What era property is best for lack of noise?

[FingersXrossed]

We're renting until I buy somewhere new.

It's way better than my old flat (godawful upstairs neighbour) but still noisy at times.

Downstairs neighbours are elderly and have visitors every day. Fair enough but the volume really goes up. I can hear what they're saying as I'm working. The old guy was just singing a song and they frequently slam doors. The other neighbour through the wall is very loud and sweary but it's not even a muffled voice you can hear every word as you're sitting on the sofa.

Husband has lived in 3 countries where detached homes are common/the norm. He's very noise sensitive too so keeps going on about the neighbours noise.

I am buying without him going on the mortgage as he's not a permanent resident or citizen. Can't afford detached so will either go for a semi or end terrace.

But what era is best or worst for noise transmission? Or is it down to building materials and insulation? It would be good to rule some homes out when we're looking.

My parents have a pre war semi and you can hear next door's dog barking or the grandkid shrieking when he's over but that's it. A friend lives in a flat similar to this one but says she hears nothing from her neighbours. She asked downstairs if they heard her DC and they said no. So I'm not sure what to think.

Thanks.

[norijunior]

We live in a 1980s terrace and it's very well built in terms of blocking out the noise.

[Houseinthemiddle]

1920s semi.
It's built with engineering bricks throughout, concrete ceilings for first floor.
Solid wood internal doors.

We can't hear each other moving about or calling in this house let alone our neighbours.

[ScrambledSmegs]

I don't have the answer but I do know that our flat in a Victorian terraced house was so noisy I could hear our downstairs neighbour fart while our friend's flat in a Victorian terraced house in another London borough was so quiet that they didn't realise their new neighbours had a huge flat warming party till they saw them putting out the recycling, horribly hungover.

Friends' flat was in a traditionally affluent area. Ours wasn't. Maybe the houses were just better built round there.

[Honeyandapple]

Never heard our neighbours at all. A 1950s.
Wonderful in comparison to the victorian we lived in before, which was stunning. But problems with noise (and mice).

[FurierTransform]

On the whole, the newer the better.

For flats, avoid anything without concrete floors.
If you have an issue, retrospective soundproofing between properties pretty much never works - the sound travels through floor joists etc.

The problem with anecdotal reports is that you just have no idea how noisy your neighbours actually are. The building could be terrible for noise transmission but you've lucked out with a neighbour who is quiet as a mouse.

If you want to be 100% sure you won't have issues, the only way is to go detached.

[IcedLimes]

It would seem with Victorian terraces you can't generalise as my walls are thick, so i can only hear occasional shouting but can't hear talking/the tv/anything else. Others have said they heard a lot in a Victorian terrace. So it would seem they vary. Not surprising given how long the Victorian era was

[dameofdilemma]

Unless its a stone cottage with walls three feet thick, I don't think you can rely on the type of property necessarily.

We had soundproofing installed in our 1920s Edwardian semi. The adjoining walls are single brick thickness and the brick has aged over time.
But then our neighbours when we moved in were 5 adults who played electric guitars....if we'd had our current (lovely, normal level of noise) neighbours we might not have bothered.

I'd recommend sp - really helps.

[CyberPixie]

I live in a semi detached bungalow built around 1993. Thermalite block, cavity and then engineered bricks. I hear nothing unless next door slams a window shut in the room next to me or interior doors slam from the wind then its only a muffled low thud.

Previously lived in a concrete and steel prefab from ww1. Could hear everything. If I was upstairs at the back I could hear everything they said downstairs at the front! Every sniff, fart, cough as if they were stood next to me. If they dropped something or kids running around it sounded horrendous as if they were breaking the place up with a sledge hammer.

Halls adjoining tend to be best with as few habitable rooms on the party wall. I have heard 50's houses tend to be better but I have no personal experience with those.

[Africa2go]

1990s new build semi - we were very quiet (a couple), couldn't hear a peep from the family of 5 next door.
1960s semi - couple with dogs next door, never heard a peep/bark.
1990s detached. Quiet inside but estate was noisy (all crammed in together, never felt private as we were overlooked left, right and centre)
Edwardian terrace - could hear everything including our baby monitor picking up their signal so literally heard everything
1930s semi - we can hear shouting occasionally or dog barking.

[FingersXrossed]

Thanks all. My previous place was a converted Victorian flat. So noisy! Didn't help that the upstairs neighbour had a voice like a foghorn and stomped around like an elephant. Have bought a 70's semi, hoping it's quiet but will soundproof if need be.

[InFiveMins]

I am extremely noise sensitive and grew up in a detached house, but as it is just my partner and I with no kids, it made no sense to buy a detached property, given that they are usually larger properties with 3+ bedrooms which aren't needed for me and DP.

We rented a semi-detached house built in the 90s - sound insulation wasn't great, could hear my neighbour talking on phone etc.

I bought a brand new terraced house 5 years ago and couldn't hear a thing from either neighbour. the sound insulation was perfect. Families on either side had very young children and I never heard a thing.

Now own a top floor flat which is a converted mill - thick stone walls - can't hear a thing here either.

[m0therofdragons]

Depends on the builder. Our second home was a newbuild terrace that we bought when it was 4 years old in 2008. Neighbour some to dh after dd1 was born as she was worried the baby never cried. Seriously, that child had colic and reflux and screamed 20 hours a day! Amazing sound proofing. It was a Taylor wimpy house. Current house is good but detached 18 year old home.

[woodlandwalker]

I've nearly always lived in Victorian/Edwardian large terraces which are solidly built and could not hear most neighbours.
Whilst living in my last house there were four different owners next door and I could hear three of them a bit and one not at all so I think a lot of it depends on the individuals living there. If you have music playing neighbours, you will hear it wherever you live.
I'm now in a 30s semi and can hear the neighbours slightly in the dining room but not anywhere else.