Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Anyone sound proof their home effectively?
Old 12-20-2016, 02:27 PM   #1
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Eagan
Posts: 4
Anyone sound proof their home effectively?

I moved into a townhouse which I own and found out that my next door neighbor has two kids who scream and yell all the time. The other side has a barking dog. I have tried to talk to the neighbors and got no where. Tried to get the homeowner association involved with no luck.

My thought now is to get the walls professionally sound proofed.

Anyone have experience with soundproofing through expert contractors and have luck and know how much it will cost?
Retired and Restless is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 12-20-2016, 02:32 PM   #2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
travelover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
You can add a lot of sound proofing just by adding additional drywall. Ideally, you'd add a second wall so the studs don't touch the original wall, fill with fiberglass insulation, then drywall the new wall with a couple layers of 3/4 or 5/8 drywall. Seal any outlets or pass through holes very well with caulk.
travelover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 02:33 PM   #3
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
REWahoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,003
Retired and Restless, you sound a lot like Waiting For Pension and Forced to Retire. Why don't you three guys get together and see if you can't help each other with your problems?
__________________
Numbers is hard
REWahoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 02:40 PM   #4
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
mpeirce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northern Ohio
Posts: 3,182
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelover View Post
You can add a lot of sound proofing just by adding additional drywall. Ideally, you'd add a second wall so the studs don't touch the original wall, fill with fiberglass insulation, then drywall the new wall with a couple layers of 3/4 or 5/8 drywall. Seal any outlets or pass through holes very well with caulk.
This!

The last townhouse we lived in had a double wall between the units with added insulation. This worked very well.

Even just having extra insulation in the walls helps - when we had our current home built, we had this done between the family room (main TV area) and my office (I used to work at home) and it helps a lot.

Still, if the neighbors are particularly noisy, I'd spring for the double wall.
mpeirce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 03:49 PM   #5
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
RunningBum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13,202
Quote:
Originally Posted by REWahoo View Post
Retired and Restless, you sound a lot like Waiting For Pension and Forced to Retire. Why don't you three guys get together and see if you can't help each other with your problems?
Maybe they've all "gone travelling" together?

Good call. I was guessing the same from the SS thread but it seemed to soon.
RunningBum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 04:26 PM   #6
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
jfn111's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Bloomington, MN
Posts: 1,136
Check out the home theater builds in the AVS Forum. AVS Forum | Home Theater Discussions And Reviews
There is some great examples of soundproofing.
jfn111 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 04:37 PM   #7
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
travelover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfn111 View Post
Check out the home theater builds in the AVS Forum. AVS Forum | Home Theater Discussions And Reviews
There is some great examples of soundproofing.
Here is a good link from that forum: 4 Elements of Soundproofing - Soundproofing Company
travelover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 04:39 PM   #8
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Sunset's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Spending the Kids Inheritance and living in Chicago
Posts: 17,008
Just wait, as you get older your hearing will go, so it will all be quieter.
Sunset is offline   Reply With Quote
What about through-the-ceiling noises?
Old 12-20-2016, 06:26 PM   #9
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,431
What about through-the-ceiling noises?

Similar question, but a bit different.

Upstairs neighbor clomps around. I never hear his TV or stereo, etc....mostly just his heavy footfalls from the minute he gets out of bed around 7 am (which often wakes me, as I'm in those final bits of lighter sleep). I can hear the vacuum being run upstairs, but that is only in use occasionally and during my waking hours.

It's a 13-year old 2-story condo, 1650 sq. ft...with about 18" air space above my drywall ceiling to the concrete and tile floor of his unit. The utilities (water, electric, A/C ducts, return air ducts, etc.) are run through this air space, as the unit is built on a slab.) My kitchen has 5 recessed can light fixtures which also extend into this air space.

I have started running one of these white noise sound machines in my bedroom at night, which seems to cut down on my sleep being interrupted by his stomping. https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-D...00HD0ELFK?th=1

Although I'd prefer not to have to listen to any noise (white or otherwise, lol) when I'm sleeping.

Any quick and easy ideas to soundproof between our units?

omni
omni550 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 07:11 PM   #10
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Colorado Mountains
Posts: 3,165
Quote:
Originally Posted by omni550 View Post
Similar question, but a bit different.

Upstairs neighbor clomps around. I never hear his TV or stereo, etc....mostly just his heavy footfalls from the minute he gets out of bed around 7 am (which often wakes me, as I'm in those final bits of lighter sleep). I can hear the vacuum being run upstairs, but that is only in use occasionally and during my waking hours.

It's a 13-year old 2-story condo, 1650 sq. ft...with about 18" air space above my drywall ceiling to the concrete and tile floor of his unit. The utilities (water, electric, A/C ducts, return air ducts, etc.) are run through this air space, as the unit is built on a slab.) My kitchen has 5 recessed can light fixtures which also extend into this air space.

I have started running one of these white noise sound machines in my bedroom at night, which seems to cut down on my sleep being interrupted by his stomping. https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-D...00HD0ELFK?th=1

Although I'd prefer not to have to listen to any noise (white or otherwise, lol) when I'm sleeping.

Any quick and easy ideas to soundproof between our units?

omni
There are lots of quick and easy things you can try such as insulation and more drywall. If you really want to mitigate the noise, you need to do some research on noise transfer and see if you can figure out how the noise is transferred and what to do to mitigate it. The AVS Forum is the best place I have found for in-depth discussion in noise transfer and mitigation. BTW, that footfall issue you have is one of the hardest to eliminate.
Hermit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 07:38 PM   #11
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8,971
We share common walls, but there is about a 6 inch airspace between us and the neighbor and the studs do not line up. We hear nothing.
COcheesehead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 08:08 PM   #12
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL/Helen, GA
Posts: 6,002
Insulation is not all created equal. They have a special sound deadening insulation available, and 5/8" drywall or two layers helps.

Have you considered putting Ernest Tubb's "T for Texas" on a loop on your stereo, turning it up very loudly and going away for the weekend?
Bamaman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 10:08 PM   #13
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Al in Ohio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Columbus
Posts: 1,118
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelover View Post
You can add a lot of sound proofing just by adding additional drywall. Ideally, you'd add a second wall so the studs don't touch the original wall, fill with fiberglass insulation, then drywall the new wall with a couple layers of 3/4 or 5/8 drywall. Seal any outlets or pass through holes very well with caulk.


Travelover has stated just what I was going to post. I worked with Architects who did this in similar cases plus I did a job for a radio station with soundproof rooms. A really sound proof wall is 18"-24" thick double wall with studs and drywall vertical layers isolated, but you can do almost as good with a double wall not as wide, say 12". Studs are staggered.
__________________
Ohio REFI PE ENG and Investor as of 2016
Al in Ohio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2016, 11:04 PM   #14
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Sunset's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Spending the Kids Inheritance and living in Chicago
Posts: 17,008
Quote:
Originally Posted by omni550 View Post
.....
Upstairs neighbor clomps around. I never hear his TV or stereo, etc....mostly just his heavy footfalls from the minute he gets out of bed around 7 am (which often wakes me, as I'm in those final bits of lighter sleep). I can hear the vacuum being run upstairs, but that is only in use occasionally and during my waking hours.

It's a 13-year old 2-story condo, 1650 sq. ft...with about 18" air space above my drywall ceiling to the concrete and tile floor of his unit. The utilities (water, electric, A/C ducts, return air ducts, etc.) are run through this air space, as the unit is built on a slab.) My kitchen has 5 recessed can light fixtures which also extend into this air space.

...............
Any quick and easy ideas to soundproof between our units? .
Buy your neighbor wall to wall carpeting or switch units.

I understand your issue, I had a person in a concrete apt living above me want to wear high heels on the tile floor, once they walked on the carpet it was a lot quieter, but the tile floors were loud.
Sunset is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 08:58 AM   #15
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
ExFlyBoy5's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
Ah..shared walls, what a treat. That alone is enough to keep me from living in a town home/condo/apt/etc. Then again, I am sitting here listening to my neighbor use his industrial backpack blower to blow leaves for the 3rd time this week...and his sessions last about 2 hours; It's absolutely miserable. I am thinking our next homestead is going to have to be at least 5 acres for *some* sort of buffer, because 1/2 an acre ain't cutting it.
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
ExFlyBoy5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 09:23 AM   #16
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Richards
Posts: 1,245
Don't know if this would work for you but my Metal building house , I had sprayed 2.5 " closed cell foam . It seemed more expensive then conventional insulation but it keeps the house insulated and sound proofed . Understand this is a steel roofed home .

They usually charge a 1500. 00 minimum to come out and if you are just doing the walls you could probably get by on less then 4000.00
Breedlove is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 10:05 AM   #17
Recycles dryer sheets
Revlefty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Bradenton
Posts: 270
Take up the drums or the tuba and make sure you practice a lot.
Revlefty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 10:51 AM   #18
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 381
I am a big fan of Roxul "Safe and Sound" mineral wool insulation. It is specifically designed for sound insulation (and fire resistance), much better than fiberglass. Lowe's sells it. I also use their insulating batts (which also reduce sound), more insulation than equivalent fiberglass.

With adjacent walls and ceilings, there's a limit to what you can do. Decoupling the surfaces is key, but tricky in an apartment/condo situation.
__________________
Steve
jonat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 12:22 PM   #19
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 661
And this is the very reason I purchased a home on 30 acres...no neighbors...no connected walls.

We lived in apartments for 10 years. I couldnt imagine owning a place that has walls connected to someone else. At least in an apartment you can leave relatively easy.

If I spoke to the neighbors and housing board and nothing changed...I would invest in a serious surround sound speaker with a massive sub...and no one would be getting any sleep.
ponyboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2016, 04:56 PM   #20
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Makakilo and Reno
Posts: 374
Quote:
Originally Posted by ExFlyBoy5 View Post
Ah..shared walls, what a treat. That alone is enough to keep me from living in a town home/condo/apt/etc. Then again, I am sitting here listening to my neighbor use his industrial backpack blower to blow leaves for the 3rd time this week...and his sessions last about 2 hours; It's absolutely miserable. I am thinking our next homestead is going to have to be at least 5 acres for *some* sort of buffer, because 1/2 an acre ain't cutting it.
Exactly why I am on 17 acres!
Kimo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
54 and effectively ER'ed 4merKPer Hi, I am... 18 12-08-2010 08:56 PM
Anyone else rent out part of their home or live in a duplex? accountingsucks FIRE and Money 17 07-31-2009 02:14 PM
Home foreclosure - sound business move? Da Nag FIRE and Money 63 06-17-2008 03:38 PM
Sound like anyone we know? dylan8678 FIRE and Money 4 06-20-2007 08:00 AM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:02 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.