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Why Most Soundproofing Attempts Fail
Two thirds of people in the UK suffer from neighbour noise. Most have already tried something. A panel on the party wall. A clip and channel system with some acoustic boards. A quick fix from a builder. And most are still hearing their neighbours.
According to Impera Analytics research on noise pollution in the UK, noise is one of the most overlooked drivers of poor health in the country, with sleep deprivation and mental health pressures rising alongside increasing urban noise levels. The reason most attempts fail is not the materials. It is the approach.
The Project
This project is on a lounge diner in a semi-detached house. The homeowner was hearing clear conversation, kids running around, doors banging, and nursery rhymes from next door clearly enough to record on her phone. The family next door felt like they were inside the same home.
Jim Prior has been soundproofing homes across the UK for nearly 20 years and has personally experienced noisy neighbours himself. What he found when he visited this property is exactly why a single wall treatment was never going to be enough.
What Most Installers Miss
If treating the party wall alone was sufficient, most DIYers and builders would already be solving their own noise problems. The reason they are not is that noise enters the structure of the building and travels through every connected surface, not just the wall you can see. Until the main causes are found and fixed, and until every noise path is treated, the noise keeps coming through.
If you are in a similar situation, fill out the contact form to book your FREE noise diagnosis call and Jim will give you an honest picture of what your home needs.
The Three Main Causes in This Project
Main causes are structural issues that amplify noise or that will let noise through regardless of what you install on the party wall. When Quietco surveyed this lounge diner, three main causes were identified before a single piece of soundproofing material was ordered, and none of them were the party wall itself.
- RSJ steel beam sitting on the separating party wall and running perpendicular across the full ceiling. Steel transmits sound easily and the hollow void inside the RSJ was amplifying noise all the way up to the bedrooms above. Until it was sound deadened and insulated, no wall system would have made a meaningful difference
- Hollow stud wall perpendicular to the party wall acting like a drum, resonating with the noise from next door and channelling it into the room. One of the most commonly missed main causes on any semi-detached project
- Suspended floor void beneath the floorboards creating a large hollow amplifier. Noise from the party wall resonates in that void, bouncing between the hard subfloor and the floorboards before radiating back up into the room
All three had to be addressed before a single layer of soundproofing went onto the party wall.
The Direct Noise Path
With the main causes dealt with, the party wall alcoves, chimney stack, and fireback were next.
The fireback is one of the most commonly skipped areas in any lounge installation and it was skipped here too until Quietco got involved. This home had a gas fire on the party wall. The fire had to be disconnected, the surround removed, and the fireback treated properly before the installation could continue. It is still the separating party wall. Leaving it untreated is like sealing every gap and leaving a large hole in the middle.
The full system was then tucked up into the ceiling void and down into the floor void, joining everything together continuously. This accounts for around 80% of the labour on any lounge installation and is the step that separates a transformational result from one that only takes the edge off. More on party wall soundproofing here.
The Indirect Noise Paths
This is where the difference between hearing your neighbours and not is made. When Jim visited this home before the installation and asked the homeowner to put a finger in one ear and press the other against the window wall, she could clearly hear the noise transmitting through it from the party wall. That simple test confirmed the window wall needed treating too. The indirect noise paths on this project were:
- Window wall — the homeowner could hear noise clearly on this wall when tested. A 50mm system was installed to address the flanking noise transmitting through the structure. More on wall soundproofing here
- Ceiling — mass added to the joists to stop noise transmitting through and to reflect the homeowner’s noise back into the room when entertaining. More on ceiling soundproofing here
- Floor — the suspended floor void was already treated as a main cause. Insulating between the joists and treating the floorboards completed it as a full indirect noise path. More on Quietco’s solutions here
Fixtures, Fittings and the Result
Watch the full installation video here:
Every fixture went back without compromising the system. Skirting isolated from the walls. Gas fire refitted. Carpet laid. Door linings and window seals extended. Sockets reinstated with the same materials behind them as on the rest of the wall.
The result was an 80% reduction in airborne noise and 65% reduction in impact noise. The family sounds that used to feel like the neighbours were inside the room were gone. Some distant clunking is still faintly audible in complete silence but sounds more like something outside than next door. With anything on in the background, the homeowner does not notice it.
A professional Quietco installation all done for you at this level costs over £25,000. The DIY route with the right combination of materials and soundproofing education; using a tried and tested methodology, could achieve a similar result for around £7,000. With a large amount of time dedicated to the installation of course.
Ready to find out what your lounge needs? Fill out the contact form to book your FREE noise diagnosis call and Jim will walk you through it.
FAQ
What are main causes in soundproofing?
Main causes are structural issues that amplify noise or bypass your soundproofing entirely. On this project they were an RSJ, a hollow stud wall, and a suspended floor void. Until all three were treated, no party wall system would have delivered the result needed.
Why does the fireback need treating?
It is still the separating party wall. Leaving it untreated while soundproofing the alcoves either side is like sealing a wall and leaving a large hole in the middle. It needs the same treatment as the rest of the direct noise path.
Can I just take the edge off without a full installation?
You can, but most people who go down that route still feel unsettled and end up coming back for the full treatment. Treating the alcoves without the main causes and indirect noise paths changes how the noise sounds without removing it.
How much does a full lounge installation cost?
A professional installation treating every noise path including the RSJ, hollow stud wall, floor void, party wall, chimney, window wall, ceiling, and all fixtures costs over £25,000 with Quietco.
