"Now, I get it. Our situation is a little different than most, however, because the noise does not originate from loud music, but rather from very heavy walking. i have a downstairs group of neighbors who blast loud, bass heavy music – sometimes at 3AM. Everyone lives in a different apartment structure and has different sensitivities to it. Whether you can hear your downstairs neighbors’ conversations or they’ve complained about your audible footsteps, a heavy-duty rug will be your best friend when trying to soundproof your floors. Another effective thing to do is to simply hang thick blankets. I drink a lot of beer and coffee so the expelled air can … Not only can I distinctively hear the downstairs neighbors when they're using normal speaking voices, but every single step shakes the floor in my unit. i want to try to find something that i can trust will have a result. Advertisements. One of the worst problems people face when moving into a new apartment is the presence of loud, annoying neighbors. Is it unreasonable for me to think that I shouldn't be able to hear that stuff? The first thing you’ll need to do is soundproof the floor of your apartment. Now, it doesn’t matter how much noise my neighbors make downstairs—I can finally concentrate when reading my favorite books! Soundproofing floors. In some buildings the walls are thicker than others and stifle the noise better. You don’t find their yapping dog cute, the couple spats have gotten significantly worse, and you don’t appreciate that one guy revving his engine up and down the street every morning at 4:00 am. I think this is the fastest way to combat noise coming from downstairs, but I don’t recommend it as a permanent solution. However, it takes a lot of time, so if you choose to go with this method, be prepared to work for the whole day. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; For noise that's coming from upstairs, install a drop ceiling in your home. To reduce the presence of unwanted sound even further, I suggest adding carpet padding to new or existing carpets. He'll still wake up to his own alarm, but rarely hears mine, and it's loud and goes off every 5 minutes, at least 3 times, sometimes 6 times, each morning. Your email address will not be published. The sound could carry up if there were fewer obstructions in the way. We can sometimes hear walking or cabinets, but what really gets to me is the talking. In this article, I’ll explain everything you can do today to significantly reduce the unwanted noise coming from your downstairs neighbors. amzn_assoc_title = ""; And I definitely want it to be anonymous. The answer to the question "can treadmill be used upstairs?'' The Real Reason Your Upstairs Neighbors Are Always So Loud. How to Spy on Your Neighbors With a USB TV Tuner. Green Glue is an incredibly effective sound blocker, eliminating about 90 percent of noise [source: Green Glue]. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; Menu. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. But if you want the best result possible, I recommend getting some moving blankets, since they have sound-absorbing properties. There's no need to fully carpet the floor, as even a selection of scatter rugs will help. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. they also live in the basement of the building and have ceiling level windows, along with several ground level windows, but insist on having an air conditioner at the ceiling level and i can hear the hum all day and night from their AC. It’s late at night. By soundproofing the floor, you’ll be able to reduce the sounds and low-frequency noises coming from downstairs. What I like the most about rugs is that they’re very attractive and affordable, and carpeting your floor with them is probably the easiest way to combat noises and echoes coming from downstairs. Noise coming from your neighbors downstairs can be uncomfortable and disturbing, especially if you’ve already confronted them about the situation. Bass traps are great at absorbing low-frequency sound waves, so if you’re hearing bass sounds coming from downstairs you might want to invest in a few of these. Personally, I first soundproofed the floors by using carpet padding and moving blankets, sealed the gaps on my door and then added noise-reducing curtains to my windows. You’re just about to fall asleep. Let's start with the floor. Community Experts online right now. Sign In New Customer My Account Orders Logout $ 0.00 Cart My downstairs neighbors would play loud music all day, and I just couldn’t get the peace and quiet I wanted. I knew I had to take steps if I wanted to change things, and you can, too. They're also home all day, every day. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; God, how some days I wish I could sleep like that again. If the noise coming from downstairs is also entering through your windows, then you might consider sound-dampening those as well. If noise from downstairs neighbors is coming through your floors, your first step should be to add carpeting to help dull the sounds. Impact noise could also travel up, as in the case of a passing bus. I moved into a converted house that is now 3 separate apartments: one in the basement, one on the first floor, and mine which is the second floor and partially finished attic/3rd floor. I can hear every step my upstairs neighbor takes – and not just the floorboard squeeks, but the low frequency thud of every footstep. Yes, the neighbors can hear you upstairs and beside you also, sounds travel upwards also especially voices up and besides, so if I were you I would speak lightly about important subjects, social security numbers, and other important topics. These method may not be visually appealing, but it works like magic. If you don't like the look of drop ceilings or aren't willing to invest in one, you can simply double up the drywall on your existing ceiling. Yes, your rules are ambiguous and you have an issue between two homeowners, but the unfortunate thing is that the owners below you appear to have dug in their heels, and so have you. I mean, I was kidless too once upon a time and liked to sleep. The vibrations are subsequently unleashed on your upstairs neighbor’s floor. But only if you buy a bungee cord mini … The acoustical tile itself helps absorb and dissipate the remainder of the noise before it gets into your home. To further reduce sound … Do you guys think my current downstairs neighbor, a nice old catholic lady, can hear me when I fart into my mattress? amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; So should you buy a mini trampoline for your upstairs apartment? Ceiling clouds are acoustic panels that hang … Subscribe to our newsletter to get all the latest soundproofing tips delivered direct to your inbox. Can you hear your neighbors as they urinate? We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. It's like this scene from Jurassic Park plus lots of crying and screaming. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Upstairs neighbors? What you can do about your loud neighbors. This is probably the best option for those on a tight budget, since you can actually use any thick blanket. If your neighbor tries to stop you, put your hand over the phone and tell him you are talking to your investment manager. Let's start with the floor. I can pretty much hear everything down here. amzn_assoc_asins = "B000SKWD8Y,B082QK7B8N,B015SJ7RYY,B00020CB2S"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Are you nervous about buying a mini-trampoline rebounder for your home gym because you may live in an apartment and have downstairs neighbors who like to complain about anything they can? How to Reduce Noise From Downstairs – 7 Simple Steps. Use resilient channel to create a space between the two layers, as this is a great way to isolate sound waves. Try a white noise machine to drown out softer sounds. I don't want to give my name to anyone or let the neighbor know it was me. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "4e6beb07722f7cc16a7af32a8efa605a"; If you’re looking for a quick solution, you can invest in a white noise machine. My downstairs neighbor wrote: I can hear your son running back and forth, back and forth. The heaviest treadmills out there reach about 350 lbs. Creepy noise, be gone! Ask for FREE. Sound transmission between units is one of the biggest complaints among condo dwellers. They may not be aware that you’re bothered by the noise they’re making. Its a bit much, especially at 7:30 AM. Green Glue is a viscoelastic compound that's used to block sound in walls, floors and ceilings. Try ceiling clouds and acoustic fixtures. One of the prime reasons you can hear your downstairs neighbor is because the floor is too thin If you plan to install new laminate, engineered, or wood floors at any point, be sure to choose a model with a built-in layer of insulation. If you are truly worried about it then you should just go downstairs and ask your neighbor. Read on to the next section to learn how to block sound coming through doors, windows, and ductwork. I hear my neighbor every time they walk around, take a shower, get out of bed in the middle of the night. Curtains are a fantastic way to deaden sound in your room and keep it from echoing. Carpeting and padding still not enough to keep the noise down? I’m looking at mass loaded vinyl, sound blocking curtains, soundproof foam. Say what now? If the noise is after 10:00 p.m. or during the early morning hours you also have some recourse. Just through the wall from your bathroom or from your bedroom? I’ve been living in this building in peace for over 15 years and they have driven me nuts in the few months they’ve lived here. If you’re interested in noise-reducing curtains, I recommend getting this Nicetown Blackout Curtain. If all of the above techniques are out of your budget, simply drape a nice fabric across the ceiling in a decorative manner. Insulation installed under the flooring will go a long way in keeping the noise out. Information about the device's operating system, Information about other identifiers assigned to the device, The IP address from which the device accesses a client's website or mobile application, Information about the user's activity on that device, including web pages and mobile apps visited or used, Information about the geographic location of the device when it accesses a website or mobile application. Throughout this site, Alwayne has recommended those to solve a number of noise problems. When your downstairs neighbor is throwing a party, these noises make it impossible to sleep or concentrate. If you are walking down the street and see your nosy neighbor approaching, get out your phone and pretend to be talking to someone. I live in an old raggedy building in Edgewater where you can hear everything your downstairs neighbor does/says/etc. By Paul Wagenseil August 08, 2013.