I'm The "Noisy Neighbour":( - How to Reduce Noise Transfer to Next Door Apartment

mad__llama on 17/11/2015 - 18:11
Last edited 19/11/2015 - 17:58

So I had a friend over to watch a DVD on Sat night and although we stopped watching the movie around midnight, we ended up talking (quietly) until around 4am.

My aggressive and highly volatile next door neighbour left a pretty rude note the next day complaining about the noise - apparently he could hear every word! - our duplex shares a (brick) party wall and has floor boards which I assume are shared across the two units.

Anyone have simple suggestions on how I can stop the transfer of my noise into his place? Would acoustic panels work, or are they only for improving the acoustics inside a room?

EDIT: Cheers for all the info folks, lots of good stuff to follow-up on. Man I love this site! You all rock! (but quietly, and not past midnight) :)

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Looking4Bargians on 18/11/2015 - 10:27
    +2

    Change the Apartment. Simple

  • eXo on 18/11/2015 - 10:41
    +5

    perhaps face a speaker towards the wall playing sounds of the ocean….. or rectum relaxing sounds.

    this will drown out your conversation

  • Baysew on 18/11/2015 - 12:29
    +7

    Perhaps a Cone Of Silence ?

  • phocus on 18/11/2015 - 14:11

    I was thinking, could you put acoustic panels behind some canvas art? that would be a neat solution?

    • mad__llama on 18/11/2015 - 15:17

      That's pretty much what I was asking - but in most places I'm reading about they talk about it being ineffective at stopping incoming noise, can't find much about the effect on out-going noise…

      • phocus on 18/11/2015 - 15:41
        +1

        im doing a bit of research because I have just also bought a shared wall town house. We have cement block wall between us and our neighbour, im pretty sure its double cement block. I've been in the house a few times whilst doing renos and havnt been able to hear through the wall yet, but then again im not if its coincidence that they might be quiet next door or they arnt even there at the time.

        In any case, those foam panels are used for acoustic treatment. Meaning they only help control the sound within room (im guessing this means lowing echoing etc). Where as sound proofing means preventing sound traveling through walls etc.

        Sound proofing looks like lots more work. Requires heavy density walls or making your own then covering the entire wall. I think thats what the general consensus is.

  • SupeNintendoChalmers on 18/11/2015 - 14:23
    +2

    lead sheeting is highly effective.

    http://marsmetal.com/sheet-lead/sound-barriers/

    • Charity on 18/11/2015 - 16:42

      This is interesting… have you had 1st hand experience?

      I have used expensive "sound proofing tiles" and honestly they don't do that much.

      However, the very best solution is to buy your own house on a very large block.

      I have dreams of owning a ridiculously large country block, squared kilometres, where all my overpowered amps + speakers can be set free and no one else noticing.

  • zealmax on 18/11/2015 - 15:37
    +5

    I hate common walls.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/11/2015 - 16:21
    +1

    Been there done that with apartment living. Not worth the stress is whiney neighbours who you share walls/floors with. Move.

  • Icy on 18/11/2015 - 16:36
    +1

    I do not think that there is an easy AND inexpensive way to heavily soundproof a single brick wall. At night, when everything is quiet and he is lying in bed with just brick and paint separating you, he will be able to hear most sounds. Perhaps try calling up a soundproofing business that offers free assessments and they should at least be able to give you an idea of where to go from there.

  • samfisher5986 on 18/11/2015 - 16:37
    +4

    Honestly this whole thread is quite surprising for a number of reasons.

    Noise reduction/insulating is not as easy as people are making it seem.

    You can spend a lot of money and time trying to solve it only to find it doesn't solve it at all, or does very little.

    You also mentioned that the bedroom and lounge share walls with him, and he can hear specifically what you are talking about. It honestly sounds like you need to have full blown insulation and other things which is not cheap.

    Nearly all decent apartments will be designed or insulated in a way that not much sound leaks. Its also generally impossible to hear what people are saying in the apartment next to you.

    Also people generally don't want to wear earplugs because of a neighbor, this is extreme and should be solved in some other way.

  • fr33loader on 18/11/2015 - 16:40

    Fire off infrasound waves at 17Hz, freak him out some more :D

    • mad__llama on 18/11/2015 - 23:58

      Love it! Isn't that close to the freq that is supposedly 'bowel loosening'?

  • T0KY0 on 18/11/2015 - 16:56
    +2

    Do you have 2 tv's ? I'd play loud porn all day on one, and discovery channel on the other, while i'm out of the house at work or wherever.

    • ITveteran on 18/11/2015 - 17:18

      And some day when you come back opening your door someone might stab you from the back. No joking, you are fueling the fire.

      Seriously, if you just whispered and the neighbour could hear clearly, both parties should put up some money to have the property fixed, may be with solid concrete/brick wall solidly separates the dwellings. Its an investment once for all.

  • TailsK on 18/11/2015 - 17:01
    +1

    Egg cartons.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/11/2015 - 00:43

      Glue egg cartons on soft foam panels. Link them together on some flexible attachment. When you have a friend over, raise the sound proofing.

  • azshade on 18/11/2015 - 17:15
    +3

    It was a Saturday night. If it was a once off and not a regular event, frankly I'd recommend just ignoring it. Kudos to you for trying to be a nice neighbour and all that, but you can't be 100% perfect every time.

    It's a damn duplex and they come with the turf. Frankly I hate the damn things and I can't understand why in Australia of all countries that we build them. Just boggles my mind.

    Next time warn your neighbour you're having a friend over and likely to have drinks / conversation until morn "and will endeavour to keep the noise down", but it's to be expected once in a while.

    • jenkemjunkie on 18/11/2015 - 22:16
      +4

      They build them in Australia because people are obsessed with investment properties and wanting to be a property tycoon. I cringe anytime I hear someone talk about subdividing a block of land or putting a bunch of units on a block because of "investments mate". The joints are as shit and as bare bones as they can get away with.

      • Pyrock on 18/11/2015 - 23:01
        +1

        Not long ago i lived in one of these units. I was actually really happy with it. Definitely wasn't all bare bones.

      • GameChanger on 18/11/2015 - 23:03

        And you cringe because you missed out?

        Some of the easiest money was made by subdividing a block of land.

        • jenkemjunkie on 18/11/2015 - 23:19
          +1

          Yeah mate!

        • GameChanger on 18/11/2015 - 23:46

          @docholliday: You don't like money?

        • jenkemjunkie on 19/11/2015 - 14:59
          +2

          @GameChanger:

          I don't like poor quality housing which Australia is full of, how does that translate to not liking money or me being envious of missing out on the get rich scheme of property investing. I am financially astute enough that my returns have been better served elsewhere and I have no desire or need for quick large sums that require huge capital outlays.

          I don't invest in property, never will and have no interest in maximising returns from it. This flies in the face of the Aussie way I know.

        • PAOK11 on 21/11/2015 - 10:06

          Yeah "mate" we can hear the bitterness in you voice. Its not illegal, if you don't like it bad luck. Other people are entitled to buy property and sub divide and there's nothing you can do about it

        • jenkemjunkie on 22/11/2015 - 19:03

          [@PAOK11](/comment/3219013/redir
          Yeah… well…well, I won't buy said properties! And that's not illegal so bad luck there's nothing you can do about it!

  • inherentchoice on 18/11/2015 - 17:29
    +1

    Here's a thought. Is there a chance that the dividing wall (and floor boards going under it) is not up to fire and building code standards?

    If so then someone else might have to cough up the money to fix it (e.g. the builder or the builder's insurer, or maybe the building inspector who approved it) and presumably fixing that will also address the noise issue.

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 00:03

      A good thought but I think the property was built in the late 1970s, unlikely to find anyone to lay the blame on now…

      • inherentchoice on 19/11/2015 - 09:25

        Okay true. It was probably built to the standards of that era anyway.

      • Speckled Jim on 19/11/2015 - 10:34
        +1

        Ahh hang on. There's vents up high on the walls? Block them when entertaining. Bloody perv has probably heard you getting intimate too, and I'll bet he didn't complain about that!

        I don't know the building codes for older structures, but should there not be a firewall up in the loft too? If sound was leaking from the vent(s) it may also be why he could hear everything.

        • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 22:26

          Just had a look and… yes! Vents up high on most of the walls (although not the common wall?). Will block them next time - Thanks!!

  • cst on 18/11/2015 - 19:02
    +1

    I think soft furnishings help. Heavy curtains, rugs (as others have said), and lots of cushions. They will absorb the noise. I even notice how much more sound travels in my bathroom just without the towels and bathmat.

    I would also close my windows if I was going to be chatting into the early hours.

    I feel for you having such a crappy neighbour. I hear my neigbours too, just as I presume they hear me sometimes but we all sort of put up with it unless things get too out of control from someone.

  • Hirolol on 18/11/2015 - 20:13

    Can we see the angey letter ur neighbor wrote?
    Mainly coz you said he mentioned the topic you guys were talking about.
    Must have been an epic conversation!

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 00:06
      +2

      Umm, no :)

      Although he did call the conversation "childish"??

      • BartholemewH on 19/11/2015 - 20:38

        It's time for a flaming bag of dog crap on his doorstep.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/11/2015 - 20:24
    +2

    tell him you'll try to work with him.
    He needs to get a noise machine/ white noise sound on the ipad and run it on repeat.

    When we lived in St Kilda we could hear our neighbours and vice versa.
    Started using the whitenoise sound and we still use it to this day after moving to the quieter suburbs.

    The reality is that it's your right to talk in your own living room at 4am.
    He needs to get earplugs or a white noise solution.

    If he won't cooperate then bugger him.

  • Conka on 18/11/2015 - 20:40
    +2

    Do you own the property?

    I understand that the problem with shared walls is that even professionals can't always identify the source of the "noise leak". They'd also need access to his side of the property - and you've indicated that he isn't exactly "reasonable", and may not be interested in dealing either way.

    I am looking into a few options for my own house;
    * gyprock soundcheck (acoustic plasterboard)
    * Something like this … http://eastcoastautomation.com.au/products/acoustics/quietwa…

    Both of the above means that you need to cover the shared brick wall - which could be expensive.

    Floor and wall coverings & angles help to diffuse the noise bouncing around.

    Failing that … Murphy84's law …

    If he won't cooperate then bugger him.

    • outlander on 18/11/2015 - 22:38

      If he can't stand the guy, how is he gonna bring himself to bugger him? (hint:look it up)

  • tryagain on 18/11/2015 - 20:52
    +1

    Download some white noise (or brown noise I like better) and play it in the bed room that adjoins his after midnight whenever you have people over

  • diddy50 on 18/11/2015 - 21:00
    +5

    This boils down to shit apartment construction and design. Insulation and sound proofing is a must.

    Whilst annoying, you should not have to be silent at night, regardless of time. It's your home.

    It is unreasonable to expect silence and it's reasonable to expect your home or their home to be insulated enough to not be able to hear each other at normal conversation levels.

    Sucks, but you'll have to live with it.
    No law against it, unless there is a owner's corporation rule for the property.

    Agree, If he won't cooperate then bugger him.

  • GameChanger on 18/11/2015 - 21:32

    I recommend you bang your friend all night long, lets see how he likes that noise compared to talking.

  • outlander on 18/11/2015 - 21:44
    +4

    Heres a shot from a duplex being built down the road
    http://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/24621/34954/img_2015111…

    See that thin grey thing in the middle, that goes from the bottom right to the top? Thats your dividing wall

    • jenkemjunkie on 18/11/2015 - 22:18
      +4

      I already feel sorry for the tenants and/or buyers.

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 00:08

      Holy cr*p! My place has got to be better than that!

    • cst on 19/11/2015 - 07:47

      That's appalling.

    • Davros on 19/11/2015 - 09:16
      +1

      Thats PART of the dividing wall
      What about the 100mm of pine framing on each side, most likely filled with insulation and then gyprock on the outside of that?

      • psy on 19/11/2015 - 10:05

        Agree. That sheeting is probably fire proofing.

    • diddy50 on 19/11/2015 - 13:47

      its not eve a real dividing wall. these town houses are being built cheaper and cheaper!
      The used to use bricks to divide walls. I wonder how well these are against fires spreading between units?!

  • Cheap Steve on 18/11/2015 - 22:06

    So you really did "Netflix and chill". That sucks.

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 00:08
      +1

      All Netflix, no chill :)

  • subywagon on 18/11/2015 - 23:48

    Tell him to buy some earplugs…

  • cybergenX on 19/11/2015 - 00:06
    +3

    turn it up, you are not doing it right.

    you need to adjust his standards, make more noise for a while until he adjusts to new level, like training a dog really. throw him a chocolate when he doesn't complain

  • thehunter on 19/11/2015 - 00:07
    +1

    I found this while researching for something similar a while ago. It's called Green Glue and you put it between another sheet of plasterboard. http://www.greengluecompany.com/
    Seems like a cost effective solution and once installed it wouldn't change the appearance of your room. Not sure on its performance as I've never used it.

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 00:10

      Hey that looks pretty interesting, cheers!

  • [Deactivated] on 19/11/2015 - 04:15
    1. Could be the ceiling too.
    2. Renting? Move.
  • mung12 on 19/11/2015 - 05:29
    +1

    From reading the posts. I think he's just a stalker/pervert/lonelyman. Check your apartment for any microphone bugs or hidden cameras haha, he might be tapping you, maybe he wants to join in to the convos.
    But if he can hear your whole conversation its either he's sleeping in the living room, or ur walls are made from 0.1mm paper. Even the distance is enough to cut out a full conversation. You can buy sound deadeners(i get them from aircon companies) to paste against your walls to absorb sound. But its not cheap.

  • tonka on 19/11/2015 - 07:19
    +1

    Maybe go to the pet store and get buckets of crickets and let them loose everywhere so he can't hear you over white noise.

    If you can find where the sound is traveling drill some holes and fill the cavities with spray foam filler.

    Seems like he couldn't hear low level talking from everywhere in your apartment, maybe consider rearranging. If you don't have rugs that can make a huge difference, could be your low level talking is amplifying with an echo off a bare room.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/11/2015 - 07:32
    +1

    If you own your side look into sound proofing gyproc. I have seen 30mm thick stuff that does work but heavy, not sure of the install costs but could be cheaper then going engineered sound proofing for your wall in aftearket form.

  • cryptos on 19/11/2015 - 08:41
    +1

    I'd have thought it was the ceiling, if you have a roof cavity, then you could check, if no insulation the acoustic batts. Don't see how it is the floorboards as the wall should divide them. Could still be the wall itself in which case the soundproofing gyprok.

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 18:03

      Yeah, checked and there is no insulation in the roof cavity - will have to see if I can get something done about that… seems like a good enough place to start.

      • [Deactivated] on 19/11/2015 - 19:32

        some cheap as duplexes have a common roof cavity but some that do it propyl the brick wall goes right up to the top.

  • Youfah Mizzum on 19/11/2015 - 08:50
    +1

    OP, firstly let me preface this by some background information. I am a drummer. I teach drums at home. I built a house about 4 years ago with an inside "studio" where I teach.
    This was my soundproofing treatment to stop as much noise as possible from getting into the rest of the house.

    Someone earlier posted a link to a membrane called "Quietwave". My walls are triple gyprocked with Quietwave sandwiched between each layer. This is only on the inside wall and ceiling of the studio room, and also (sounds weird) one layer of Quietwave on the inside of the door & another layer of Gyprock. All plasterboard is just normal 10mm Gyprock, not the acoustic ones (I think I baulked at the cost).
    Whilst it is still somewhat noisy in other parts of the house (they are drums after all!) it's tolerable & they can still watch telly, with a rhythmic background.

    So what I suggest is this (this is assuming you're an owner, not a renter)
    1. Rugs
    2. Frame up the party wall with studwork, doesn't need to be too deep - maybe only 20mm. 1 layer of acoustic plasterboard. 1 layer of Quietwave. Another layer of plasterboard. Do some research into that sound paint stuff someone mentioned. I think I recall reading about it somewhere, so I'm pretty sure it's not some fantasy still in lab testing.
    3. As mentioned earlier, it may be the windows where the noise is escaping. I can only suggest closing the windows.

    I don't know how big the wall is, but for an investment of maybe around $500 to $1000(?) you should keep the neighbour happy & it would add substantial value to your apartment.
    You would lose about 45/50mm of wall space with the stud frame & the 2 layers of plaster.

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 11:58

      Great advice, thanks!

  • mightyfes on 19/11/2015 - 09:53

    He's the one with the problem, he can insulate or paint his apartment. You're a nice neighbor, he should be nice in return. I would try ear plugs before even considering approaching my neighbor because they were talking at night.

  • FittyFitty on 19/11/2015 - 10:42
    +5

    This might be a stretch, but chances are that if he'd divulged conversation specifics, your neighbour had a stethoscope to the wall scanning for sexual moans so that he could whip his sausage at the odd hour; he only complained for losing sleep after he witnessed no gay sounds…

    • jenkemjunkie on 19/11/2015 - 12:16
      +2

      glass on the wall, brandishing the pork sword.

      • outlander on 19/11/2015 - 12:35
        +2

        oh captain my captain! Swords at the ready!

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 18:05
      +2

      Oh great, thanks! There is an image which is going to take a metric ton of brain bleach to get rid of :(

      • [Deactivated] on 19/11/2015 - 19:34

        just ask Mr burns for the amnesia ray

  • moza on 19/11/2015 - 11:01

    Open windows is our major problem in the unit. Once the neighbours have closed up the windows we can't hear a thing.

    Alternatively, our little baby has to sleep with air-conditioning eve night because he cries around midnight and so we need to keep his windows and doors closed for the neighbours.

  • leiiv on 19/11/2015 - 12:35

    Hi OP, can you confirm if you had your window open when you were having the 4AM conversation?

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 13:40

      Can confirm no windows open at all, anywhere in the house. In fact I usually keep the windows closed at all times to avoid the noise from the MASSIVE FREEWAY which is located around 100m from the house.

      My point is there is some general noise around at all times, even 4am in the morning :)

  • keishton on 19/11/2015 - 12:41
    +1

    If you're short on cash you can line your wall with egg cartons. It will make your house sound proof

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 13:41

      …and stylish!

  • peterpaoliello on 19/11/2015 - 14:28
    +1

    Some of these solutions might augment or dampen the sound, but it is ALWAYS going to get through, and now he has broken the ice he will ALWAYS complain. This is all of great expense to yourself, and if you rent the installation options will be limited.

    It sounds like you're being as reasonable as possible, if you want to go above and beyond you can offer him your mobile number so he can let you know, just the fact he has it might calm him down. Short of you going down to a pub for all your gatherings with friends any noise you make no matter how much sound insulation you have will always get through.

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 18:09

      He has all my details, I stupidly just handed them over when he asked soon after I moved in thinking it would be a good-neighbourly thing to do. And when I then asked if we could exchange numbers he looked me directly in the eye, told me that he doesn't give out his private details and went back inside - I felt like such an ass :) Ahh, so many learning experiences!

      • tonka on 19/11/2015 - 21:09
        +1

        Guy is definately a nutcase. He's may actually be be schizophrenic and paranoid so don't discount the ear to the wall theory, if he thinks you and your friends are alien invaders he probably is listening in.

  • sleet on 19/11/2015 - 15:56
    +1

    Plaster old egg cartons on the wall like wallpaper. The increased surface area will bounce the sound waves between each other and diffuse the noise. Goodluck!

  • Banana on 19/11/2015 - 17:34
    +1

    If you have gone through great length to try and minimise the noise and he still complains, my suggestion will be to tell him that you didn't have anyone over, or you weren't talking. Eventually that would drive him insane :D

    • mad__llama on 19/11/2015 - 17:44

      Ahh yes! I could also try to convince him that I don't actually exist and that the property next door is empty and haunted… wonder if I could get the other neighbours to play along?

  • backslashio on 19/11/2015 - 18:12
    +1

    Neighbour: "Can you please shutup! I can't hear myself think!"
    Neighbour's brain: "I want some peanuts"
    Neighbour: "That's better!"

    I lived in a duplex once where the walls were super thin and it was possible to talk to the other person on the opposite side, so crazy! Never found a solution sadly apart from keeping the noise down

  • Wallyt99 on 19/11/2015 - 18:34
    +2

    They are two things you are looking to achieve

    1. Stop sound waves bouncing around your room - i.e they hit something soft or random form (ideally both) - and dont reflect (but can still travel through). If you have lots of flat hard surfaces (brick wall and floorboards?) - the sound will bounce and bounce until it finds its way out. How: Soft furnsishings, books, rug, fabric couch, paintings, wall hangings etc. The more crap you have the better.

    2. Stop sound exiting the room. Density and air seal is the key here. E.g if youve got huge cracks in your floorboards it doesnt matter how thick they are. The brick wall is pretty decent in terms of density but its problem is pt. 1… Its a huge flat surface which amplifies the sound in your room. Your weak points are likely 1. Your windows - 70's? 3mm plate glass with tiny cracked caulk. Solutions: check window seals possibly use adhesive backed foam seal tape - reglaze 6mm laminated (cheapest), double glaze,, secondary glaze (most effective) or VERY thick multi layer curtains with a pelmet and good seal (not ideal and expensive). 2. Doors - cheap fix… Door snake (or fit a brush seal). 3. Floor boards - WALL to WALL Carpet with acoustic underlay. Add expol for additional insulation.

    Do these and you will solve the problem. You must address all points to some extent to have any impact.

    White noise (e.g a noisy fan) may assist to muffle the transmission of your voices without increasing tHe overall noise level.

    With regard to acoustic panels - they are designed to address point 1 not point 2. Waste of money to stick them behind a painting. Better off buying high density foam to stick behind it - but I would just follow points above.

    • fleetoiler on 19/11/2015 - 23:40

      Great description thanks! this will help with my situation as well I think and helps explain why people are suggesting different things all the time. Do you have any further suggestions for reducing or blocking bass/subwoofer kicks/beats/vibrations from high-quality-stereo-systems, will the strategies in (1) still work?

      • Wallyt99 on 20/11/2015 - 04:33

        Unfortunately not so much as low frequency sound (bass) is 'directionless' so reflection nmot a huge.issue. Density is key - but unfortunately only so much can be done. Thats why you often only hear the thump thump thump.

        A bookshelf filled with books is decent (esp if books are different depths because it helps with points 1 and 2. If its wall to wall and full… Ideal.

  • Imitation on 19/11/2015 - 21:02

    Turn down your bass.

  • Spazzwan on 19/11/2015 - 23:43

    Maybe look into copying the way movie theatres dampen sound, by running heavy curtains along the wall. One long curtain rod along the wall with a few 'blackout' curtains would do it. You could retract them when un-needed to give you the space back, too.

    Edit:Like these

  • Bargainbag on 20/11/2015 - 06:41

    We are in the opposite situation, we can hear our neighbours arguing (usually after midnight), doing "renovations" late on a Sunday night (we both work and have to get up at 6am) and the lady who lives there has what can only be described as regular religious conversions (oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!).

    Thus, we both wear earplugs every night. We are also getting the wall acoustically reinforced by a professional.

    I love all these suggestions here, but the only real way this can be fixed is for a proper sound baffle to be put against the wall.
    Special paint, egg cartons, thick carpet etc will only do so much - the wall is the issue and it costs $$$ to fix properly.

    Modern residential permits actually require a certain amount of noise reduction in the walls but it appears this isn't always done, like at our place. Maybe get back to your agent (are you renting?) and mention this problem - see if it can be properly done.

    In the meantime, if you want to make noise late in the night (like talking) be considerate, go to the other side of the house as far away from the guy as possible and whisper!! ha ha!

    • Wallyt99 on 20/11/2015 - 21:06

      Carpeting the floor is actually one of the best things you can do as it stops reflection across one whole surface and also provides a no gap seal over flooboards which (if old) are very gappy. Sucks if you hate carpet but its true.

      Old plate glass windows provide zero sound reduction so again - makes a huuuuge difference.

      The wall is probably your problem (new apartment) - but in this apartment its feasibly the most significant barrier. I'm not saying a false wall wont help in this case - but it wont help much if there are still heaps of other egress points.

      Source of my knowledge - Ages 15-25 - loved very loud music… Had to find ways to keep noise in. Ages 27-31 lived 10 metres from 8 lane hwy - had to find ways to keep noise out.

  • cashless on 20/11/2015 - 09:07
    +1

    Egg-boxes. Buy a sh1tload of cheap free range eggs from Coles/Woolies.
    Glue empty egg-boxes to the wall that adjoins neighbour and talk all night long

    • LuvABargainSYD on 20/11/2015 - 09:15

      And enjoy eggs at every meal for weeks!!

  • LuvABargainSYD on 20/11/2015 - 09:12

    I feel your pain OP - I've been living in my apartment for 7.5 years now and have gotten to know each & every neighbour quite 'intimately' as our common wall is my / their bedroom! I already sleep with ear plugs as I'm a shift-worker & installed doubled-glazed windows for the same reason, but that means I can hear the neighbours even better due to the reduced outside / traffic noise. My current neighbours are particularly loud-talkers and like to spend quite a bit of time in their bedroom so my next plan is to install timber lining boards over the existing plasterboard wall. My space only requires three panels and they're around $55 each. Then I'm going to paint them the same colour as the bedroom. Stay tuned & I'll let you know if it's worth the effort!

    • Wallyt99 on 20/11/2015 - 21:09

      Dont forget about the ceiling space. In some cases they are open across old apartments so bloddy hard to do anything.

  • MrFrugalSpend on 20/11/2015 - 13:34
    +1

    There are plenty of acoustic bats, boards, and other products, but to do it right you are talking $$s and proper work. Not sure if you are renting or own and can do this.

    Furthermore, under new building code updates in the last few years, it has been recognised that the only thing that really stops noise properly is to also have physical separation. Even concrete walls will transfer noise through them (may be the case with your floor). Modern apartments and hotel rooms actually usually essentially have two walls that don't touch each other with a cavity in the middle (or some alternative design to achieve this effect), and if it is a stud wall, usually acoustic insulation bats behind it, or a product like Hebel powerpanel for acoustic properties - http://hebel.com.au/product-category/intertenancy-walls

    So it depends on how committed you are, presuming you just have a common brick / concrete wall or the likes, true acoustic separation would involve putting a stud framed wall in front of that wall, with a cavity behind it (gap) and either it needs to be lined with acoustic panels thick acoustic plasterboard (good Rw rating), or acoustic insulation behind it / in the framing with normal plasterboard. However that means reducing the size of your room slightly, messing around with any powerpoints etc on that wall, new cornices etc where it meets the ceiling, i.e. lots of work.

    If they are separate titles, I would be surprised if the floorboards are connected, they should be separate (but if not, that's a problem, maybe solved by carpet)

  • MementoMori on 20/11/2015 - 16:51

    I used to be in your position. I wasn't noisy at all, but received constant complains from the lady downstairs. Even had the police around to tell us to 'keep it down' when we weren't home! :)

    In the end I moved. Sometimes that's all you can do with a difficult neighbour.

  • malouphix on 20/11/2015 - 18:05

    Stick egg cartons on the common wall. Also all along the ground along the same wall.
    Is there an open window nearby, where the sound would be travelling to his open windows on the same wall?

  • BuyoTheCat on 20/11/2015 - 21:43

    He is complaining because you talked for 4 hrs when you should have been "chilling".
    You netflixed but no chilled.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join