Neighbours extension what you wished you’d known

[Currentlynotsogood]

Just looking for any thoughts or tips on coping with the noise, dust, chaos. I wfh they are lucky and moving out at the weekend until it’s habitable. I cannot go into an office and I don’t earn enough to rent workspace.

Noise cancelling headphones.

Noise-cancelling headphones and music / sound apps are essential. I had several months of this when neighbours built an extension and excavated half the garden, and nearly went mad, but the headphones really helped.

One tip: if you have to do online presentations or have particular meetings that you don't want to be disrupted by noise, you may be able to negotiate a quiet hour or two if you can get on the builders' good side, or try to schedule things for after they have gone for the day.

Also essential to make sure you get out of the house for a break each day to get some peace and quiet if you can. If you have any holiday to spare, consider using it during the early stages of the project, which is likely to be noisiest.

Alternatively, do you have any friends nearby where you could go and work for an hour or two, or a local library?

Meanwhile, keep track of their working hours and contact your neighbours if they are exceeding what is reasonable. With the owners away, they may think they can carry on into the evening or at weekends (beyond what the local guidelines might say). If you have any problems, contact your neighbours, but obviously try to keep on friendly terms.

Thank you. It’s going to be difficult with meetings. I’ll look into cost of the headphones always thought decent ones would be too pricey. Plus not hearing my phone if school phone etc. nearby libraries are community run I checked them out but one got rid of quiet space and the other doesn’t have any still. I asked HR as work shut down office but they weren’t any help and I don’t need boss thinking of excuses to make me sound like not doing good job I need these hours now. Gosh yes think very valid point regarding escape ClematisBlue49 Leave allocated to family commitments so none to spare.

Not what you asked but my immediate thoughts were: be there when they erect scaffolding so they don't block your window, break your fence, make it dangerous for you; and check your loft space to make sure no damage is being done your side.

Pretty sure if your phone rings a decent pair of headphones will alert you.

Be mindful of the mic in the headset too. My Plantronics can cancel out my bulldog snoring at my feet. I'm often shocked by that!

This is correct. You connect them to your phone via bluetooth and when the phone rings, the music cuts out.

OP, a decent pair will set you back about £300 (Sony are the best IMO). You can get cheaper ones, but I don't believe they are as good. I winced at the cost but they were worth every penny and much more.

We've had drilling and banging constantly all day today and my noise cancelling headphones (sony wh-1000xm3) have filtered out most the noise and no one on any of the Teams calls has been able to hear the banging. They don't deal with phone call noise though - they really only handle constant noise by cancelling it out but unexpected noises like phone calls, it can't deal with so would work for you.

Are your house boundaries clear and fenced. Cheeky fuckers started using my garden as part of next doors build. If you don't have a fence get one now to save aggro.

Also consider the deliveries, if you park on the road the chances of your car getting damaged are higher (yes my car was hit by a lorry).

First and dirt, noise, loud shouts builders.

Don't give leeway on weekend and evening working. Check the local council quiet hours and noise reporting line details.

I'm sounding really negative and like a nightmare neighbour. Next doors build did this to me! Chances are that yours will be better.

Don’t object to the planning application too strongly. I objected and so did my neighbour on the other side. The approved application turned out to be even uglier than the proposed extension because it was turned around in five minutes flat in a phone call between the planner and the architect.

Do you have any local family / friends who would be able to accommodate you working from there .

No family near Floralnomad especially with school run. Maybe in holidays we could seek refuge but Rollercoaster1920 has made me think I need to man the barriers so doubt I could leave home even for a week now. Will have to see what they are like. Too late NarrowGate it’s way past that stage. I wouldn’t be too alarmed if they try altering plans after the great dig has begun as I’ve heard this happen not too far from us. Very annoyed at having to find money for headphones and wear them for hours. Bang goes holiday idea this year.