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Original poster

Having second thoughts - do you get used to road noise?

40 replies

BonyM · 06/09/2011 11:08

We have sold our house and agreed to purchase one that has a garden backing directly on to a golf course. The house itself has good space although the layout is not ideal and we would eventually want to knock some walls down and extend. It is at the top of a cul-de-sac, so no through traffic and when we went to view it was very quiet (quiet being at the top of our wish list). The road is generally thought of as one of the best in the area and properties don't often come up for sale there - the vendors have lived in the house for 10 years and prior to that lived in two other houses on the same street.

We made an offer after just one viewing, for all of the above reasons, plus we were going on holiday the next day and because the viewing was an "open house" we knew that there was lots of interest and didn't want to lose it.

The problem is, we went back again last week and, on walking out into the garden were struck by how much noise we could hear (in complete contrast to the first viewing). Behind the golf course to the west, is a busy dual carriageway (about 0.3 of a mile away), and just over half a mile away is the M4 motorway to the north. We're guessing that the wind was in a different direction when we first viewed, but we have been back and stood in the street a couple more times this week and have been able to hear a rumble of traffic.

Now, it's not VERY noisy, but it is noisier than where we currently are. I think we will probably tune it out after a while (as it's a constant rumble rather than intermittent noise) but dh is very concerned and thinks we should pull out. I hate to mess people around and the survey is booked for tomorrow, but on the other hand, this will be a big purchase for us (probably our final house) so we don't want to get it wrong...

Does anyone have any experience of living with similar noise, and do you get used to it?

Sorry for long post!

OP posts:
noddyholder · 06/09/2011 11:27

We bought a large period style flat on a busy road as we couldn't have afforded it otherwise and we did regret it (sorry).I tuned it out more than dp and ds but that is because I loved it and knew when we sold that we wouldn't be buying anything like the space again but the noise really bothered dp and he could hear it when we were watching tv etc and found it annoying. I on the other hand didn't mind it in the day but found it quite bad at night. It wasn't major just a constant rumbling at certain times of the day.Pull out before you spend the money!If it is as noisy as where you are and you are moving for that reason then I think you may regret it esp if you are upping your mortgage to get the same racket!

GooseyLoosey · 06/09/2011 11:31

I think there is a difference between living on a busy road (which I agree, you never get used to) and living near one where you can hear the trafic whoosing at a distance. Our village is by-passed by a busy A road and when the wind is in the right direction, you can constantly hear the noise of traffic - I have got used to this as I do not find it an intrusive noise. However, I would suggest that you spend several hours walking around the golf course and see how your tolerance of the noise does during that time.

strictlovingmum · 06/09/2011 11:39

We live right on the B village road, that has busy times(morning and afternoon), we have been here for over six years, and no we are not bothered by the noise, I don't know, I suppose it's different for different people, our bedrooms overlook the road, I honestly can say it we don't pay any attention to it.
Our house more then make up for that one negative, it's a beautiful large period house, with lot of charm and space, in the oldest part of the village.
Look at all the positive attributes of the house, against one which is the noise, and try and decide, you may be more sensitive to noise, and find you can't cope with that level of it.

member · 06/09/2011 11:41

I'm wondering where you are now because I hear noise from a town bypass/dual carriageway en route to the M4 & there's a golf course not a million miles away!

Anyway, we moved here in May, lovely outlook to an open green, houses behind us but not overlooking & one of three properties sharing a private drive but considerably closer to the dual carriageway etc than we had been.

The background woosh is not a problem during the day or at night when the windows are closed. I must admit to being conscious of it the first few nights we slept with the windows open but ultimately, it didn't stop me sleeping & I'm used to it now. I daresay that next summer when we habitually sleep with the windows open again, it may take a few nights to readjust all over again but I'm finding it much less of a problem than the people who've been out late walking home/arriving in taxis in the early ours that we got periodically in our old house.

Awomancalledhorse · 06/09/2011 11:42

We live on a main road (two double decker bus routes), and in 3 years I've never gotten used to it, even after we've had double glazing.

We never have the living room windows open (the amount of dust & dirt kicked up is amazing), and it's really crap being in here (the living room) when it's raining as it's even louder.

DH doesn't have a problem with it, so I guess it's down to the individual!

Original poster
BonyM · 06/09/2011 12:40

Thanks for your replies. Goosey - that's a good idea about walking round the golf course, we'll try to do that at the weekend.

Noddy - You can't hear the noise inside the house, and it's obviously not constant, as it was very quiet on our first visit. We're just a bit concerned that we won't enjoy being in the garden if the noise is obtrusive.

Awomancalledhorse - the house is not on a main road, and we wouldn't consider buying on a main road. We did look at one on a main road which had a fantastic garden but it would have been too noisy to enjoy it.

Thing is, it's not that loud (about 55 decibels according to a free app on my iphone!), but it is noticeable. I guess we're wondering whether it's only noticeable now because we're listening out for it iyswim, and whether we wouldn't be so aware of it if we living there.

The other problem is, it's the only house we've seen (since starting to tentatively look over a year ago) that ticks most of our boxes and although there's a lot on the market, none of them are in the right area, or have the right garden, etc. etc. What to do...what to do... Confused

OP posts:
MatLeaveForever · 06/09/2011 13:16

I haven't lived on a particularly noisy road so can't really advise, but I think all houses have some kind of compromise and the noise would be yours. If you didn't go for this one, what compromise would you have to make on another one? If the garden, area, size are all more important then maybe you could get used to the noise. Definitely go back at different times of the day/week and remember that you're probably in the house (or out and about) more than you are sitting in the garden with the unpredictable weather we have! Good luck.

fishie · 06/09/2011 13:23

I live on an A road, it isn't at all busy most of the time but is the main local ambulance route (am in London so they are plentiful) and horrifically the National Express coaches have recently rerouted themselves here. I like Noddy can tune it out but dh loathes the coaches which are like a jet plane passing. Although he can sleep badly anywhere. Try to find out whether there is anything particularly noisy happening or just a low level hum.

CointreauVersial · 06/09/2011 13:29

We are about half a mile away from the M25, although it is in a big dip. Sometimes we can hear it (if the wind is in the right direction or if it's rainy), sometimes not, but only if you listen out for it. It certainly can't be heard in the house and you can't hear individual cars/lorries, just a hum.

Like you, I didn't hear it at all when I first viewed the house; it was only when walking round the nearby streets that I "tuned in" to the rumble.

I think we probably got more house for our money because of the proximity of the motorway, but it is way different from actually living on a busy road, I wouldn't like that at all.

mumzy · 06/09/2011 18:45

We viewed a house which was about a mile from a 3 lane A road and the noise levels did vary with the wind direction and strength. dH was more bothered by it than I was but when you could hear motorbikes starting and accelerating it was too much. We didn't pursue it as DH wanted peace and quiet.

mrsbleasdale · 06/09/2011 20:33

We bought a house on a busier road than we were used to. Mum and dad think its very busy compared to the quiet cul de sac they live in Smile, but it actually doensn't bother us. Our road is busy at rush hours at the front of the house, when we are in the kitchen (at the back) for breakfast and dinner so it doesn't bother us. Likewise on a weekend, when we're in the garden the road is much, much quieter.

Would the noisy times be when you're at work or in certain rooms of the house? And quieter times when you're at home?

mrsbleasdale · 06/09/2011 20:37

Having re-read your post, if this is the ideal house, apart from the days the wind might blow some noise your way I;d be very tempted to buy it. There's always a bit of a compromise. if you were facing a major route/motorway on your doorstep then that would be different....

bran · 06/09/2011 20:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

myron · 06/09/2011 21:24

We decided not to proceed with a house which had a fantastic garden but backed onto an extremely busy A road. Our first 2 viewings were on a weekend so there was much less traffic (could still hear the noise obviously). We then spent money on a full structural survey and had a third viewing during a weekday morning (after rush hour) with a builder. The traffic noise totally put us off. However, beautiful the house and garden, it was ruined by the thundering lorries going past on the other side of the garden wall and it was a huge garden. We decided that soundproof fencing wasn't going to cut it so bailed out.

FootballFriend · 06/09/2011 21:33

Myron - I think I remember that thread, not so long ago.

BonyM - 55dB is actually quite loud, the decibel scale is logarithmic, so big jump between 30 and 40dB etc. Go around your house to see what level other things are at (kettle, washing machine) for comparison, then imagine having it all the time. Having said that, where did you hear it? The difference between the front of the house and the back can be quite substantial. You wouldn't be bothered too much if it were at the front, once you're in you shut the door on it, but if it's in the garden... (BTW, were we on an antenatal thread together, March 05?)

brabbinsandfyffe · 07/09/2011 09:53

My uncle's place backs onto the A14 dual carriageway - we notice it when we visit, but they've clearly 'tuned out' to it years ago. They spend loads of time in their (beautiful) garden and love it there.

Original poster
BonyM · 07/09/2011 10:25

Mrsbleasdale, it's noisy pretty much the whole time but you can't hear it in the house. I think the problem is that the prevailing wind direction means that we're going to hear it more often than not. Dh thinks they planned the open evening for a day that the wind was going to be in a different direction from usual...

Bran, trees are a good idea and we'd also thought of a water feature in the garden to help mask the sound.

Football friend - when we went round for the 2nd time it was the back garden ( and conservatory) where we heard it, but we've since been back a couple of times (dh even went at 10pm) the other night to stand in the street and the noise is also apparent from the front. I was on the March 05 antenatal thread! I hardly come on here at all now to be honest but know that if need any advice then this is the place to get it!

Brabbinsandfyfe - that's reassuring to hear. We are having the survey done today so will see what that comes back with and then decide I think.

The thing is, the road is so well regarded, and houses so rarely come up there that I can't help thinking that the noise can't be that much of a problem. Prices are at the top end for the area as well, so it's not as though the people who live there wouldn't be able to afford to move if they found the noise unbearable...

OP posts:
CointreauVersial · 07/09/2011 12:40

It's all about compromise - I think it is very rare indeed for most of us to find somewhere that ticks every single box (unless you have unlimited funds!).

In our case we made the compromise because the house was so perfect; I'd rather have a road hum than a small kitchen or a grotty area etc. etc.

ChippingIn · 07/09/2011 13:01

Buying a house is all about compromise (no matter how much money you have, there's always a compromise!!).

I think the thing with noise is that it's not so much that you notice it, it's that it's wearying. You notice how much nicer it is when you can't hear it.

It just depends if it's the compromise you are willing to make or not.

CointreauVersial · 07/09/2011 13:05

True, but with unlimited funds the compromises tend to be smaller, or you can pay them to disappear!!

mrsravelstein · 07/09/2011 13:05

we lived on a busy road for 5 years, constant traffic and late night pedestrian revellers from nearby pub, it drove us nuts, couldn't open the windows in height of summer.... so when we moved we completely ruled out anything with even a background whoosh, but i think the latter would be easier to gradually get used to.

we now live on an incredibly quiet cul de sac off a quiet road, and once a week we hear a car go past in the distance which now seems incredibly intrusive!

lechatnoir · 07/09/2011 14:32

I lived not far from a busy railway line and in the 8 years I lived there it bugged me MORE not less the longer I lived there. We couldn't afford the same house further away so we had no choice & the house was lovely but the noise did bug me. We also moved recently to somewhere almost silent Grin Sorry.

photoretoucher · 08/09/2011 15:29

I once lived at the end of a lane, which led to an 'A' road.

Found that the rumble of traffic actually helped me sleep at night. Possibly, I'm a bit weird :)

HopeForTheBest · 15/09/2011 22:13

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on request of its author.

stanausauruswrecks · 15/09/2011 22:59

We live on a B road which is a throughfare into town, and the noise doesn't bother any of us- after about 5-6pm it's quiet. What I really liked when DC were little was the fact that although I was welded to the sofa feeding, I could see life going on outside!