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How to block sound before I go batpoo crazy

6 replies

Northeastnewbie · 17/11/2024 15:57

Hey all,

OK, so firstly I have annoyingly good hearing, which doesn't help with the matter below, I also live semi rural with no and I mean no external noise, little cul de sac of bungalows, mainly elderly and retired.

Anyhow, my neighbour, he's in his 80's and his wife has recently passed away, he has no family close by from what I can gather and gets maybe 2 visits a year from his grandkids?

Anyway for the last 5 years all has been peaceful and well, but since his wife has died, my god his TV is ridiculous, I can hear it word for word and its that loud it's sounding distorted.
Now I know he is able to listen to his TV at a reasonable level as he does sometimes, but later on in the afternoon or evening, it's on full whack and it's driving me insane. He also has an elderly drinking buddy who turns up to watch the footie and all you can hear is them shouting at each other over the already ridiculous TV.

Now I know he's got no company as such and that's his only form of entertainment, so I'm trying to grit my teeth and be reasonable, I've even given him a blast of my TV at a similar ridiculous level but I'm not a horrid person and I try to be quiet and civilised so I can't maintain that for longer than a minute or so.

What do I do?
I want to enjoy my home.
I want to sit in my lounge and watch TV without hearing his instead of mine.

I'm finding myself sitting on my bed (bungalow, not attached to neighbours) when I get in from work, even eating dinner in there.
My other half isn't as soft as me and will just blast back some MTV.
He's a miserable bloke next door so I don't think a polite convo is gonna help.
I had a decibel reading of 74.8 the other evening from him through the wall. Ergh.

I'm even thinking of putting a conservatory on the back so I can have a lounge space that I can use again, but then why should I spend 10k + when it's not me being a nuisance?

Other options was to lose around 8 inches off my lounge and create a stud with soundproofing/that fat polystyrene insulation, before going down the conservatory or even the moving route, but then that wouldn't be fair to anyone buying the bungalow.

God knows. It's actually really annoying me now. If it was occasional, fine. But daily? Grr

Help. Sorry for the war and peace rant.

Ta my lovelies as you were.

OP posts:
OttersAreMySpiritAnimal · 17/11/2024 17:39

I take it you are attached to this neighbour?
How about floor to ceiling bookcases in the lounge and put soundproofing behind. So it'll act like a soundproofed wall but will be removable if things change and hopefully not too expensive? Fill the shelves with books and they will also absorb sound.

Havalona · 17/11/2024 17:49

Do you get along with neighbour? Did you ever speak to this person and explain how loud it is on your side. He is obviously hard of hearing. I am too so I know what it's like to struggle to hear the TV and the radio.

However I've solved it with wireless headphones that connect to the TV. I can hear things at my level, and others at theirs. I can use them for radio/podcasts and audiobooks etc. too.

There are inexpensive noise cancelling headphones on Amazon, I have two sets and they work very well. They are under 40 quid. Have a word with him and suggest he might try them out. Worth a shot surely? Cheaper than a conservatory anyway!

They are Anker Q20i if you want to have a look.

Edit, I see he is not the friendly type! But I wouldn't let him away with disturbing your peace like that, I'd ask him anyway. Nothing to lose really.

OregonPine · 17/11/2024 17:58

Batpoo 😂 You can say shit on here, it's fine.

INeedAnotherName · 17/11/2024 18:11

Next time it is loud go round and ask him to come into your house to hear how loud it is. You really do have to start there. He might not realise how loud it is and, despite him being a miserable sod he might actually be a decent bloke underneath and be mortified.

No point in telling him it's loud, he needs to hear it in your house for himself.

FannyCradocksDoughnut · 17/11/2024 18:16

Id have a word with him if you can and start a discussion. Keep a diary of what's happening and report him to your local council.

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