[Ahriman]

My girlfriend and I are considering buying a flat, but when we viewed it last we could hear the lady upstairs walking around, and it didn't seem like she was making noise on purpose. While I don't mind too much about this I do wonder if when I hook up my surround sound system I'm going to get complaints!

I don't want to annoy people so I'm considering sound-proofing, which of course I need to factor into the price of the flat.

I found a couple of pages (same company, different url... kinda iffy!)

Sound proofing a wall and sound proofing a party wall
How to soundproof a ceiling

So the question is: how much money will it take to sound-proof the ceiling of "my flat" (812sqft) -- or just the living room (106.5sqft).

Thanks for any helpful/insightful comments, I'm really interested in people's experience even without monetary estimates!

[961]

I think this is one of those things you need to think very carefully about

My daughter had a flat where, however carefully one walked around, the neighbours downstairs complained about the noise that the footsteps made. We were, basically, tip-toeing by the end and eventually she moved

My take on this is that, if this seems to be a problem because of the construction of the building, however much money you spend you will only alleviate the problem, but never cure it

I'd honestly suggest you look elsewhere because it will always be a problem

[SamTrainingHARD]

Me and the mrs only jus bought a flat as well, I too had the same worries about becoming public enemy No: 1. All the floors are wooden apart from the bedrooms. The Living room is where the surround system is set up I was thinking of putting carpet in the living room/kitchen, well 3/4 of it so theirs a and wooden floor strip for the kitchen area if you know what I mean, definently with the best underlay, I heard you can get underlay with soundproofing qualities? Check It out. In the end mrs wouldn't let put a carpet in their, so his got a rug and asked every1 what time they sleep, and told them before that time that and gonna put as loud as I want

[SamTrainingHARD]

I agree with 961, when we were viewing the flat, they said from the ground up it was assemble with sound proofing in mind

[SamTrainingHARD]

But you know what, with in reason do I put it loud and I know no1 will say anything, but I find my self lowering the volume, the trick is is to infiltrate and network with all your neighbours and with kindness lay out the plan, obvious all have to be within agreement.

Hope that helps

[Ahriman]

Thanks for your input Our interest in this flat has vanished now because we found out about dodgy fire proofing as well as this sound leakage.

It seems though, for future reference, as if I shouldn't even consider doing work on a place to reduce sound leakage (both directions are important!) -- and should find other ways to mitigate it, or just buy elsewhere.

[961]

Originally Posted by Ahriman

It seems though, for future reference, as if I shouldn't even consider doing work on a place to reduce sound leakage (both directions are important!) -- and should find other ways to mitigate it, or just buy elsewhere.

I'm sure you're right

You can spend thousands on sound proofing and make only a marginal difference. The basic problem remains. Much better to rule out such properties at an early stage