Child Item

How to stop noise coming from neighbours yard?

My neighbour has built a hobby shed inside their double carport next to my back yard. Unfortunately their woodworking hobby is noisy. The noise travels through walls of my house. My house is hardy plank with no insulation at all. Given I am not rich how do I restrict the noise coming over the fence through the walls of my house. Other than locking every door and window and sitting in other rooms to get away from the noise.

Find more posts tagged with

Tools and Materials

Building and Construction

Fencing and Screening

Accepted answers

All comments

MitchellMc

Hi @Enuff,

It might be worth first checking whether your local council has any regulations around the amount of noise a neighbour can make during certain times of the day. Many councils have guidelines for residential noise, including power tools and workshop activities, which could help clarify what is considered reasonable.

From a practical perspective, because your home is hardy plank with no insulation, sound will travel through the walls quite easily. If you’re looking for a relatively low-cost improvement, adding Soundsield wall insulation inside the affected wall cavity can make a noticeable difference in reducing outside noise. Also, as a secondary option, you could install Acoustic panels inside the room on that wall. Sealing any gaps around doors, windows and wall penetrations can also help limit the amount of sound entering the home. Here are a couple of useful guides: How to install wall insulation, How to Winter-proof your home and How to soundproof your home. Also, you'll find plenty of previous discussions from our community members on how to soundproof a home that include lots of helpful suggestions within them.

However, if the noise is significant and occurring frequently, it may be worth having a friendly conversation with your neighbour as well. Sometimes simple measures on their side, such as closing the shed doors while using tools or adding some insulation or lining inside their shed, can help reduce the noise that travels into neighbouring properties.

Hopefully, that gives you a few options to explore.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Enuff

Hi thank you for your reply. I have spoken to my neighbours very nicely and they blocked me from Facebook. Ugh…Unfortunately not enough money for the insulation just wondering if there are outside options at the fence maybe or the walkway into our house. Our yard is split level and the house has a bridge to it. I have looked at council information but I would rather find a cost effective way. Thank you though

MitchellMc

Thinking outside the home @Enuff, adding a screening plant along that boundary can go a long way to obstructing soundwaves from directly hitting your walls. Check out How to choose a screening plant.

Increasing the height of the fence with fence extensions could help. Those combined with a climbing plant would provide some relief.

Have a look at these discussions: How can I reduce noise from neighbours outdoor area? by @Kylessmith and How do I soundproof my yard and house from noisy neighbours? by @Alicia1234.

Mitchell

Noyade

Hi @Enuff.

Mitch's opening first paragraph makes a lot of sense. I do believe it would be good to at least contact council for their opinion. My thought is your neighbour maybe now conducting a business in a residential zone? Record the noise and show them.

Four years ago I was crippled in my house after Achilles surgery and could hear a high-pitched noise. Nonstop. Worse in the backyard. I contacted council online and that afternoon two rangers turned up to ask me questions. The next day they came back to report they had tracked the noise to a pool pump bearing failure 150 metres from me. They issued the owner a 'get it fixed within 48 hrs notice.' The noise stopped. I was very impressed with the service.

Worth a try?

Cheers - please keep us informed.

Enuff

Hi the fence is 1.8 mtres already. I looked at cement battons but I dont think they can go that high. Ta.

MitchellMc

Let me tag some of our other members, @Dave-1, @TedBear and @Prof, to see if they have any thoughts.

Mitchell

Dave-1

Good Morning @Enuff

I know sound can get to a point where what you hear is inetense but others say "not so much" It then builds up your frustration level much higher. I would certainly revist having a chat over the fence, maybe take a cake even :) But first how about logging when the sound is most intense. Not every sound but the continuious sound that hits the nerve. That way if you do talk to the neighbour (or council) you willl have a log of the time. Scale the sound between 1-5 as well.

Outside the house.

Screening, I dislike bamboo but it grows fast and muffles sound. If you have space for some pots (yeah I wouldnt want it free in the yard) plant a row of them against the fenceline. Trim like a bush to keep them in check and they will look great.

Fig trees grow fast after the first year is as well as Crepe myrtles. They are deciduious but push out leaves that will help with the sound.

Inside the house.

Consider rubber bcke dcurtains along the walls plus the windows. Think Movie cinema deal. the heavy curtains will muffle the sound.

Thinks to think of, if you go to the neighbours. Maybe suggest aspan of hours as a comprimise? I know its hard and uncomforatble to do when you have to talk to neighbours but I think the short term "ugh" moment will hopefully stretch into something manageable.

Dave

Prof

Hi Enuff..

I'm sorry to hear about your dilemma..I can image that would be very difficult to live with..

Unfortunately there is no inexpensive way around the problem.. Acoustic Insulation to cover a whole wall is not cheap and as Mitchell mentioned, It there is gap or a crack or an opening anywhere, the insulation will not be affective..Also you would need to cover the insulation with something which would only increase the cost..

My only suggestion would be if this person is using power tools everyday week in and week out..then he may be operating a business..

That being the case, then I would speak to the Council about him..It may be that he is not allowed to operate a business at that location, or there may be noise restrictions at certain times..

Good luck with it all..

Prof..

Child Item