Best way to sound proof a party wall?

[emilyphipps]

My neighbour has totally openplan lounge /kitchen so sound travels into my sitting room. One can hear television clearly and phone/ conversations. My builder suggests building a new stud wall then sound insulating it with acoustic plastic board and then plaster on top. I cannot find other alternatives so not sure if it will work! Suggestions very welcome!

[MN164]

Have a think about if there are other ways the sound is travelling across. For example a joint chimney, wooden floors and joists, air vents or ceiling recesses. If none of these are a problem, then his suggestion should make things better.

It's quite a lot of work to do without knowing it will work.

As an experiment, try covering the joining walls with thick blankets, old curtains, bubble wrap, egg cartons or whatever you can temporarily fix up to cover as much as the walls as possible.

Leave it up and see if things improve a bit. A stud wall with rockwool insulation or something like it will be better than that but at least you'd have an idea of whether it might be worth it or work at all.

[hereandtherex]

Cant really do it. The wall's acting like a big resonator.

[emilyphipps]

Thanks very much for the advice!