Does the neighbor have a problem with soundproofing?

[garden_gnome]

From what I understand, there are no set rules about when it's okay to make noise, not even for condominiums, as it's regulated in the individual statutes. For example, "Do not disturb neighbors, including loud voices and high volume from sound systems, after 23:00 and before 06:00. Drilling in concrete walls 07:30-21:00". If there's a road association or neighborhood cooperation holding meetings, it might be discussed what goodwill rules could be established for everyone's enjoyment in the area. In a way, it was good for the neighbor to come over and explain how they experienced the noise level, instead of allowing this to grow into a simmering dispute. If you felt you had good contact at that time (it's awkward for both to accuse and be accused), you might also share your concern over the perceived noise issue. You could suggest both downloading the same decibel app on your phones, with you standing on your property measuring the noise from your kids and the neighbor measuring it in their bedroom. Guidelines for indoor noise in rentals might serve as a basis. Maximum: 45 dBA Average level*: 30 dBA Tones or music: 25 dBA *Average level over 24 hours, with evening and nighttime noise being more significant than daytime noise.

It's very challenging to agree on issues stemming from someone's perception of something since we are so different. In this case, maybe the hardest part for the daughter is hearing other kids play when she should be sleeping, which is frustrating for the parents who have bedtime routines not shared by their neighbors, thus making it harder for them to maintain the routines. I completely understand that frustration as I myself find regulated sleep important, BUT I also fully understand your concern and feeling of limitation when the expectation of living in a house is to have control over your own life and property (within reasonable limits).

Regarding the law on disturbance and houses, I found this response from [link] to be thorough and clearly described.

I hope you can reach a good solution with your neighbors, but don't start by telling them their house is poorly built

Thank you for a great answer. As it is now, we're mostly trying to gather information and different perspectives so we can provide a calm and well-founded response if/when the neighbor stops by next time. It rarely helps to act on impulse And no, we definitely won't start by saying the house is poorly built - we're just trying to understand if that might be why they're disturbed despite our children maintaining a noise level we can barely hear in our own house (even though they're much closer to our house) and we have windows facing our yard while they don’t. We also have neighbors in another direction whose house is much closer to our kids' trampoline, and they haven't batted an eye in 2 years even though they too have young kids who sleep early.

We don't belong to any association, so there's no opportunity for discussion there. My first approach will be to try to get to know them a little better since it's always preferable to talk about more than just the things that annoy you.

 

[garden_gnome]

When we added more ventilation holes in the house, some towards the neighbor, we hear noise much more than before. Do you have vents in that direction, or maybe the neighbor has vents towards you that the sound is transported from?

We have window vents towards the property, and it's through them that we hear the children to some extent. They don't have vents facing us, but "around the corner" from where the children usually play, they do have vents in. It might definitely be that they need sound insulation depending on the standard they are built with.

 

[Marlen Eskilsson]

You might try doing a test, covering them with something to see if it improves. It is commonly said to look for the weakest link when it comes to soundproofing the house. You can read about it here: https://www.byggahus.se/bygga/ljuddampa-huset

 

[harry73]

Children playing outside until 10 PM is something one has to tolerate sometimes, but neighbors coming around 9 PM and saying that their children can't sleep because of the noise also feels reasonable and one has to tolerate that as well.

It seems that you and the neighbors have almost the same understanding of noise in the evening.
You won't have many problems in the future.

 

[VetarN]

It's not easy dealing with neighbors. I think that if you don't want to get tired of it, you have to be "the better man" and simply adapt. You just have to use your common sense. If you have two noisy 8-year-olds, it might be easier for you to handle them than for your neighbor to manage their 1-year-old.

I really believe that you gain from it as a person in the long run.

Technically solving it is always difficult, but it's clear that it's not the external insulation since that's standard with such things. Especially if it's a new house. But of course, if it becomes a general problem, you could go in and listen at the neighbor's and offer suggestions.

 

[garden_gnome]

It's not easy to deal with neighbors. I think that if you yourself don't want to get tired of it, you need to be "the better man" and simply adapt. You have to use your common sense. If you have two loud 8-year-olds, it might be easier for you to handle them than for your neighbor to manage their 1-year-old.

I actually believe that in the long run, you gain from it as a person.

Technically solving it is always difficult, but of course, it's not the external insulation—it's standard stuff. Especially if it's a new house. But sure, if it becomes a general problem, you could go over and listen at the neighbor's place and provide support with suggestions.

You should certainly be a good neighbor, but that doesn't mean you want to be a neighbor who is forced to keep the kids indoors. We don't know the situation here yet; it might have been a period when the child was particularly troublesome or similar.

Regarding building standards, there's a considerable difference in building technique compared to our house at least. We saw quite a bit since we lived next door during the entire construction period. The house is a type of masonry house built from blocks that looked like gray Leca pearls. Plaster on top of that. Unclear how much internal insulation, I think a layer of gypsum. It is, of course, approved by the municipality and surely alright, but it wouldn't surprise me if they haven't put extra effort into certain things since it was built and sold on speculation for the sake of maximizing profit.

It's not entirely impossible that the ventilation is the culprit if there are ducts going straight through the wall without any sound trap or the like. In that case, you could absolutely suggest some simple measures that could ease things for both of us.

 

[harry73]

But then it's a lightweight concrete house.
Usually has decent insulation.

 

[garden_gnome]

But then it's a lightweight concrete house.
Usually has decent insulation

That was good to hear Not such a common building technique in our area where it's mostly wooden houses otherwise.

 

[mugatu]

It must be tough to have such a hard time falling asleep if something makes noise outside the house. And incredibly annoying not to be able to shout and make noise a bit in the yard without getting complaints. I actually sympathize with both neighbors.

 

[Miljardprogram]

Surely one of those neighbor parents who tiptoe when they've put the kids to bed, it's called curling.

It's usually the vents that are the culprit, there are sound traps for both fresh air vents and slot vents etc.

 

[Ramnemark]

Thanks for the link.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult with common sense, as we want to be able to be on our property and do what we see as normal but which the neighbor then did not see as normal.

I understand that you don't want to argue with them, but living in a residential area means there are neighbors living their lives at the same time. So I think you can keep it at a level you think is okay, and the rest is their problem.

 

[Egenföretagare]

You might also have gotten the wrong neighbors....
However, I understand the problem because my daughter hasn't been able to sleep due to gaming neighbors.

 

[Sir Duke]

I ask my children to avoid "unnecessary" screaming when they are outside. It often happens that they get excited when they're having fun and, without thinking about it, scream instead of talking even though they are 1 meter apart. It doesn't matter if it's day or evening, you should show consideration. But of course, they can play, run, and make noise! It's good if you can distinguish between day and evening. Maybe avoid the loudest games after 8 PM? But definitely don't tiptoe around!

 

[Torpar-Anna]

But if it will be every weekend or summer evening after 7 pm when they find it troublesome that our children play in the yard, then it will become a real concern...

I think you're jumping to conclusions when you base it on ONE incident! Continue living as you usually do and wait to see if anything else happens, and if so, then have a talk with the neighbor.

 

[Stellemark]

Ohhh we played our outdoor sound system with music many evenings between 10 PM and 2 AM... Never any complaints...