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Original poster

House near busy road - traffic noise inside house

25 replies

decisionschoices · 11/01/2023 22:28

Hi all,

I went to view a house in an estate that is near a fairly busy road (in a medium sized town). I love the house but the weather was quite wet and was surprised to be able to hear the noise of cars passing from inside the house. The busy road is to the back of the house and I could hear the cars in the back bedrooms upstairs even though the house is set back a bit from the road. Obviously, the garden was a bit noisy too as a result. I expected some noise outside but not inside.

To anyone that lives near a fairly busy road, is it normal to be able to hear cars passing from inside your house? Does it bother you? I have rented an apartment in a city centre that was fairly near a busy road but I don't recall being able to hear cars passing by from inside the apartment...?! Unless of course, cars were revving up or beeping at each other.

OP posts:

Waterlooville · 11/01/2023 22:30

I'm near a busy road and can't hear the traffic inside.

whatisheupto · 11/01/2023 22:30

Were the windows double glazed?

If they were single glazed or old and poor quality double glazed then yes you would hear a lot.

Silentsalamander · 11/01/2023 22:32

Yes moving largely for this reason. Even with double glazing. Especially when a “boy racer” or motorbike goes past, it’s so jarring.

CallipyJean · 11/01/2023 22:33

At this time of year traffic noise tends to be at its loudest - as there’s less muffling from shrubs and no leaves on the trees (particularly if the roads are wet) Double glazing should sort it though!

Persipan · 11/01/2023 22:35

I live right on an A road, with the front door opening straight onto the pavement, so pretty much as close as it gets. One thing I've definitely noticed is that it's much louder in wet weather - no idea why, but it really makes a difference.

That said, I don't really notice it either way and I can't say it bothers me - I was a bit wary of it before moving here but it's not been an issue. My house goes back a long way, though, so if it were ever to annoy me I could literally just go back a room and it wouldn't be an issue anymore.

Original poster

decisionschoices · 11/01/2023 22:45

whatisheupto · 11/01/2023 22:30

Were the windows double glazed?

If they were single glazed or old and poor quality double glazed then yes you would hear a lot.

They are double-glazed apparently..

OP posts:

UsingChangeofName · 11/01/2023 22:58

I can hear traffic if I am sitting without the TV or radio or any music on, although the road is probably only about 12' from where I am sitting.

It very soon becomes 'background noise' though. It isn't something I find disturbs me.

C4tastrophe · 12/01/2023 04:57

Don’t do it. If you are noise sensitive, or anyone in the family is, you’ll never get used to it.
It’s the wet road that amplifies the tyre noise.
Also, the pollution. What about summer if you want to sleep with the windows open, or sit in the garden in the quiet?

WeAreTheHeroes · 12/01/2023 05:02

I live on a busy A road. Old house, single glazing. You quite quickly stop noticing it inside the house.

Nicecow · 12/01/2023 05:10

I live on a busy road, it didnt used to bother me but after having DC I'm really noise sensitive. The cars driving aren't annoying, but it's loud music from boy racers, or loud motorbikes, beelong horns, and things like that. If you think it could bother you then I'd advise against it.

C4tastrophe · 12/01/2023 05:33

Why would you live near a busy road if you don’t have too? Makes no sense.

MyCreation · 12/01/2023 05:48

I live in a flat where the bedroom and the living/dining/kitchen area face on to an A road. The only room I can’t hear traffic is the bathroom. Mainly I don’t think about it - because it’s so busy, it just turned into a constant background sound which doesn’t bother me. There’s a fair amount of emergency vehicles whizzing past as it’s round the corner from the fire station for the area and they can be a bit of an assault on the ears but I really don’t mind. It’s definitely more of an issue in summer when I sleep with the windows open but it’s the heat that keeps me awake not the noise,

Im not sensitive to noise but if I was I’d not move so close to a main road if I could avoid it. Mine is social housing so I didn’t have much choice about location. If you love the house could you save up for triple glazing the rooms that face onto the road?

Sorry about weird font and underlining. Pressed by mistake and don’t know how to undo it.

Twiglets1 · 12/01/2023 06:54

That would be a deal breaker for me, especially if the windows are already double glazed.

Perfect28 · 12/01/2023 07:20

I hear cars but usually don't mind, it becomes white noise. What I can't stand though are the racers. I would never ever move next to a straightish bit of road again. We've been here years and never see police tackle it.

Alaimo · 12/01/2023 08:15

UsingChangeofName · 11/01/2023 22:58

I can hear traffic if I am sitting without the TV or radio or any music on, although the road is probably only about 12' from where I am sitting.

It very soon becomes 'background noise' though. It isn't something I find disturbs me.

Same here. I have triple glazing and can still hear the road if I don't have the TV or radio on. The only time it bothers me is in winter when the snowploughs sometimes come through at 5am. Otherwise I sleep perfectly fine.

ShirleyHolmes · 12/01/2023 08:19

I live on a busy road. I don’t usually notice it at all. I can hear it now, because there is no other sound, it’s rush hour, raining and l’m listening out for it. I don’t normally hear it, or notice it. It’s fine. The same house the next street over would be 20% more, for us it was a choice between this house or a much smaller one on a quieter road. It was the right decision for us, been here 10 years now.

UsingChangeofName · 12/01/2023 20:55

C4tastrophe · 12/01/2023 05:33

Why would you live near a busy road if you don’t have too? Makes no sense.

Because you weigh up everything about the house........ could include bigger garden / near the station / catchment area for the school you want / an extra bedroom / South facing garden / extra living space / anything someone is looking for in a house.
Being on a busy road isn't as big a deal for some as it seems to be for others.

Snowpaw · 12/01/2023 21:49

I previously lived on a reasonably busy road. It did used to annoy me that I couldnt sleep with the window open at night because the first cars to go past in the small hours of the morning would wake me up. And all the boy racers heading up into the hills on the summer nights.

It was one of the reasons I chose to move. Also having a small child and the worry of if she ran out into the road or something.

All this being said, I loved that house and I had a great time there, and before I had my child I wasn't that bothered about the traffic at all. It was such a handy location for shops and amenities, and I never felt lonely. I also really muffled the sound by getting some gaps fixed around the double glazed windows - I think the guy filled them up with expanding foam and it made a HUGE difference to the noise.

Pogpog21 · 16/01/2023 15:42

Hi! We very recently moved to a house set back on a B road. Where we lived before was a very quiet road. I am pretty noise sensitive and it is the only negative thing I ever think about in the house - but I am looking out for noise, if I was to sit and think (oh can I NOT hear anything) then equally there are times where I hear nothing at all. So it really comes down to whether it is a big issue for you and if everything has been done to bring the noise down (windows, trees, walls/ acoustic fencing). Although the noise is something I notice as you could have heard a pin drop in my old house, I do love our home and it’s just about accepting its not entirely silent here - it’s a huge house, south facing huge garden, backs onto golf course, right near a station and we can get most places very quickly. that connectivity comes with a compromise of hearing the real world sometimes!

RachelSq · 16/01/2023 15:49

We live next to a 30mph road. You can hear it, especially in the wet, but I’m used to it and really don’t mind. If we’d had a choice we’d have chosen no road, but we could have perfect house with nearby road or less nice house with no road.

Like others have said, house was probably cheaper because of it and was worth it to us.

Blueglazzier · 16/01/2023 15:54

I live on a very busy road approx 200 cars per hour passing the front of my house, the kitchen overlooks the road . Having the window open while cooking is so noisy and sitting at the table with window open even worse . If friends come to dinner I have to shut the window. My bedroom is at the back into a cul de sac so quieter but cars can still be heard especially warm nights . My front door has to be washed weekly . My honest opinion don't buy , I have lived here 20 years and love my house but hate it's location , and it will get worse as this road has over the years . I was on a low budget when I bought but wish I could move buy unable to afford .
Remember location location location . Avoid

Blueglazzier · 16/01/2023 15:59

I also meant to add I can hear the traffic while in my home with all Windows shut , when a lorry passes my house shudders . The road is approx 30ft from front of house . My ornaments jangle when a lorry goes past , and busses every 20 mins . As for having a relaxing bath there is no such thing as bathroom at front of house . Think twice .

SueResnes · 16/01/2023 16:34

I would never buy a house or flat on a busy road. I hate traffic noise.

Dinkler · 03/06/2023 21:04

Does it have a front garden op? You can buffer a bit with thick shrubs/hedges etc. We recently viewed one near an A road and it was just too much.

GoBubbles · 04/06/2023 21:22

How come you are not considering the hazard pollution? Noise would be my lesser worry.

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