Soundproofing walls

[Nanknickerbocker]

Hi everyone
We have new neighbours who can be very noisy at times. We are thinking of soundproofing the alcove walls in the living room. Has anyone any advice or know of anyone who can do this?

We tried in one of our houses. Removed all the plaster, put t insulating plaster board up and replastered. Lost a couple of inches in room size and spent £££’s. It didn’t work because most houses share joists, not just walls, and so the sound still travels.

We've just done this and it's been amazing!

You need soundproofing plaster board and the trick is to have as big a gap as possible between the old wall and the new. A good joiner/plasterer can do this

We can still hear bangs and loud noises etc, but before, it was like we were sat in the same room as our neighbours and hear their conversations!

Our neighbours (not attached so not our fault!) have neighbours who have their tv on very loud. They got soundproofing installed but it was just something stuck on the wall and plastered over and they say it's made little difference. They wish they'd gone for the more expensive solution where there is a gap between the soundproofing and the original wall

Thanks, i didn't think about the joists. Need to think about it some more and decide what to do.

Thanks. It sounds as though the big gap is the key. Someone else said the same. Just need to find someone who can do it now.

Thanks. I think we need to go for the more expensive option too.

Remember to focus on the type of noise you are battling against as apparently it does make a different in the methods needed. For example if it's music (low frequency) talking (airborne) or movement (impact).

Also I've heard the quality of the installation is really important, as if air gaps etc aren't filled or sealed, you're basically wasting your money.

I've been looking at a lot of DIY options but more for floors, I think walls can be trickier but that might just be my perception.

My upstairs neighbours have just complained about noise levels coming from our living room. Although I'm just existing in my house and DC are in bed waaay before 10pm, and I took out the TV, I don't wish to create trouble for the neighbours.
However, I'm really pissed off about her demanding me to spend the money I don't really ASAP to fix the issue.
Insulating the ceilings is not cheap and given the shared electrical box, I won't be able to insulate the entire room.
I'm in between two minds about going with the most expensive solution or just do some sort of low cost insulation as I doubt I will be able to completely insulate the space.
I wish I could afford not having neighbours

Hey, just because the neighbours are complaining doesn't mean they are being reasonable in doing so!

You're just as entitled to enjoyment of your home, and it sounds like you are already being more than reasonable.

I get you though, it's so hard having noise disputes with neighbours; if you're like me, even when you know you're doing absolutely nothing wrong, it's really hard walking on eggshells in your own home knowing thay someone has a problem with you.

She needs to do her bit too, and some of that will be accepting that living near a family means hearing some noise!