Hello everyone,
In 2021, we built a single-family house with an experienced timber builder. The architect had originally designed the house as a solid construction, but based on a recommendation, we decided to have it built as a timber frame house since we had waited over 1.5 years for the building permit / planning permission and were convinced by the ecological and especially fast construction method.
The house was assembled in three days, and then we decided to manage the interior finishing ourselves with our own craftsmen. All materials for the interior work were provided by the builder. Overall, we are satisfied with the construction, but the major issue is the impact noise and vibration when walking.
This is because we only had a floor build-up height of 12cm (5 inches) above the beams.
We thought we could live with it eventually, but it is extremely exhausting to hear the dull noises while lying in bed, and the noise from the floor above is almost unbearable.
I would like to briefly explain the structure of the ceiling from the ground floor to the first floor:
First of all, there are large beams measuring 24x10cm (9.5x4 inches) spaced about 65cm (26 inches) apart (cavities filled with insulation material)
> From below, closed with battens and drywall panels
> On top of the beams lies a 19mm (0.75 inch) OSB board
> On the OSB board, a 40mm (1.5 inch) impact sound insulation (Pavaboard by Pavatex) was laid
> Edge insulation strips were installed beforehand to prevent any contact with the walls
> Then a low-profile underfloor heating system by Schlüter
> The screeding contractor applied a thin cement screed of about 20mm (0.8 inch)
> Finally, a 14mm (0.55 inch) parquet flooring was glued on, resulting in a total floor build-up height of 12cm (5 inches), level with the floor-to-ceiling doors.
This recommendation came from the timber builder, but he rejected all responsibility. The house was generally very expensive, as we built during the costly 2021 construction period when raw material prices skyrocketed, making the disappointing result even more frustrating.
The children are growing and, as toe-walkers, the impact noise is becoming almost unbearable. These dull footfalls cause vibrations that reach the bed, and on the ground floor it feels like elephants are walking above.
By now, we are so far that we would consider moving out temporarily to have this construction defect fixed at a cost.
We are from NRW and are looking for a specialist to identify the cause and supervise the remediation work.
I look forward to your information and assistance.
Thank you very much!
In 2021, we built a single-family house with an experienced timber builder. The architect had originally designed the house as a solid construction, but based on a recommendation, we decided to have it built as a timber frame house since we had waited over 1.5 years for the building permit / planning permission and were convinced by the ecological and especially fast construction method.
The house was assembled in three days, and then we decided to manage the interior finishing ourselves with our own craftsmen. All materials for the interior work were provided by the builder. Overall, we are satisfied with the construction, but the major issue is the impact noise and vibration when walking.
This is because we only had a floor build-up height of 12cm (5 inches) above the beams.
We thought we could live with it eventually, but it is extremely exhausting to hear the dull noises while lying in bed, and the noise from the floor above is almost unbearable.
I would like to briefly explain the structure of the ceiling from the ground floor to the first floor:
First of all, there are large beams measuring 24x10cm (9.5x4 inches) spaced about 65cm (26 inches) apart (cavities filled with insulation material)
> From below, closed with battens and drywall panels
> On top of the beams lies a 19mm (0.75 inch) OSB board
> On the OSB board, a 40mm (1.5 inch) impact sound insulation (Pavaboard by Pavatex) was laid
> Edge insulation strips were installed beforehand to prevent any contact with the walls
> Then a low-profile underfloor heating system by Schlüter
> The screeding contractor applied a thin cement screed of about 20mm (0.8 inch)
> Finally, a 14mm (0.55 inch) parquet flooring was glued on, resulting in a total floor build-up height of 12cm (5 inches), level with the floor-to-ceiling doors.
This recommendation came from the timber builder, but he rejected all responsibility. The house was generally very expensive, as we built during the costly 2021 construction period when raw material prices skyrocketed, making the disappointing result even more frustrating.
The children are growing and, as toe-walkers, the impact noise is becoming almost unbearable. These dull footfalls cause vibrations that reach the bed, and on the ground floor it feels like elephants are walking above.
By now, we are so far that we would consider moving out temporarily to have this construction defect fixed at a cost.
We are from NRW and are looking for a specialist to identify the cause and supervise the remediation work.
I look forward to your information and assistance.
Thank you very much!
W
woodhouse17 Mar 2024 12:12Nice-Nofret schrieb:
Carpet instead of hardwood flooring would also help.Carpet does absorb sound, that's true, but unfortunately, it’s not an option for us. Also, there is vibration in the bathroom where tiles are installed.You say you are ready to move out and cover the costs (I think there’s little chance of legal action). Are you aware of how high the costs will be? New screed + floor coverings + possibly underfloor heating + removing the old floor first. I’m not exactly sure about the costs, but it feels like we’re quickly looking at €50,000 (about $54,000) or more. Are you aware of this?
W
woodhouse17 Mar 2024 13:48Hello Nice-Nofret,
No, nothing can be done legally, and that is not our aim, since we carried out the interior work almost entirely ourselves through subcontractors; recommendations are not binding obligations. We are fully aware that with professional support the costs will far exceed €50,000 (about $54,000), and we are prepared to invest if it brings the house to a livable condition.
Attached are two photos of the floor build-up.
I would be very grateful for information about experts who can assist further.
Best regards
woodhouse
CC35BS38 schrieb:
You say you are willing to move out and cover the costs (I think there is little chance of legal action). Are you aware of how high the costs are? New screed + floor coverings + possibly underfloor heating + removing the old floor first. I’m not very familiar with the costs, but it feels like we are quickly looking at €50,000 (about $54,000) or more. Are you aware of this?
No, nothing can be done legally, and that is not our aim, since we carried out the interior work almost entirely ourselves through subcontractors; recommendations are not binding obligations. We are fully aware that with professional support the costs will far exceed €50,000 (about $54,000), and we are prepared to invest if it brings the house to a livable condition.
Attached are two photos of the floor build-up.
I would be very grateful for information about experts who can assist further.
Best regards
woodhouse
woodhouse schrieb:
I would be very grateful for information on experts who can help. That has already been addressed! You can find it in my post.
Additionally, I would like to point out that all rising structural elements should be checked for possible sound bridges.
One or two points per room are enough to completely negate the sound insulation, just as a side note.
Otherwise, the assembly shown in the photos gives the impression I described earlier.
Comments like "suitable for liquid screeds," etc., miss the point by a wide margin.
What matters for impact sound insulation is the so-called "spring behavior," so that the impact sound insulation truly fulfills its purpose!
There are no low-cost alternatives in the situation described here!
Replacing the impact sound insulation with mineral wool seems unavoidable if you want to achieve the goal.
However, the "goal" in a timber construction like this case means that the kind of impact sound performance expected from a solid construction with a concrete slab—therefore impact sound insulation and mineral-based screed—cannot be achieved.
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Greetings to all: KlaRa
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