When most of us think of the ideal place to live, a well-presented property near great amenities generally comes to mind. However, you can’t always tell what the neighbours will be like until you move in, and sometimes this lands people with an unpleasant surprise! Living near busy roads and railways can be disruptive too, and it’s natural to turn your attention to ways you can block it out.
Recent findings show that an average of just 1.7 abatement notices are served by local councils for every 100 noise complaints they receive. With this in mind, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking that it might be more productive to soundproof your house.
Here are a few ways to do it:
Seal up holes and cracks
Locate any small holes and cracks in the house’s structure. Common hotspots for wall cracks are near windows, doors and at points where walls meet ceilings. If the cracks you find are only minor, you should be able to seal these up yourself pretty easily.
To effectively seal out the sound, you’ll need to use acoustic caulking. It works much better than regular caulking, which is an important distinction to be aware of.
Add mass to the walls
You can also reduce the transmission of unwanted sound by adding mass to your walls. There are several materials you can use to do this. If it’s the internal walls of the house that are too thin, plasterboard is an effective solution that can double the mass and lessen the decibel leakage.
Add insulation to the attic and walls
Stud walls tend to let more noise in than solid brick walls. If this is the reason for your noise disturbance, then it’s important to insulate the cavity within. The best way to do this is by removing the existing plasterboard and filling the frame of the wall with acoustic wool (and then reassembling the plasterboard).
Tighten up existing door and window openings
If doors or windows are old or haven’t been installed tightly enough, this could be letting noise seep in. There are various ways to solve this. Of course, you could replace the windows or doors in question. If you would prefer to repair them, you may want to tighten any sagging door hinges, install new hinges and tighten the friction screws on any loose windows.
Add caps to unused chimneys
Many houses have unused chimneys, and this too can cause a noise problem. If this is you, seek out a professional who can simply clamp a chimney cap over the top of your unused chimney pot. This will also prevent heat loss. The average chimney cap costs between £150 – £200, so it’s worth getting it done if it would give you some peace and quiet and have a more energy-efficient home.
So, if you’ve discovered that a house you live in or rent out has few noise issues, don’t despair! With a few simple repairs, there are ways to solve this quickly.
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