ᐅ Noise Issues and Soundproofing for New Semi-Detached Houses

Hello everyone,

I have a few questions regarding sound insulation in a semi-detached house. I have already read a lot about noise issues in semi-detached homes.

The reason I need to deal with this is that after moving, we are now facing similar problems ourselves.

For the past two years, we lived in a semi-detached house (built in 2015) with neighbors who are a family with one child (2 years old). We did not have any noise problems there. Of course, you could hear the child crying loudly sometimes, but it was never really disturbing.

Now we have moved again, into another semi-detached house (built in 2020), and are plagued by many noise issues.

The house is very noisy. We hear a lot from the neighbors; here is what we hear from them:

- Normal conversations are sometimes audible (especially in the evening when everything is quiet, these can be heard very clearly)
- Loud conversations are clearly audible (disturbing even when the radio or TV is on)
- Very loud impact noise from footsteps (clearly audible, especially from the upper floor)
- Bed creaking noises
- Closing of doors (I can hear exactly which room the neighbors enter and where the door is being closed)
- Water sounds
- Setting down items on the floor or furniture

At first, we suspected the neighbors were very loud, but they have now even taken precautions (closing windows once we go to bed, closing room doors, they even bought a soundproofing panel). Unfortunately, these measures had little effect. Now both the neighbors and we suspect the issue lies with the building itself.

Together with the neighbors, we have already tried to locate the source of the noise transmission but without success. What stands out is that impact noise from the upper floor is the most noticeable; the staircase seems to cause fewer issues.

A few key facts about the building:
- New semi-detached house built in 2020, designed in an urban villa style
- Party wall is double-layered with a separating gap (on the outside you can see something in the gap)
- We suspect the roof beams run continuously through both units
- The entire house is tiled throughout

I also tried measuring decibel levels with an app but without much success. After talking to the neighbors, I was even allowed to try recording the noise, but that also did not help. Although the sound levels on the recordings showed peaks and changes, it does not sound like it does in reality.

We have now scheduled an appointment with the landlord for the upcoming weekend.

As preparation for this appointment, I am reaching out to you all to possibly get some tips on what exactly to pay attention to or what questions/points to raise.

Both parties in the house are interested in solving the problem (if it’s even possible) because we cannot live or sleep properly like this, and the other party of course also wants to live normally and not have me contacting them about noise every day.

I am attaching a few pictures I have available.

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Regards,
Dennis

The reasons for such sound transmission lie in the basic structure of a building. There is hardly anything that can be done to change that.
And as you yourself say, the neighbors are not loud, so complaints about noise are pointless.

Move out

What is the wall structure like? Especially the party wall between the semi-detached houses.
Making any changes afterward is hardly possible or would involve significant costs.

danixf schrieb:

What is the wall structure like? Especially the party wall between the semi-detached houses.
Making changes afterwards is hardly possible or involves enormous costs.

The party wall was built as a double-leaf wall with a separation joint, and something has been embedded in the joint. I cannot say exactly what it is.

danixf schrieb:

What is the wall construction? Especially the partition wall between the semi-detached houses.
Making changes afterwards is hardly possible or would involve significant costs.

Attached is a picture of the material used in the joint filler.
The same material was used between the house wall and the brick partition on the terrace.

Are the neighbors just as loud for you? Apparently, something is connected—maybe there is no floating screed or the floor coverings are touching the wall...