I was a bit curious about how those who have moved into newly built properties experience noise levels, primarily from neighbors, footsteps, voices, etc. We are considering new construction ourselves, with one of the main reasons being that you can hear footsteps from above as if they are walking on my head sometimes..
Most construction companies seem to aim for sound class B, but the results seem very varied when reading a bit about shared experiences. Some hear a lot like us, despite having an apartment from the 60s, even at the achieved level while others are hardly disturbed. What are your experiences?
Most construction companies seem to aim for sound class B, but the results seem very varied when reading a bit about shared experiences. Some hear a lot like us, despite having an apartment from the 60s, even at the achieved level while others are hardly disturbed. What are your experiences?
Know-It-All
· Västra Götaland
· 12 294 posts
My experience is that the newer the house, the less noise is heard from neighbors.
In sound class C, which is the lowest requirement, about 20% are still disturbed by sound according to what I've read from boverket. Generally, it should have much better sound standards than older buildings, but there are probably no guarantees. Noise can be a significant dealbreaker, so I've tried to research it, but it seems like a complete lottery. Maybe there's also a difference between construction companies in terms of quality.
What you can do is knock on walls during viewings and ensure it's concrete and not plasterboard in apartment partition walls, and feel that the floors are solid and not "thumpy." Also, don't be shy about knocking on neighbors' doors and asking or catching them when they come out of the entrance
What you can do is knock on walls during viewings and ensure it's concrete and not plasterboard in apartment partition walls, and feel that the floors are solid and not "thumpy." Also, don't be shy about knocking on neighbors' doors and asking or catching them when they come out of the entrance
I have now moved into a place with sound class B, and have read quite a bit so it should require a lot of noise for me to hear, but I discovered this morning that I not only hear every move of the neighbor's vacuum cleaner (above me) but also just when it's on, a little humming. It was built by JM and finished six months ago. Not impressed and wondering if one can make a complaint or something because this can hardly meet what they promised. I hear every little sound, almost worse than my apartment from 1964.
hus is probably the only solution if you don't want to just be in the lottery.
hus is probably the only solution if you don't want to just be in the lottery.
What do you mean you are going to complain about?
They state that the sound standard is B, which is better than the minimum requirements for residences, corresponding to C. The building has been finalized, and sound checks should have been conducted to ensure they meet the requirements for B.
Sound class B does not mean you will never be disturbed by your neighbors. Airborne sound in sound class B should be reduced by 56 dB between residences. A vacuum cleaner is around 70 dB, so it's not unusual to hear your neighbor vacuuming.
They state that the sound standard is B, which is better than the minimum requirements for residences, corresponding to C. The building has been finalized, and sound checks should have been conducted to ensure they meet the requirements for B.
Sound class B does not mean you will never be disturbed by your neighbors. Airborne sound in sound class B should be reduced by 56 dB between residences. A vacuum cleaner is around 70 dB, so it's not unusual to hear your neighbor vacuuming.
I would still agree that it is deplorable to hear the neighbor's vacuum in a property built in 2019 by one of Sweden's largest and most experienced construction companies. I would have expected much more than that.
I have lived in a property built in 1993 and I can't recall ever hearing the neighbor's vacuum except when both my and the neighbor's windows/balcony were open.
How is it otherwise then? I assume you don't hear screaming or conversations? Footsteps? Music? I'm moving into a property built by JM in 2013 shortly so I will get back with my report then. I will not accept hearing the neighbors since I haven't had this issue in the house where I previously lived for over 10 years. If that's the case, I will move again and again until I find something optimal. It's truly the worst when you can hear the neighbors. But it is largely because I went from the world's least sound-proof house to a lousy townhouse with inconsiderate neighbors who didn't care at all about their neighbors. The combination of psychopaths playing music at full volume around the clock and sound-proofing is not fun and leaves its mark.
I have lived in a property built in 1993 and I can't recall ever hearing the neighbor's vacuum except when both my and the neighbor's windows/balcony were open.
How is it otherwise then? I assume you don't hear screaming or conversations? Footsteps? Music? I'm moving into a property built by JM in 2013 shortly so I will get back with my report then. I will not accept hearing the neighbors since I haven't had this issue in the house where I previously lived for over 10 years. If that's the case, I will move again and again until I find something optimal. It's truly the worst when you can hear the neighbors. But it is largely because I went from the world's least sound-proof house to a lousy townhouse with inconsiderate neighbors who didn't care at all about their neighbors. The combination of psychopaths playing music at full volume around the clock and sound-proofing is not fun and leaves its mark.