Help Getting Rid Of The Noise
Noisy neighbours are the number one annoyance to all householders and in our increasingly crowded cities the problem is spiralling upwards. With more older warehouses being converted into flats, and contemporary homing often suffering from thin walls or not very much in the way of walls between homes, it’s a frequent occurrence to hear some sort of noise from your neighbours.
When this is just the odd argument or slamming of a door it’s not unbearable and you can count yourself fortunate that’s all you have to put up with. Even if you have relatively decent neighbours you could still listen in to their conversations, what they’re watching on tv, the sound of their footsteps on wooden floors or a boisterous child. All these ordinary noises become grating if you’re constantly subjected to them. You feel like you’re being subjected to somebody else’s life, or that your own life is under scrutiny. Especially irritating is noise when you’re trying to sleep – this can interrupt the rest of your day and even affect your health.
So assuming your neighbours are only noisy because of the quality of accommodation you’re in what might you do about things? It’s one thing to share their endless arguments but all they’re doing is having sex and waking you up!
Your neighbours may be entirely innocent of the the effect their habits are having on you. Or they might have to listen to *your* snoring! If there’s an easy option to take, for example for them not to kill their kids or to get a different alarm clock it’s worth popping round and having a chat. Be friendly and make sure they know it’s down to the architects. After all, if you can hear them there’s a good chance they’re listening to you too. So ask if there’s some way you can help to keep your own din down – have you ever had the TV up late at night?
If you live in shared duplexes, talk to the person you rent from. Ask other habitees if they have experienced a problem too – you could get the apartment sound tested to see that it complies with regulations. Of course, some landlords are less concerned than others. If your landlord has soundproofed to regulatory standards, the responsibility is back on you and your own feelings about the disruption.
Sometimes installing your own acoustic insulation is the quickest solution. It doesn’t have to be all that costly, but you should get an an acoustic expert to look at your walls in the first instance. An expert will be able to advise you on you the most effective solution.
Don’t wake the sleeping giant
