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How to fix 1966 red brick block acoustics?

Hi folks

in a pickle and hoping someone on here can provide some suggestions for measures within my control.

A year ago I bought into a1966 block of 12 units in the inner west of Sydney. All indicators I’d encountered suggested these would be a solid build and a safe option for a first home buyer (age 52!).

The acoustics are a nightmare. I hear every Thomp-Thomp footstep from above and adjacent (both carpeted) and adjacent seems to training for circus acrobatics or slamming and dropping things consistently. Not only does the noise travel but the vibrations from the adjacent transfer through the flooring. My unit has floating floorboards that were put in by the previous owner without approval from strata.

My only ‘peaceful enjoyment’ is when the neighbours are not home.

Strata have dismissed my raising noise complaints as they are not having parties or doing anything wild. They wanted recorded evidence but as it’s low frequency any device I have access to (iPhone with rose mic) doesn’t pick up those frequencies.The strata committee is made up of only folks that are investors, their only interest is in their asset and keeping money in kitty so they declined acoustic testing which is in the vicinity of $2.5k

I’ve bought a range of ear plugs and noise cancelling headphones, play white/brown/pink and red noise, put down a bunch of rugs but nothing does the job.

My adrenaline and cortisol are constantly elevated and I’m reaching my limit. Financially moving is not an option.

Questions-

-will changing floorboards to carpet make a significant difference?
-any recs for type of carpet that is best for sound dampening?

-any other measures I could take that wont leave me feeling like I’m in a prepper bunker (it’s a 1 bedroom apartment so space is tight)?

https://www.dunlopunderlay.com.au/advices/learn-about-impact-acoustic-ratings-within-australian-standards

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EricL

Hello @toby8

Thank you for sharing your question about your house acoustics. Congratulations on your first home buy, I was 54 when I purchased my first home. Please don't ask me how old I am right now. To greatly reduce the low-level acoustic noise travelling from your ceiling, I propose building a ceiling timber stud frame and installing Earthwool R2.5HD SoundShield Wall Batt 90mm x 430mm x 1160mm 7.0m² in combination with Gyprock CSR 4800 x 1350 x 10mm 6.48sqm Soundchek™ Plasterboard.

I seriously suggest taking this into consideration as a long-term solution. The initial cost maybe a bit steep but the long-term benefits can't be denied as the noise level coming from above will go down a great deal. For even greater sound dissipation you can install Alpha Acoustic Foam 40pcs 50x50x5cm Sound Absorption Proofing Panels Eggshell on your ceiling to totally dissipate low level sound returns.

I recommend keeping your floating flooring and investing in super heavy-set thick carpets. This will serve as dampeners and prevent sound from reverberating from the floor. In regards to your walls, I propose doing the same thing and installing a stud frame but to save on costs I recommend doing just your room first and then work your way to the front as funds become available.

My best recommendation is to consult a builder and get an initial quote for the build (living room/kitchen/bedroom). The next step is to speak to the Strata and see if there are any rules or regulations in regards to sound insulating your ceiling and modifying your unit.

Let me call on our experienced members @Nailbag, @AlanM52 and @Dave-1 for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

Good afternoon @toby8

Having noise transfer like that would put me on edge as well.

So a couple of questions first.

- From which direction does the sound come from most?

- how much money (ish) can be put towards it?

I actually think a thicker style carpet would help, or as a step towards it without the outlay is a large shaggy rug us the same thicknesses of hall runners. I have timber floors with no sound deadening and the timbre changed when I used some shaggy offcuts for the hall.

Another one is wall hangings, light effects such as paintings, heavier effects like black out curtains on the walls like movie theatres. Start with one room and see if it works, if it doesn't you havnt lost a huge amount.

I have seen sound panelling by various companies in my feed on social media. I will see if I can find them later. The ones in thinking of are almost 4cm thick and look solid.

Congratulations on your place 🙂 even with the sound issues it's still nice to have a place if your own 🙂

Dave

toby8

Thanks Dave. In response to your questions.

- the majority of the noise is coming thru the common wall (vertical thru from adjoining apartment on same floor)- also 2 people in there which ramps things up

- secondary is the transfer of footfall thru the floor above- single person but heavy footed (additionally I can actually hear her mattress / bed squeak when she turns over so whack in ear buds as soon as I hit that room of a night)

budget

- once the special levies cease (we just paid around $78k for exterior painting and window repairs (youch) I am thinking I’d allocate around $5-6k …but selling and buying again would I estimate, cost me around $65k so if I have to go to say $10-12k to get peace, so be it.

toby8

Thanks Eric.

Wondering if these do anything in terms of sound transfer dampening. was pondering if putting them on the common wall would do the trick?

https://www.bunnings.com.au/specrite-2700-x-600-x-21mm-oak-timber-acoustic-panel_p0455959

AlanM52

Hi @toby8,

A professional recorder and microphone is needed to capture low frequencies and for playback a capable audio system with speakers in particular sub- woofers to reproduce the low frequencies plus... a room about 20' long to accommodate a typical 30hz wavelength.

Sorry to sound negative but whatever budget you allocate you can only take that so far because you are structurally limited for reasonable sound proofing and even then the low frequencies although somewhat attenuated - will still be there.

Cheers

Dave-1

Good Evening @toby8

Thank you for the answers 🙂

Found the product I was thinking of Durra Panel sound insulation, I have been following their social media page for a fair while and really like the look of the product. This would be my first stop in reducing sound.

Second stop (and I only just googled sound insulation) is this site, It has information for material insulation for walls, ceiling panels and a few other types. Fair enough it looks more comercial but the information you could apply to your situation. AKA Acoustics The timber slats/lengths across ceilings we have at work in our corridors and they really deaden echoing sound.

The oak timber acoustic panels you have linked from Bunnings, I like the look and the idea but if you read the packaging it dosnt say sound insulating. This one is dearer SpecRite 2700 x 600 x 21mm Hevea Batten Acoustic Panel and only says "Acoustic felt helps to reduce noise, great for office walls and TV rooms." in the specifiactions. Out of the two Id go for the second Bunnings one.

I havnt priced the Durra Panels but they really seem built to do the job, the material looks easy enough to install. Its the one I prefer.

Dave

EricL

Hello @toby8

The SpecRite 2700 x 600 x 21mm Oak Timber Acoustic Panel provides a certain amount of sound insulation but not enough to make it cost effective in your situation. The panel is designed to redirect sound coming towards it and the felt material absorbs the sound and does not bounce it back. Your objective is to greatly reduce life's day-to-day living sounds coming from your neighbour's unit.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Nailbag

To answer your questions @toby8

Questions-

-will changing floorboards to carpet make a significant difference? No I dont believe so. This would only help reducing noise from your place to to the apartment below
-any recs for type of carpet that is best for sound dampening? Again this will not impact side or above sound issues

-any other measures I could take that wont leave me feeling like I’m in a prepper bunker (it’s a 1 bedroom apartment so space is tight)? Sound deadening products like dense wall boards, acoustic panelling, insulation etc is all about keeping noise out not in. Though they may help somewhat, low frequency sounds if breaking through into your space can be generated by physical vibrations that noise deadening product will have limited impact.

I'm sorry I dont have a solution.

Nailbag

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