Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Soundproofing advice needed
My question is,has anyone used acoustic matting under their carpet and underlay to reduce impact noise on the flat below? If so,was it successful and what kind of matting/pads were used. Did you do it yourself or use a carpet fitter? Any recommendations or advice much appreciated.
Mags
Tags for Forum Posts: noise
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Martin (Woodside) on
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I have had experience of this, and is not an easy problem to solve. Acoustic matting is the best idea to reduce the noise being created but you cannot guarantee that a new (noisier) tenant won't pull them all up.
The only proper solution is dropped ceilings independently suspended (this is important) with its own joists and not joined to the ceiling above. Put proper solid thick soundproofing boards on top of the joists (not foam or rockwool, which would prove to be useless) with an air-gap above, the underside can be finished with plasterboard in the normal way. Sadly, you will permanently hide any ornate plasterwork in the process. Best to do a trial room first and see if it works, it won't get rid of the noise completely but it should significantly reduce it.
I am sure that there are specialist companies that deal with this, probably best get a recommended consultant or architect in.
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Permalink Reply by Mags D on
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Hello Martin
I have had a soundproofing company in who did an assessment,told me what was recommended and this appears to be very similar to the advice you have provided. The suspended ceilings will cost a fortune per room and will reduce the height by about 7 inches. It's unaffordable at present so will have to put off for the time being. I was hoping that someone who had used acoustic mats to address impact noise could advise on the type,effect and cost of whatever they used as this might solve the problem in the room where the noise issue is less troublesome.
My upstairs neighbours are very respectful and are not noisy people and yes,if they sell their place to 24 hour party people I may slowly go insane!
M
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I've had the same issue, but in my case I'm the neighbour upstairs. As my downstairs neighbour has given me a thank you card for keeping the noise down, I believe the actions taken have sorted the issue.
In my case, I believe the problem is even more severe, as my coffee table even rattles depending on where I step, so I would rather not know what the floors in my flat are made of.
To start with, I bought a cheap coffee table at IKEA and relocated my tiny sound bar (a £30 rubbish one) to it. In order to avoid getting the bass through the floor, I glued some acoustic drapes (I got some patches from a music studio for a really good price) to the ends of this coffee table and also the rattling ones.
I believe the first thing you should do is talk to your neighbour. In my case, I had no idea there was a problem, as I don't usually keep the volume high (or at least I wouldn't know how loud it was, as the sound bar was on the other side of the room). I believe that, if they are lovely as you say and are made aware of the problem, they could be more than willing to help.
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Thanks for telling me about your experience Wellington.
I have discussed the issue with my neighbours already. They said they were not aware of the problem and they hear no noise travelling upwards from my flat. They have not been able to offer any solutions therefore the problem appears to be mine alone. As the business of soundproofing is going to cost an arm and a leg to address in the rest of my flat,I was hoping to find a cheaper but just as effective solution without going down the suspended ceiling route in this particular room as it is just the impact noise that it is a problem,not loud TV,voices,music etc.
Cheers again for your advice
M
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Hi Mags
I sympathise with your situation. I too live in the ground floor flat of a conversion and was driven a bit mad by the noise from above, even when neighbours were being perfectly reasonable.
I put in a lot of effort on the following:
In the flat above
- Where I could, filled void between floorboards and ceiling with thermal / acoustic insulation wool stuff
- Screwed down squeaky floorboards in the room above my bedroom
- Laid down the thickest Acoustilay matting on the floor throughout the flat
- Stuck Acoustilay matting to stair treads and risers (stairs in the flat above cut 'through' my bedroom)
In my flat
- In two rooms fitted a suspended ceiling using Maxiboard (I think that was the name) screwed into aluminium separator bars. This was then plastered as usual
- Before that, sorted out the squeaky floorboards
Results
The suspended ceilings (and eliminating floorboard squeaks in the first place) have been by far and away the most effective at reducing noise, even when fitted by amateurs.
The Acoustilay matting reduces impact noise somewhat, but to stop airborne noise needs to be fitted very precisely – quite hard to achieve in old houses with wonky walls and skirting boards.
Thoughts
I fitted the suspended ceilings myself with the help of a couple of friends. It was not fun. The boards are very heavy. The matting is heavy too, but a bit easier to handle. I think all the materials cost £2k - £3k, can’t remember now. I echo Martin’s thoughts about how it would be tricky to stop new people in the flat above throwing the matting out if they took a disliking to it. Maybe you could get something put in the lease about not removing it without consent.
I got all the stuff from Trim Acoustics.
Hope that helps
Cheers
Jez
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Jez
Thank you so much,it certainly does help as our soundproofing issues sound very similar. Your advice and personal experience is really useful to know.
Yes,I have been told that the suspended ceiling solution is really the only option,at least for 2 of the rooms. When I can both afford it and face the mess,I shall have to go down this route and the price you have mentioned is roughly the price I was quoted by a soundproofing company.
I discussed the Acoustic mat solution (for the 3rd room) with a very helpful chap at iAcoustics and he did stress that precision in application was essential along with all the other measures you have mentioned with regard to addressing squeaky floorboards,gaps etc so it has been helpful to hear your experience of this.
I am in the process of buying a share of freehold for my flat so I think I will discuss with my solicitor the possibility of getting a clause introduced re retention of any soundproofing measures/installations. If you don't ask you won't get I suppose.
Thanks again Jez for your considered and most helpful reply to my post.I very much appreciate it.
Mags
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Hello Anna
The company who came out to have a look and followed up with a quote were soundproofinguk.co.uk,based in Banstead but do a lot of their work in London,Ph 01737 373 463. I think I originally got their contact details off HOL.
Another firm is soundstop.co.uk,think they supply the materials only and they often work with the above company. They have a useful website with lots of info and their number is 0208 123 9710.
I can't personally recommend either in terms of the quality of work,materials or customer satisfaction as I have had no work done yet but they both appear quite reputable. I can only recommend checking them out. Good luck!
Mags
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Permalink Reply by tigha on
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I so empasize and have thought about this issue a lot over the last few years i have lived as a ground floor owner= I have lovely people upstairs but have been quite transient as students- but i have managed to get them all fairly well trained about things that bother me
As you say its not general noise, music etc- its just moving around- so its all fine except above my bedroom, when I get woken up daily either in the morning, them moving around or them going to bed. i wear earplugs but even so. But it just seems so expensive
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Yes Tigha,it is indeed expensive,also disruptive and messy! Even the Acoustic Mat solution doesn't come cheap. I have tried earplugs but I find them a bit disorientating and I would also be concerned about not hearing things like the alarm clock,smoke alarm or, God forbid,someone breaking in.
Fortunately,I really like living here and no doubt will get the soundproofing done as and when.
BW
Mags
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Forgive me for jumping in. has anyone had any experience of dealing with sounds through walls? I have a house on the ladder and the construction of the house has meant that on the side attached to next door with no staircase I get only very minimal occasional sound bleed. But the side of the house with staircase I get a lot of sound bleed, I can hear music really clearly through the wall, loud conversations and footsteps. Any idea how to treat this? cheers lizzie x
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As above Lizzie, get the acoustics people in. I would guess that the only cure would be a false wall quite easily made out of batons, plasterboard and soundproofing. Easier than ceilings but again would hide any ornamental plasterwork (unless you put a new strip along the false wall) and would make the room slightly smaller.
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