Does the neighbor have a problem with soundproofing?

[Gårdsboende]

Thinking to myself about what would need to happen for me to march over to the neighbor and ask them to keep it down, it's quite a high threshold for me.

I have two kids myself, and they occasionally make a racket outside, but of course, they are told off when it gets out of hand.

Since both of our neighbors are car enthusiasts, including their adult children, there's a lot of revving, loud engine noises, and other car-related activities until about 10 PM, but it doesn't bother me, my partner, or the kids. Sure, you might sigh once when the kids have been throwing up for two days, just fallen asleep, and the neighbor starts up their V8 with straight pipes, but these things happen.

However, before one of our neighbors, we had a couple of alcoholics who would scream, fight, and be nasty to each other, always crying over the hedge on summer evenings when we were enjoying ourselves the most. That situation called for using the "work voice" and properly telling them off.

Summary of what I want to say:

Neighbors make noise, kids especially make noise, don't let the neighbor stop you from living your life. If he/she comes back, there are probably bigger problems at home.

 

[Sir Duke]

Why not just assume it was a particularly tough evening for the neighbor + child. The child might have been sick. The first time, you can easily give a little extra benefit of the doubt and trust that it was special circumstances that evening. If it becomes a habit that the neighbor complains, you can say that last time you brought the children inside because you assumed there were special reasons, but you also want to live your life. And that in the future you are willing to be considerate when it's needed most, but not always.

A lot of speculation and what-ifs and maybes. I want to counter with the fact that it's quite a big deal to go over and complain. The neighbor sees that there are guests and a party. Rare occurrence, that is. TS probably doesn't have Easter dinner every Thursday all year round. You have to swallow your pride and bear it a bit if someone happens to be mowing the lawn at a time that doesn't suit me perfectly.

 

[garden_gnome]

Yes, there has been some speculation about the neighbors in the thread maybe, they seem to be hygglo types. I just hope their villa is well-built so they don't end up with big problems later. I myself perhaps have some prejudices about houses built on speculation so it would be interesting to know more if someone has experience of e.g., soundproofing in turnkey properties imported from Eastern Europe.

 

[tobbbias]

Haha, this was funny. 4 pages of opinions and speculations in 2 days. Is this a construction forum or a family life forum??

They came over once and asked if they could get some peace. It could have been anything. They had a valid explanation for why they thought the noise was bothersome (their child). It's not like they came over and thought your brother-in-law was drunk and wanted them to leave... That would have been a bit of a mood killer.

I think you can chill and focus your energy on more fun things. Like how you could build the neighborhood's coolest deck or the coolest treehouse for your kids.
If the neighbor comes over more times, feel free to return to the thread, but if not, I don't think you need to worry about their walls Good luck

 

[TRJBerg]

Glad we have 400 meters to the nearest neighbor.

 

[garden_gnome]

Haha, this was humor. 4 pages of opinions and speculations in 2 days. Is this a building or a family life forum??

They have come over once and asked if they could have some peace and quiet. Could have been anything. They had a good explanation for why they found the noise disturbing (their child). It's not like they came over and thought your brother-in-law was drunk and wanted them to leave... That would otherwise have been a bit of a mood killer.

I think you can take it easy and put your energy into more fun stuff. Like how you could build the neighborhood's nicest deck or build the coolest treehouse for your kids.
If the neighbor comes over more times, feel free to return to the thread, but if he doesn't, I don't think you need to worry about his walls Good luck

Well, as I said, the focus shifted a bit in the thread. New to the forum and don't know much about building techniques and what may vary between different houses in terms of insulation, etc. The idea was simply to learn a bit more, and I thought this forum could be suitable for that. Then maybe one won't get further than realizing it's probably not the lightweight concrete walls that are the problem but much more likely the air supply ventilation.

 

[Torpar-Anna]

I know, it's the worry that grows that it will happen again

Again, I think you're getting ahead of yourself...

 

[mugatu]

Yes, as mentioned, the focus shifted a bit in the thread. I'm new to the forum and don't know much about building techniques and what might differ between different houses regarding acoustics, etc. The idea was simply to learn a little more, and I thought this forum could be suitable for that. Then maybe it just comes down to the fact that it's not likely the lightweight concrete walls causing the issue but more likely the supply ventilation.

A good solution to the worries and questions might be to confront the neighbor. Say that you've noticed he seemed disturbed by the children's play and that you apologize and would gladly accompany him inside to listen so you can form an understanding of how soundproof his house might be. Then you can look and ask about the walls' insulation, check the supply ventilation, etc.

 

[KTK]

We have neighbors who live in a newly built house about 15 meters from our property line. They moved in last fall and now comes the first warm period when we are outside a lot on the property...

Already the first really warm weekend (Easter) the father of the house came over and said that our children were disturbing their daughter's sleep. Our children were outside on the lawn playing with their cousins because it was a family party and it was around 9 pm when they came over. We had the door open and, of course, an overview of our children and thought they kept a reasonable noise level.

We are very surprised that they were disturbed because their daughter's room does not have windows towards our direction (only an outer wall). Had we closed the patio door ourselves, we would hardly have heard the children out there.

The whole situation has created a concern that their house (which was built by an Eastern European company on speculation) is simply not sufficiently insulated. A shame for the neighbors in that case but also a concern for us because we don't want to have to tiptoe on our own property.

When we built our house some time ago, I remember there were requirements on what noise levels the house should be able to block. These are then specified more in different sound classes. Is there any more "easy to understand" material with everyday examples that can help us understand more where the problem lies... i.e. is it perhaps we who are too loud after all. Or they who are too sensitive or simply the house that doesn't meet the standards?

Buy them earmuffs, that's what I would do.
If they're disturbed by such things, the disturbance lies with them and not you.
Just enjoy the yard and the summer

 

[A-Man_08]

Many parents use these https://m.clasohlson.com/se/Hörselskydd-Peltor-Kid/Pr343918000

 

[harry73]

Nothing one wants/can use in bed.

 

[A-Man_08]

Nothing you want/can use in bed.

Oh yes, it works perfectly.

 

[KriZomb]

If we turn the argument from the neighbor then: Why are your children outside screaming and playing at 9 PM? Why aren't they indoors and keeping quiet? Shouldn't you as parents organize some calmer activity for them at that time, like sitting and watching a movie and winding down? That was how I grew up, at least until my teenage years, 9 PM was an unusual time to be OUT. But usually, it's because the parents want to be inside, maybe with something warming under the coat, and then it's practical for the kids to be outside. You say you had "supervision," but that doesn't in any way prevent screaming or high volume, even if the children quiet down quickly after being told off, the damage is already done for the neighbor, and their child is awake, and they have to start with the bedtime routine all over again...

Now I don't want to say the neighbor is right and you are wrong, but that you put yourself in the situation as an outsider. Then maybe you can come up with a solution and neighborliness, rather than mud-slinging.

Then your comment about the neighbor's house being built by some Eastern European company is an unnecessary low blow since whoever built the house has nothing to do with the matter.

 

[KriZomb]

Many parents use these [link]

Which is idiocy because they disrupt the children's natural sleep and can lead to ear infections, especially if they are worn for several hours during the night. It's really strange that as a parent you need to have ear protection for your children so that the neighbors can party wildly.

 

[Sir Duke]

If we turn the argument from the neighbor: Why are your children out screaming and playing at 9 PM? Why aren't they indoors and keeping a little quiet? Shouldn't you as parents arrange some quieter activity for them at that time, like sitting and watching a movie and winding down? That was my upbringing, until my teenage years, 9 PM was an unusual time to be OUT. But usually, it happens because the parents want to be inside, maybe with something warming under their coat and then it's practical for the kids to be outside. You mention you had "supervision," but that doesn't prevent screaming or high noise levels, even if the children quiet down quickly after being told off, the damage is already done for the neighbor and their children are awake and they have to start over with putting them to bed.....

Now I don't want to say that the neighbor is right and you're wrong, but that you think yourself into the situation as an outsider. Then maybe you can come to a solution and neighborliness, rather than mudslinging.

Also, your comment about the neighbor's house being built by some Eastern European company is an unnecessary low blow as who built the house has nothing to do with the matter.

It says in the very first post in the thread that it was the Easter holiday and a family gathering and that the cousins were outside playing. Not that the kids are running wild 24/7/365.