plaster with foam on the back and this brought the house just above legal limits, Which is not really any better! Did you get a homebond garuantee?
 
you can get a sound test done and if it falls below levels required in building regulations then you can take this up with the builder. I know of a developer who had to go back and repair an estate because of this before. It usually happens when they dont plaster the dividing walls with the correct makeup.

homebond dont care about this. Homebond are a structural guarantee they have nothing to do with sound issues.
 
thanks theres another thread on this too.

can anyone recommend a sound engineer?
 
AKA,
i've currently the builders back almost 4 years after the house (a semi-d) was built to correct the insulation in two rooms. It took me 3 years of hassling, ringing, phoning them as i wasn't convinced they'd properly tested the house. they sent me a sound report which i didn't think was genuine. Eventually they agreed to redo the sound test and two rooms failed - surprise, surprise. they're now fixing it and hopefully it will be better. this is a very common problem in new houses and one i'm hearing from people all over the city. It's not as if i got the house for nothing - that's what bothers me most!!

send me a private message and i can recommend a sound engineer - i don't think we're allowed to 'advertise' on here.

cheers.
 
Sham bo, feel free to post the name. You are not allowed to advertise your own services, but we encourage people to make recommendations where they are happy with the service provided.
Leo
 
The guy's name is Ted Dalton 087-2609544.
he has a website too, but i can't think of the name.. a google search might do it.

all the best,
shambo
 
Cheers...I'm planning to get the sound test and if it fails go through Enforcements section of the local County Council.
 
AKA said:
I didn't get anything above and beyond the standard building regulations - I'm wondering what the min building requirements are etc. I would in future.

However, even with min building regulations, I shouldn't be able to hear conversations word for word - it's like living with 2 other families as I can tell exactly what they are doing all the time.

It would be one of the reasons I couldn't stay in the house long-term. I've heard other people having similiar issues - who got a sound engineer out to test etc but I'm not sure what's involved and is it worth the hassle...

Any thoughts welcome.
Click to expand...

The Building Regs are in a Document entitled something like...

Minimum Building Regulations 1997 - Part E Sound" and are available from the Dept of the Environment.
 
See here
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentandHousing/ (Development and Housing)
  • http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/ (Building Standards)
    • http://www.environ.ie/en/TGD/ (Technical Guidance Documents)
    • http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/TimberFrameHousing/ (Timber Frame Housing)
    • http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/BRAB/ (BRAB)
    • http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/PublicConsultations/ (Public Consultations)
    • http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FloorAreaCertification/ (Floor Area Certification)
Click to expand...
 
Hi all,
I too have the above problem and I am getting it sorted next mouth. This is after a long time nerly two years I bring the problem to the builder and then waiting for them to start work. I live in a estate of about 60 houses and I think there all just as bad.
Just had the foreman thats doing the work around yesterday, he told us want was going to happean. He said they strip back the plaster board to the bear walls and redo the walls in a concrete skim so that that noise level will be reduced. I live in a mid my town house so both ourselfs and next door are going to get it done. He siad it would take anything up to one to two weeks to finish the work.
Its a bit of any uphevle but I think it will be worth it not to hear next door.
I think all new houses are the same not much between the walls.
It also depends on the builders if they will go back to do the work.
But I think they might have to redone any work that was not up to standard if they are looking to build anymore houses in your area i.e county.
Hope this helps in some way.
 
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