Sound is one of the most common complaints in London homes. Whether the issue is noise from neighbours through party walls, traffic from busy streets, or sounds travelling between floors within the house, there are practical solutions available. The important thing is to understand how sound travels and to apply the appropriate treatment for the specific problem.
Sound travels in two main ways: as airborne sound, which passes through the air and into building materials, and as impact sound, which is transmitted through solid materials when something strikes them. Footsteps on an upper floor, for example, create impact sound transmitted through the floor structure. Voices and music create airborne sound that passes through walls, floors, and ceilings. Different treatments are needed for each type.
For party walls in terraced houses, the most effective acoustic solution is to add an independent acoustic wall lining on the inside face of the party wall. This involves building a new, isolated stud wall in front of the party wall, filling the cavity with acoustic mineral wool, and lining it with acoustic plasterboard. The stud wall must be completely isolated from the party wall with resilient clips or breaks to prevent flanking sound transmission through the structure. A well-installed independent party wall lining can achieve a very significant reduction in airborne sound transmission.
For floors between stories, acoustic solutions typically involve a combination of improving the ceiling below with acoustic plasterboard and resilient bars to isolate it from the floor structure, and improving the floor above with an acoustic underlay beneath the floor finish. Rigid floor finishes such as tiles or hardwood without adequate acoustic underlay significantly increase impact sound transmission.
For external noise from traffic or neighbours outside, double or triple glazed windows are the most effective single measure. The gap between the panes attenuates airborne sound, and heavier glazed units perform better. Secondary glazing, which is a separate inner window fitted behind the existing window, can also be very effective and is often preferred in conservation areas where the external appearance of the original window must be preserved.
Draught-proofing has an acoustic benefit as well as a thermal one, since gaps around window frames, letter boxes, and service penetrations allow sound to pass through as easily as air.
RCB Design and Build incorporates acoustic solutions into refurbishment projects where noise is an issue, particularly in loft conversions where the floor between the new room and the bedroom below is a common concern.