Help please - noisy neighbours!

sezzz · Apr 08, 2008 1:21 pm

Hi
I am after some help for my sister. She is a shift worker and occaisionally has some problems with noise from the next house.
What they have done is built in their garage and made it a living area. It goes right up to the fence, and because it is tin and concrete the noise in there is echo-y and so seems quite loud. Her house is as close to the fence as is allowed and their noise comes through into her house.
Yes it's illegal for them to have built this but our council is hopeless so complaining to them is pointless.
Her house is insulated and carpeted, so we're wondering what can be done fence-wise to help deaden the noise?
Can't be flammable as it's close to her house, and they sometimes hose out the room so it needs to be water resistant.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

royalblue · Apr 08, 2008 1:29 pm

Has she talked to the neighbours?

Cabinfever · Apr 08, 2008 2:06 pm

What sort of noise is it ? If it's bass 'boom' then there's not much you can do. If it's higher frequencies then a tall fence will certainly make a difference. Maybe lapped hardwood ? (others will know more than me on this). A full bookshelf covering the adjacent wall is also a good noise barrier.

As for talking to them, that's a good idea, but can be tricky. There's a very good possibility that either 1) they don't care which is why they're noisy in the first place, or 2) They're not really being all that noisy, it's simply that the room isn't suited to its purpose and the neighbour is just too close.

The best solution is to talk to them & they respond. Then they build a proper extension; and you get a fence.

Australia has among the worst domestic noise regulations in the world. They are antiquated - a leftover from immediate post-war British regulations. They take no account of modern sound systems, lifestyles or home construction.

Try living in a Meriton apartment for the ultimate lesson in ludicrous sound-proofing requirements.

The contrast with the excellent sound-proofing required in Europe is incredible.

But since builders, developers, investors and governments typically have no interest in domestic quality of life issues, there's very little prospect of it changing. It's left to Police and Councils to deal with resulting mess.

3timesbuilda · Apr 08, 2008 2:19 pm

How about a 2m rendered straw bale fence? Problem completely solved.

Cabinfever · Apr 08, 2008 2:46 pm

I saw some of the straw bale work on Grand Designs. very interesting. But probably there's not 2m spare up the side. (Assuming you were serious)

BFG · Apr 08, 2008 2:58 pm

when i was in real estate i sold a house that backed onto a Mcdonalds drive thru, the fence was quite high and was 2 sheets of blue board, rendered with pink bats inside! you couldnt hear a thing from the drive thru

Cheers

Cabinfever · Apr 08, 2008 3:09 pm

I like it. Sounds like a custom construction job ? There'd probably be a good market in a commercial version.

3timesbuilda · Apr 08, 2008 3:15 pm

Cabinfever

I saw some of the straw bale work on Grand Designs. very interesting. But probably there's not 2m spare up the side. (Assuming you were serious)

I meant building up 2m. Width would be determined by the width of the bales which could be stacked on their thinner side and even trimmed to be a bit thinner.

Quite serious, it is about time we started to explore new materails and techniques. The construction game is way behind with new technology and keeps going off in the wrong direction (concrete and plastics do not make for futuristic walls).

Cabinfever · Apr 08, 2008 3:47 pm

3timesbuilda

Quite serious, it is about time we started to explore new materails and techniques. The construction game is way behind with new technology

Couldn't agree more :!:

sezzz · Apr 08, 2008 4:24 pm

She has spoken to the neighbours. They are good for a few weeks then they forget again, and if they have the air cooler/heater on they turn things up i guess they don't realise how loud it is. Also they are young (daddy bought the house) so get a couple of drinks in them and their noise level isn't thought about either!
It's not only bass noise. Some of the ideas are worth looking into, but a couple of questions-
With the batts in between a fence - would they rot if they got wet? (as i mentioned the neighbours occaisionally hose out the room)
And the hay bales - how long would they last and would they be a fire risk - the room is still used as a bbq area as well.
I agree the noise laws in this country are shocking! It's ridiculous anyone can make any noise at all as long as it's between what?, 8am and 11pm?
No thought for the thousands of shift workers out there! Things need to change, or get used to lots more deadly mistakes from doctors, nurses, truck drivers etc...

to_do_list · Apr 08, 2008 4:33 pm

sezzz

(as i mentioned the neighbours occaisionally hose out the room)

errr....what do they do in there?

Helyn · Apr 08, 2008 4:38 pm

Sezz, does your sister have a window in the wall facing the neighbours or is it just wall.
If there is a window(s) maybe an external roller shutter would help - they do block out a lot of noise.
I know not everyone keen on the look of them but if it is a side wall maybe that doesn't matter.

Personally I quite like them and are doing on my front windows, one of which is the main bedroom, DH and I both shift workers who sometimes need to sleep during the day.

Paula · Apr 08, 2008 5:00 pm

Quote:

sezzz wrote:
(as i mentioned the neighbours occaisionally hose out the room)

errr....what do they do in there?

yes, what do they do?? :?:

Talinsmum · Apr 08, 2008 5:07 pm

Here is a link to some ideas for NSW individuals (not sure where you are based but there is Environmental Protection Agencies in all states so check online

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/noise ... dnoise.htm

Some councils can be very protective of shift workers - when we were thinking of running a business from the new house we are building we were told that if any of our neighbours were shift workers then they would make getting our DA for the house/office extra difficult as the council has to take the shift workers sleeping needs into consideration ...

Maybe approaching the council again with a log of attempted contact with the neighbours and exact details as to the noise and use of the garage would be beneficial - if you present them with the paperwork already done then they really can't do anything but follow it up - otherwise the complaint and their inabilibty to do anything can be taken higher ... so I'd give that route another go as well

Fiona

sezzz · Apr 08, 2008 11:32 pm

Paula

Quote:

sezzz wrote:
(as i mentioned the neighbours occaisionally hose out the room)

errr....what do they do in there?

yes, what do they do?? :?:

Haha!
It was originally a covered bbq area, but recently a friend has moved in and turned it into a living area. From what we've seen when the doors open they've put a couch, tv/stereo, coffee table and bed in there. But it still has a concrete floor so every now and then they hose it out - under the fence.

BFG · Apr 09, 2008 12:45 pm

Hi,

the fence on the property i sold had a capping on top and was sealed with silocon on all the joins to prevent moisture getting in, I'm sure there would be a builer who could suggest how to ensure it doesnt get wet, after all, i'm just a finance guy

Troy

3timesbuilda · Apr 09, 2008 1:21 pm

sezzz

And the hay bales - how long would they last and would they be a fire risk - the room is still used as a bbq area as well.

Try looking here:

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsh ... House/1043

They indicate in the pros and cons that some straw bale houses are over 200 years old so I think they will last.

They also don't see a fire risk due to the dense packing of the straw as per web link above. Also I found this:

Quote:

Wall Street Journal has brought to our attention that plastered straw bale walls have been proven, now, to be a fire- safe envelope for both residential and commercial buildings. Engineer and straw bale advocate Bruce King recently paid for an insurance-required test of fire resistance of straw bale walls, whereby “workers fired up a super-hot gas furnace next to a wall stuffed with straw in hopes of calming skittish insurers, bankers and building inspectors who have been reluctant to embrace big buildings insulated with bales of dried grasses”. The test wall satisfactorily withstood over two hours of 1,700-degree heat and the following hose-down

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08 ... e_cons.php

Sounds like a BBQ would have no chance.

sezzz · Apr 09, 2008 3:23 pm

Thanks everyone!

siaradcymraeg · Jul 30, 2008 1:03 am

If they do not own the house, then for a fee, most local councils will tell you the name and postal address of the actual owner (ie. 'daddy') and you could write to/contact him directly. If you know any lawyers, putting it on a legal firm's letterhead may help also.

I sympathise, as my across the road neighbours have noisy cars that wake the street up at all hours, unfortunately in my case the problem house is owner occupied!

I wish you good luck, how have they been in recent times?

Cheers,
Helen

Kevin Brown · Jul 30, 2008 9:48 am

A method I used years ago was to record all the noise they make, then when inconvienent to them (when they are tring to sleep), play it back to them over a loud speaker.

Nothing they can do about, as its their own noise....worked for me
Just keep doing it till they get the hint....
Tell them it must be an eko