ᐅ Effective soundproofing elements near the property boundary – any recommendations?
Created on: 15 May 2021 13:54
K
kati1337
Hello everyone!
We talked again with the neighbors (about the metal shed issue, some of you might remember) and have easily agreed that we want to build a privacy screen on our side so we don’t have to deal with the shed view from the terrace.
Now, this property boundary is longer than just the length of the shed. The original idea was to enclose the rest with a hedge.
That is no longer what we want, but the neighbor will plant their hedge right on the boundary, which is fine. We will also put something along the boundary on our side, but we are still unsure what.
The neighbors on this side like it a bit louder in the garden, mostly music. They have this speaker box with heavy bass on their porch that somewhat ruined our Father’s Day. Just to be clear upfront: No, I don’t want to and shouldn’t complain to the neighbors – I’m sensitive to noise and get annoyed quickly.
Our problem is that this is a new development area and everything is still very open. The bass from the speaker hits directly against our house wall, and even with closed blinds (and who wants to keep the blinds closed all day), it pounds noticeably in the living room. I don’t want to have to keep the TV on constantly to “compete with the noise,” and it’s really hard for me to just “not listen” to it; I’d simply prefer not to have that in my living room.
Now we are considering what we could build or plant in the garden along the boundary that would absorb sound effectively.
A nice brick wall came to mind, but even a rough calculation makes it quite expensive (even if I try to build it myself): 22m x 1.80m at 50€/m² (around $54/ft²) adds up to about €2000.
Cheaper would be wooden privacy fence panels, which I also find very attractive visually, but do they absorb sound well? Or panels covered with plants?
Do you have any other ideas?
We talked again with the neighbors (about the metal shed issue, some of you might remember) and have easily agreed that we want to build a privacy screen on our side so we don’t have to deal with the shed view from the terrace.
Now, this property boundary is longer than just the length of the shed. The original idea was to enclose the rest with a hedge.
That is no longer what we want, but the neighbor will plant their hedge right on the boundary, which is fine. We will also put something along the boundary on our side, but we are still unsure what.
The neighbors on this side like it a bit louder in the garden, mostly music. They have this speaker box with heavy bass on their porch that somewhat ruined our Father’s Day. Just to be clear upfront: No, I don’t want to and shouldn’t complain to the neighbors – I’m sensitive to noise and get annoyed quickly.
Our problem is that this is a new development area and everything is still very open. The bass from the speaker hits directly against our house wall, and even with closed blinds (and who wants to keep the blinds closed all day), it pounds noticeably in the living room. I don’t want to have to keep the TV on constantly to “compete with the noise,” and it’s really hard for me to just “not listen” to it; I’d simply prefer not to have that in my living room.
Now we are considering what we could build or plant in the garden along the boundary that would absorb sound effectively.
A nice brick wall came to mind, but even a rough calculation makes it quite expensive (even if I try to build it myself): 22m x 1.80m at 50€/m² (around $54/ft²) adds up to about €2000.
Cheaper would be wooden privacy fence panels, which I also find very attractive visually, but do they absorb sound well? Or panels covered with plants?
Do you have any other ideas?
kati1337 schrieb:
I would like to put a stop to this before it reaches our garden.Forget it! If you want to avoid a (friendly) confrontation, try playing terrible Celine Dion music or intense Tabata workout tunes once or twice... starting at 9 a.m., when they’re there but not yet in party mode. Maybe during Sunday breakfast?!
That would hold up a mirror that most people can understand.
H
hanghaus200015 May 2021 21:47ypg schrieb:
Forget it!
If you want to avoid direct confrontation, just play terrible Céline Dion music or intense Tabata workout tunes once or twice... starting at 9 a.m. when they’re there but not yet in party mood. Maybe during Sunday breakfast?!
That would hold up a mirror that most people would understand. Why use kid gloves? Early at 7:00 a.m., circular saw.
Schimi179115 May 2021 22:21Basically, such a lack of consideration from neighbors is really unfortunate. I'm not sure, but have the neighbors been living there longer than you? Of course, you can rarely choose your neighbors, but it shouldn’t come to the point where you have to isolate yourself from them by installing a two-meter-high (about 6.5 feet) soundproof wall, even if the neighbor is "legally allowed" to play their music. A privacy screen to feel more undisturbed in the garden might still be acceptable...
Therefore, the most sensible first step would be to try to have a conversation. She seems willing to talk. Bass is indeed hard to contain. When I still rented, I arranged with my neighbor to put a note on her door when she was on night shift. That way I knew when I could turn up my 5.1 sound system "a bit" louder 🙂
Therefore, the most sensible first step would be to try to have a conversation. She seems willing to talk. Bass is indeed hard to contain. When I still rented, I arranged with my neighbor to put a note on her door when she was on night shift. That way I knew when I could turn up my 5.1 sound system "a bit" louder 🙂
Schimi179115 May 2021 22:32Schimi1791 schrieb:
Basically, such disregard from the neighbors is really unfortunate.
... Maybe it’s just thoughtlessness?
@kati1337: what exactly does the noise barrier running along your property block?
Scout schrieb:
...
In other words: a water feature (fountain, water jet, stream).
... The idea itself isn’t bad. The risk, however, is that you might have to run to the bathroom constantly…
hanghaus2000 schrieb:
Why kid gloves? Early at 7:00 a.m. circular saw. But that’s exactly not the kind of example they are supposed to see and understand. Basically, it can only be the same situation: an annoying guest staying for three days in a row, followed by other irritating music from a speaker, which was also blasting their noise. Otherwise, sooner or later, there will be a conflict.
Schimi1791 schrieb:
Maybe it’s just thoughtlessness?Of course it is. Why would they do it on purpose? They’re just having fun – they don’t worry about others overhearing and finding it unpleasant.