New housing developments are like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get. 😉
After a month here at the location, we’re a bit annoyed by the noise level. It’s nothing to really complain about. It’s Saturday noon, and if the neighbor wants to play moderately loud music in the garden, that’s probably within their rights. Unfortunately, it’s just 3 meters (10 feet) in a straight line from our office and children’s room, wakes my sleeping baby, and personally really gets on my nerves. You can’t recognize the songs, but you hear thumping bass lines through the wall/windows for hours. I’m quite sensitive to that, and it’s annoying me.
On another property, someone has moved in who so far seems to combine the intelligence of a houseplant with the humor of a certain comedian. They often blast poor punk music late into the night and then drunkenly shout nonsense across the street when you want to let the cat out. Hooray. 🙄
We had actually hoped that people like that wouldn’t have the money for a house. Either way, these were just first impressions, maybe it will improve.
But regarding the music noise during the day, we would like to do something about it. I don’t want to approach the neighbors about it—they are very nice and I don’t believe they’re doing anything wrong. These are just sounds you have to expect, and the fact that they bother me is my problem.
Do you have any ideas on the best way to block sound?
We already agreed with them and planted a hedge along the boundary. If we now put up a wall or fence on our side of the property, would that be a problem, or can we just do it? What offers the best noise protection, especially against bass? Is there anything we can do to the house itself to prevent the sound from coming inside?
After a month here at the location, we’re a bit annoyed by the noise level. It’s nothing to really complain about. It’s Saturday noon, and if the neighbor wants to play moderately loud music in the garden, that’s probably within their rights. Unfortunately, it’s just 3 meters (10 feet) in a straight line from our office and children’s room, wakes my sleeping baby, and personally really gets on my nerves. You can’t recognize the songs, but you hear thumping bass lines through the wall/windows for hours. I’m quite sensitive to that, and it’s annoying me.
On another property, someone has moved in who so far seems to combine the intelligence of a houseplant with the humor of a certain comedian. They often blast poor punk music late into the night and then drunkenly shout nonsense across the street when you want to let the cat out. Hooray. 🙄
We had actually hoped that people like that wouldn’t have the money for a house. Either way, these were just first impressions, maybe it will improve.
But regarding the music noise during the day, we would like to do something about it. I don’t want to approach the neighbors about it—they are very nice and I don’t believe they’re doing anything wrong. These are just sounds you have to expect, and the fact that they bother me is my problem.
Do you have any ideas on the best way to block sound?
We already agreed with them and planted a hedge along the boundary. If we now put up a wall or fence on our side of the property, would that be a problem, or can we just do it? What offers the best noise protection, especially against bass? Is there anything we can do to the house itself to prevent the sound from coming inside?
S
Stefan0017 Nov 2020 21:09Especially for low frequencies, only mass helps. Earth berms, gabions, and so on. There are also several types of specialized soundproof fences, some of which can be planted with vegetation. The closer they are placed to the noise source, the more effective they are. And of course, the higher, the better. Overall, though, it’s probably like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut...
kati1337 schrieb:
[...]makes my sleeping baby wake up[...] Suggest a deal to him: He turns off the radio now, and you handle your teenager in 15 years. ;-)Seriously: If it wakes your child, go over and explain the situation, and he will most likely be understanding.
Otherwise, adding sound insulation inside also helps a lot: curtains, wall tapestries, carpets in general.
Best regards
As far as your problem is specific to low frequencies, sound diffusion will help only to a limited extent because low tones primarily propagate through vibration – with diffusers, you’re mainly scattering the overtones of the low frequencies, which means relatively higher low tones and midtones, but not the low frequencies themselves. Low frequencies require a lot of energy and therefore weaken after a short distance. The stronger the low frequencies "arrive," the more likely they have been transmitted as vibrations rather than through the air – and consequently more through building components than airborne sound.
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kati1337 schrieb:And many people with completely different tastes feel the same, myself included. That’s exactly what makes him and other twelve-tone composers so suitable for drawing attention to the fact that Wilhelm Busch was right: music is often perceived as disturbing because it is always accompanied by noise.
Stockhausen? I don’t understand him.
kati1337 schrieb:Children change a lot – but they don’t turn headbangers into symphony lovers. The kid would have to cry endlessly for the goth mom to give up her black lipstick.
Also, in a village with new construction, there’s a realistic chance that someone will have a child in the not-too-distant future, and then that punk rock blasting at half past midnight will be over faster than you can say "mush."
kati1337 schrieb:Trust a conservative educator that you won’t have to stick with this method for long. Put the speakers out on the terrace while you’re out shopping. It’s just about triggering the realization in your neighbor that disturbances don’t stop at the fence line.
I also can’t enjoy my music because it still subconsciously annoys me that I basically HAVE to listen to music in order not to get irritated.
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kati1337 schrieb:
I had stupidly assumed that those who play loud music late into the night couldn’t afford a new build, Hmm, having fun isn’t really about money or age. And listening to music is simply part of life.
kati1337 schrieb:
No, only in the half of the house where the construction radio is placed outside the windows, mainly the office and children’s room (directly above). On the other side of the house, it’s barely noticeable. I think it’s normal to notice that. We can also hear our neighbors’ conversations when they’re standing in their yard. That’s sound. If they stand under their carport, it’s like they’re standing on our terrace. In summer, I took Freddy Mercury with me onto our terrace so I wouldn’t hear the neighbors.
kati1337 schrieb:
I would really like to know what my options are to contain the noise coming from there onto our property. If you’re talking about the Makita radio, is he working on the terrace? Then it’s just a temporary issue, right? Was this the first time? Or do you think he will now always listen to the radio outside?
kati1337 schrieb:
If I knew whether the bass comes through the wall or the windows, I could build some kind of window insert that acts as sound insulation. I would try curtains first. And if it’s really only a few times per year, go to Ikea, the hardware store, or the playground during that time. However, throughout your life, you won’t always be able to avoid bass or social noise... Once summer comes, terraces will be used, often until 10 p.m. (or later). What about yoga? Totally seriously 😎
11ant schrieb:
Believe a conservative educator when they say you don’t have to continue this method for long. Put the speakers on the terrace while you’re out shopping. The goal is just to trigger the realization in the other party that noise disturbances don’t stop at the fence.Sorry, before doing something like that nonsense, I would rather try having a conversation first.
The recommended approach somehow reminds me of the way someone had to finally move out of the White House on January 20, 2021 (which I’m very glad about) 😉
The important thing is that a solution is found. If you wait too long, the problem will get stuck in your head, and then unfortunately only one thing helps: looking for a new home with a larger plot or a greater distance from the neighbor.
Oh, and when I get annoyed by noise in our current rental apartment, I sometimes put on my noise-cancelling headphones without even connecting them to any music source. At least then I get some peace temporarily to relax and read a book or focus on something. I’ve even done that in the office before 🙂
Is your baby actually waking up, or are you just worried that it might wake up?
Otherwise, if it’s your office, I would put a thick bookshelf, a complex Besta system, or something similar against the wall! I think that should absorb quite a bit of sound.
Or you could play some (quiet) music for yourself. Maybe it will distract you or quietly mask the bass.
That’s just how it is. People live close together. I also have my Sonos speaker hanging on the terrace, and it sometimes plays in the summer while I mow the lawn (manual reel mower). Within reason, you have to be able to do what you want. I believe in live and let live.
Be glad you don’t have a neighbor whose “hobby” is wood and rabbits. They’d be busy with the splitter all Saturday long 😉
Otherwise, if it’s your office, I would put a thick bookshelf, a complex Besta system, or something similar against the wall! I think that should absorb quite a bit of sound.
Or you could play some (quiet) music for yourself. Maybe it will distract you or quietly mask the bass.
That’s just how it is. People live close together. I also have my Sonos speaker hanging on the terrace, and it sometimes plays in the summer while I mow the lawn (manual reel mower). Within reason, you have to be able to do what you want. I believe in live and let live.
Be glad you don’t have a neighbor whose “hobby” is wood and rabbits. They’d be busy with the splitter all Saturday long 😉
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