Sound proofing Taylor Wimpey / Bryant

[martley]

I don't expect a solution to this problem but just really want to vent my frustration about my home. I saved so hard and long to get on the housing ladder in 2007 and managed to buy a semi detached home by Bryant /TW. I have always experienced noise levels from my neighbour that I felt were beyond what was acceptable, even though it seems that they were never unreasonable and just going about their daily lives. I have been plagued by conversations, doors closing, light switches being pulled, everyday banging and in fact any noise reverberates into my home. I tap the adjoining walls and they just feel hollow and very insubstantial. I have never experienced this kind of thing any other place I have lived and it has almost driven me insane.

I have never had it checked by TW but the experience of their post sales customer service was enough for me. I wonder if the problem with the house is its design, as the living room is directly next to my neighbours and there seems little in the way of soundproofing.

I am unable to afford the cost to move due to the current economic climate and also feel very angry as I have spent time and noney to decorate my home. However, I know that I will be forced to move within the next year or so, as the thought of living like this for much longer is too much for me.

I think my experience is similar to others on this forum but sometimes I wonder if the builders failed to soundproof this house at all, as the noise is unceasing. If my neighbours were noisy I dread to think how much worse things could be.

[Chuck Sidfrum]

Not much to protect home owner from internal noise in own home, except perhaps toilets/bathrooms and soil pipes etc.

But their is 'some' standards to be adhered to for noise from neighbours, under general building regs is the idea of reasonable sound insulation. However the specifics, and way some might investigate and produce reports, seems to make this a fight to pursue. You'll find relevent building regs and forum examples fairly easily through google, but will take a few hours to read up and get a grasp.

Good Luck

[martley]

Thank you for the advice. I contacted the local council who said that the developer did not use them for the sound testing but instead used the NHBC. I contacted them and they said that as the property is over two years old there is nothing they can do. It seems I have no avenue to go down.

[NewHomeExpert]

First of all there is no requirement to sound test. It may surprise you that house builders can use "Robust Details" that specify special sound proofing techniques and materials. If they opt to build to these they do not have to do a sound test.

However, building to "Robust Details" does not mean that they have been properly followed in every home built. My advice to you would be to get a sound test done.

The fact that your home is over two years old does not mean the NHBC should refuse a claim for inadequate sound insulation if the BUILDING REGULATIONS had not been adhered to. Indeed, as the NHBC provided the building control certificate you could sue them if it is later found the home does not comply.

With semi detached homes it is a better design to have living rooms separated by staicases or hallways if possible. Homes built using timber frame construction suffer particularly badly from noise transference.