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?
F
fach1werk8 Nov 2020 17:46We had a hot tub in the garden of our old house, located in a mixed-use area. The noise level was just below the allowed limit but still annoyed the neighbors. The pump needs to circulate at night as well, otherwise you get slippery spots 🙂
The technical support department of ...Bauknecht helped me with advice. We lived nearby at the time and acted as a test family for their equipment, so I had access to the development team.
Low frequencies don’t travel as far as high frequencies, and sound waves are relatively easily blocked by obstacles. Roughly speaking, sound will reach you much less in places you can’t see from the source. But where air can pass through, sound will pass through as well. To block low-frequency sounds in this case, you need mass – that means a wall. Heavy and as tall as a person.
It worked very well for us, and there were no more complaints. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you! A wall also has the advantage of allowing you to fully utilize the enclosed area right up to the boundary. Who would want to place their lounge chair right on the property line if they can see the neighbor? I believe there is some truth to "out of sight, out of mind" too.
Good luck!
Gabriele
The technical support department of ...Bauknecht helped me with advice. We lived nearby at the time and acted as a test family for their equipment, so I had access to the development team.
Low frequencies don’t travel as far as high frequencies, and sound waves are relatively easily blocked by obstacles. Roughly speaking, sound will reach you much less in places you can’t see from the source. But where air can pass through, sound will pass through as well. To block low-frequency sounds in this case, you need mass – that means a wall. Heavy and as tall as a person.
It worked very well for us, and there were no more complaints. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you! A wall also has the advantage of allowing you to fully utilize the enclosed area right up to the boundary. Who would want to place their lounge chair right on the property line if they can see the neighbor? I believe there is some truth to "out of sight, out of mind" too.
Good luck!
Gabriele
H
hampshire8 Nov 2020 18:05kati1337 schrieb:
For me, this mainly happens in my mind, that’s true. But that doesn’t solve my problem. Well, if you treat your Metabo-radio neighbor at least half as kindly as you do here, part of the problem is already solved. What goes on in the mind can usually be addressed as well. For example, my wonderful wife gets annoyed more by the thoughtlessness itself than by the consequences, like loud music. Interestingly, it makes a difference whether she fundamentally dislikes the inconsiderate person or actually likes them.
If this is similar for you, then investing in structural measures isn’t necessary, because those only address the symptom—if they even work at all. If it’s similar for you, it helps to find something you like and appreciate about your neighbor. Suddenly, the music doesn’t seem as bad, especially since it happens less often (see first sentence).
Small children don’t mind music much; when they’re tired, they just fall asleep. It’s different if they sense that their parents are stressed, then it’s much harder for them to settle down.
I wish you all the best in dealing with the situation.
H
hampshire8 Nov 2020 18:22A Helmholtz resonator helps to reduce standing waves. It is more cost-effective and smarter than adding mass, which does not change the room geometry. Since this phenomenon does not occur only in one room, I think standing waves are rather unlikely here, unless the affected rooms have identical dimensions.
Similar topics