Why is traffic noise so bad?

[Noisephobe]

I moved a couple of weeks ago. Same town, one street away. Bigger, better, lovelier house. All good! Except… the noise from the motorway, which is a bit less than 2 miles away, is so much louder. Is this possible with a move of only 20 metres, or am I going mad? Before we would hear the road occasionally, but at the new place it’s constant, loud at night etc. Didn’t notice on viewing and we viewed many times, but obviously not first thing in the morning/at night/during rain which is when it’s loudest.

The only thing I can think of is that the new house is less sheltered by other houses than the old one. The old one was also orientated away from the motorway. Can this really make a difference at a distance of two miles or am I just stressed by the move, mortgage etc?? Help! Is there anything I can do? I wanted to stay local because I love the peace and quiet so this is a big deal for me.

You're possibly much more sensitive and vigilant because you're in a new environment and things are still strange and unfamiliar. Give it a bit more time and you'll probably find you don't notice it so much once you're more relaxed and settled.

Enjoy your new home 🙂

I hope it’s just the stress getting to me! :) Anyone else had this experience?

Yes I had it once when I moved from one place to round the corner 2 streets away! I think it was nearer the main road.

The first night I couldn't sleep and couldn't believe how noisy it was and thought I was going mad! Within a few weeks I got used to it.

Enjoy your new place x

Stress can definitely make you more sensitive to noise. I had a spell recently of being very bothered by distant traffic noises that felt unbearable, I hadn't ever registered them before and I've lived in the same location for over 10 years. This post has made me realise that I've stopped noticing the 'noise' again.

As a pp has said, I think you've just gone in to hyper vigilant mode because of the move.
Hopefully as you settle and things become more familiar the noise will fade into the background.

Orientation could make a difference - are there more windows facing the motorway?
Also, things like construction, double glazing etc could make a difference.

Yes the old house faced directly away from the motorway. New one has windows more at a right angle, but it’s certainly less sheltered. You don’t hear it with windows shut.

Wind direction and rain will make it noisier.

However I guarantee you will get used to it in a few weeks and it will not bother you anymore

Just allow yourself time to adapt to the noise.

When I bought my first place, I moved from semi-rural to London. Train, DLR and Tube tracks all nearby. I thought I’d lost the plot when I first moved in.

Got to the stage where it became white noise, I really didn’t register it - and I HATE noise. I could be chatting on the phone and someone would say they liked the sound of the train horn etc and I wouldn’t have even noticed it.

It will definitely be more annoying to begin with, especially when you’re in new surroundings. But, generally, that kind of “constant” background noise is VERY different to shitty neighbours with music/tv/arguments etc. That kind of stuff, when it’s awful, you’re always kind of on alert for. Whereas the constant hum of traffic, trains, etc just becomes a bit more “normal”.

I'm very noise sensitive but traffic doesn't bother me. We are currently a couple of streets away from a very busy road and I've already got used to it. What helps me is that the bedrooms are all at the front so you don't hear it there

I think you will get used to it.

@Furries - you speak the truth! Loud music, shouting, horrible neighbors are much much worse!

Good question OP.

This is potentially a useful app for movers, showing noise and air pollution

http://www.extrium.co.uk/noiseviewer.html

It could also be getting noisier as roads deteriorate, traffic generally increases and cars get bigger and heavier.