Hearing Your Neighbours? How to Better Noise Proof Your Home
There are so many things that you have to consider when buying a home, and you often only get 20 minutes to take a look around before you have to decide whether to make an offer. Whilst you’re frantically searching for damp patches or trying to imagine what changes you might make to the layout, you might not be listening to what the noise levels are like around you.
It can also be hard to get a feel for how noisy an area is if you visit in the middle of the week – your potential new neighbors might be at work, any kids will be at school, and it’s unlikely there will be any parties going on. Whilst you have to accept that some levels of noise come hand-in-hand with buying a residential property, especially one in a town, there are some ways that you can reduce the effect if you find out your neighbors are particularly noisy once you’ve moved in. Here, we offer a few larger-scale suggestions and several more budget-friendly choices.
Photo by Erik Mclean
Insulation
Making sure that your house is properly insulated has the double benefit of stopping heat escaping, and helping to muffle the sound coming in. Check the level of insulation in your walls and ceiling, and consider replacing any old material that might not be as effective, or adding insulation if there isn’t already some in place.
You can also get sound-blocking doors and windows. Although most of this work won’t come cheap, if you’re suffering from a consistent noise problem, it could be worth at least getting a quote from an expert so that you can consider if it’s a feasible option.
Capping Chimneys
Chimneys can be a lovely feature in our homes, but they’re also essentially a hole in the top of the property. This means that they’re open to letting in downdraughts, as well as extreme noise. Capping your chimneys can help with these issues.
Your choice of cap will depend on whether or not the chimney is active. If you’re attached to your log burner, you’ll need to choose a cap that still allows airflow, and this will not be as effective at stopping noise, although it can help. If you’ve got an electric or gas fire, and so your chimney is purely decorative, you can go ahead and choose a cap that actually seals off the chimney completely.
Use Your Furniture and Furnishings
Not everyone has the time or the budget to implement large-scale changes, but that doesn’t mean that there’s no solution to annoying noise issues. Large items of furniture will absorb the noise, so use this to your advantage. Move bookcases against shared walls, and if it’s really bad, consider adding sound absorbing materials to the back of these cabinets to multiply the effect.
You can also choose heavy curtains and thick rugs to decorate your room. These materials will be better at absorbing sound than hardwood, and they’re easy to add without compromising on your overall aesthetic, especially in bedrooms and living rooms.
Noise Absorbing Plants
They might not be the first thing that you think of when it comes to absorbing noise, but certain plants can actually help when it comes to minimising noise pollution in your home. Larger house plants like ferns, peace lilies and areca palms are low-maintenance options that will also potentially purify your air at the same time. Just be certain to check the labels if you have pets – not all house plants are suitable for those who have animals in their home.
Outside, you can also plant hedges or use trees as a noise barrier, depending on the size of the space you have. Make sure to only plant species that you are confident you can keep under control – growing in large pots can be a good option if you’re working with a smaller space, or want to make sure they don’t grow too large.
Photo by Annie Spratt
A Quieter Home
As we’ve talked about, you can do plenty of things if you’re struggling with noise issues in your home. You could also consider politely talking to your neighbor so that they’re aware – they may be able to close windows or turn down their devices at certain times.
If things get terrible, remember that there will be rules around noise late at night or above a certain level, so do some research and contact your local authority if you believe there’s been a breach.
Author: Claire Monroe
