Hello everyone,
In 2024, we had a house built using 36.5cm (14 inch) Poroton bricks, with plaster applied both outside and inside. The windows are triple-glazed uPVC from Kömmerling. The panes apparently aren’t the best; according to the supplier, they offer 30-32dB sound insulation. However, in the bedroom we upgraded to 46dB panes already, but unfortunately without significant improvement.
The windows are equipped with external blinds (raffstores) that are installed in cassette boxes directly mounted on the windows. These boxes are so thick that they are flush with the brick facade and were plastered both inside and outside. According to the datasheet, the boxes can provide up to 46dB sound insulation (tested using “pink noise”). No specific sound insulation class was agreed upon in the building contract.
When I hold a sound level meter to the open window, I measure about 38dB of outside noise. With the window closed, this drops to about 25dB (which is roughly the threshold at which traffic noise from the nearby federal road becomes noticeable).
Some rooms have corner windows that are insulated on the corners with polystyrene blocks. Since we also hear the noise—just slightly quieter—with normal windows, I wouldn’t identify those corners as the only weak points.
Unfortunately, we hear almost all noises from outside: passing cars (it’s a dead-end street with a 30 km/h (19 mph) speed limit), people talking in front of the house, birdsong, the neighbor’s front door across the street... We are about 600 meters (0.37 miles) from a federal road where the background noise is clearly audible depending on wind direction.
We have 23 window units and in some rooms there are four windows with a total area of about 1.5 square meters (16 square feet). This makes it very stressful and frustrating because we really can’t escape the noise.
We are already in talks with the construction company, and an expert will be called in soon. Now I need some input for my arguments and would like to collect some comparisons:
Do you hear such outside noises as well? What level of outdoor noise do you consider “normal” and what is definitely excessive?
A few photos of the shell construction attached.
In 2024, we had a house built using 36.5cm (14 inch) Poroton bricks, with plaster applied both outside and inside. The windows are triple-glazed uPVC from Kömmerling. The panes apparently aren’t the best; according to the supplier, they offer 30-32dB sound insulation. However, in the bedroom we upgraded to 46dB panes already, but unfortunately without significant improvement.
The windows are equipped with external blinds (raffstores) that are installed in cassette boxes directly mounted on the windows. These boxes are so thick that they are flush with the brick facade and were plastered both inside and outside. According to the datasheet, the boxes can provide up to 46dB sound insulation (tested using “pink noise”). No specific sound insulation class was agreed upon in the building contract.
When I hold a sound level meter to the open window, I measure about 38dB of outside noise. With the window closed, this drops to about 25dB (which is roughly the threshold at which traffic noise from the nearby federal road becomes noticeable).
Some rooms have corner windows that are insulated on the corners with polystyrene blocks. Since we also hear the noise—just slightly quieter—with normal windows, I wouldn’t identify those corners as the only weak points.
Unfortunately, we hear almost all noises from outside: passing cars (it’s a dead-end street with a 30 km/h (19 mph) speed limit), people talking in front of the house, birdsong, the neighbor’s front door across the street... We are about 600 meters (0.37 miles) from a federal road where the background noise is clearly audible depending on wind direction.
We have 23 window units and in some rooms there are four windows with a total area of about 1.5 square meters (16 square feet). This makes it very stressful and frustrating because we really can’t escape the noise.
We are already in talks with the construction company, and an expert will be called in soon. Now I need some input for my arguments and would like to collect some comparisons:
Do you hear such outside noises as well? What level of outdoor noise do you consider “normal” and what is definitely excessive?
A few photos of the shell construction attached.
We initially experienced this quite severely as well, even though we live in a remote area. We heard the wind more clearly than ever before.
In our case, the exposed roof framework and the PIR insulation are certainly part of the reason, as was the initially rather weak insulation around the eaves and between the rafters.
Since then, we have filled some areas and cavities with blown-in insulation, and we also have several rugs on the wooden floor. Now it is no longer an issue, but of course, it is different from a "typical" house.
There is definitely not just one cause, and ultimately, you can only figure it out step by step or counteract it using some of the methods mentioned here.
What type of floors do you have? Walls, pictures, rugs, furniture, and many other elements all affect how incoming sound behaves or is perceived differently. Maybe you could describe the current situation in more detail or provide pictures.
In our case, the regular windows did not cause any disturbances; rather, it was noise coming through the roof with 24cm (9.5 inches) of insulation or through uninsulated cavities.
In our case, the exposed roof framework and the PIR insulation are certainly part of the reason, as was the initially rather weak insulation around the eaves and between the rafters.
Since then, we have filled some areas and cavities with blown-in insulation, and we also have several rugs on the wooden floor. Now it is no longer an issue, but of course, it is different from a "typical" house.
There is definitely not just one cause, and ultimately, you can only figure it out step by step or counteract it using some of the methods mentioned here.
What type of floors do you have? Walls, pictures, rugs, furniture, and many other elements all affect how incoming sound behaves or is perceived differently. Maybe you could describe the current situation in more detail or provide pictures.
In our case, the regular windows did not cause any disturbances; rather, it was noise coming through the roof with 24cm (9.5 inches) of insulation or through uninsulated cavities.
Sand-lime brick or infill would probably have helped people sensitive to noise. Unfortunately, this is usually not known in advance. This topic was discussed in great detail here https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/laermreduktion-von-nachbar-grundstuecken-ideen.37016/.
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hanghaus20234 Sep 2025 09:42The street is about 10 m (33 feet) away, with Poroton brick walls without cavity insulation and standard double glazing. There are many windows in the living room. I can hear the laptop fan and the clock ticking on the wall, but not the trucks. However, it’s a completely different situation when a window is open.
You either get used to the environment or look for something else.
You either get used to the environment or look for something else.
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MachsSelbst4 Sep 2025 09:48hanghaus2023 schrieb:
My house is about 10 meters (33 feet) from the street, with Poroton blocks without insulation and standard double glazing. There are many windows in the living room. I can hear the laptop fan and the ticking of the wall clock, but not the trucks. However, if a window is open, it sounds completely different.
(...) That’s obviously not entirely correct. You might not consciously notice the trucks, which is understandable. I lived for four years right on a main road with a tram line; I would sometimes wake up at night when the rail grinder with warning lights passed by, but otherwise I didn’t.
Of course, you can hear trucks when the street is 10 meters (33 feet) away, even with the window closed, if you really focus on it.
Anything else is simply objectively incorrect. And that seems to be the issue here: it’s a new build and every sound is being scrutinized. Usually, this fades over time... otherwise, there is a problem.
But as mentioned, you simply need to get used to some noises. This includes the sound environment on the terrace from the nearby federal road. That’s why... I still don’t understand how someone sensitive to noise can choose to live near a federal road.
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hanghaus20234 Sep 2025 10:13@MachsSelbst If I turn off the laptop and ignore the ticking of the clock, you can barely hear the truck—it’s so quiet that it’s impossible to find it disturbing. At least, that’s how we feel about it. I should mention, though, that I built a small wall with dense planting.
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MachsSelbst4 Sep 2025 10:17I also have a hedge, and once it reaches 2m (6.5 feet) in height, it will help reduce noise from the street, yes.
But not in the bedroom upstairs, which is 6m (20 feet) away from the street in a straight line. And that’s what this is apparently about—it bothers me in the bedroom, it bothers generally upstairs. In this case, the building would have needed different soundproofing measures, especially since the sound transmission through the cold roof and the upper floor ceiling is often underestimated.
This is especially true for noise between rooms upstairs. You can use very thick sand-lime brick for interior walls, but a suspended ceiling with drywall creates a perfect sound bridge.
But not in the bedroom upstairs, which is 6m (20 feet) away from the street in a straight line. And that’s what this is apparently about—it bothers me in the bedroom, it bothers generally upstairs. In this case, the building would have needed different soundproofing measures, especially since the sound transmission through the cold roof and the upper floor ceiling is often underestimated.
This is especially true for noise between rooms upstairs. You can use very thick sand-lime brick for interior walls, but a suspended ceiling with drywall creates a perfect sound bridge.
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