Help - sound proofing in a victorian conversion!

[Vixster250]

Hi

Does anyone have experience of sound proofing in a victorian conversion? The tenants above us are VERY noisy. We hear every footstep, door slamming, music and even their voices. The flat upstairs has laminate flooring throughout which makes the situation 100 times worse.

I have spoken to the land lady of the flat upstairs as we are now at our wits end. I have advised I am going to look into sound proofing their floor. Has anyone had this done - if so how much will it cost for a 2 bedroom flat?

I know laying a carpet would help - but will it reduce noise dramatically? I can't see how a carpet will mask the noise these people are making.

Any advice or recommendations would be most welcome.

[ianc]

As far as I'm aware, most wood / laminate flooring should be installed with a layer of sound-proofing insulation (not quite sure of the terminology) beneath it. At least, in 2007, when I had engineered wood floors put into my 2nd floor Victorian conversion flat by Timberland, I was informed I was legally required to let them lay such a layer before they laid the wood itself. However, maybe that was just their own requirement, or a wood (not laminate) specific requirement, rather than anything legal.

The insulation itself just seemed to come on a large roll (much like underlay), and I can't imagine it's very expensive. However, lifting an existing laminate floor to add such a layer may be more of a problem. It really depends on whether they glued the floor down, making it harder to lift without damaging it.

I'd say the landlady needs to get her own quote, and the onus should be on her to insulate you from her tenants' noise?

Failing that, maybe there is something you can do to your own ceiling, such as installing insulation *above* that (effectively between their floor and your ceiling)?

[owlwise]

Hi

I found this information which your might find useful:

http://www.problemneighbours.co.uk/noisy-flat-above-there-anything-we-can-do.html