House next to really busy road, noise reduction?
Discussion
100ish meters (if that) down a bank in front of the house of my dreams is a dual carriageway.
Grade 2 list so internal mods probably limited to secondary glazing/ more loft insulation (unless anyone knows any better?)
Externally there is a thin bush and not a lot more, with a clearvline of sight to the xars from the first floor, and on the road side the bedrooms on that floor are not used, it is noticeable. I know I would not be able to block all the racket out, but what sort of thing would be best? There is at least space for a low level wall within the boundary, would one make much of/ any difference? Fence? Dynamat!?! Give up?!?
Grade 2 list so internal mods probably limited to secondary glazing/ more loft insulation (unless anyone knows any better?)
Externally there is a thin bush and not a lot more, with a clearvline of sight to the xars from the first floor, and on the road side the bedrooms on that floor are not used, it is noticeable. I know I would not be able to block all the racket out, but what sort of thing would be best? There is at least space for a low level wall within the boundary, would one make much of/ any difference? Fence? Dynamat!?! Give up?!?
DS3R said:
100ish meters (if that) down a bank in front of the house of my dreams is a dual carriageway.
Grade 2 list so internal mods probably limited to secondary glazing/ more loft insulation (unless anyone knows any better?)
Externally there is a thin bush and not a lot more, with a clearvline of sight to the xars from the first floor, and on the road side the bedrooms on that floor are not used, it is noticeable. I know I would not be able to block all the racket out, but what sort of thing would be best? There is at least space for a low level wall within the boundary, would one make much of/ any difference? Fence? Dynamat!?! Give up?!?
Move?Grade 2 list so internal mods probably limited to secondary glazing/ more loft insulation (unless anyone knows any better?)
Externally there is a thin bush and not a lot more, with a clearvline of sight to the xars from the first floor, and on the road side the bedrooms on that floor are not used, it is noticeable. I know I would not be able to block all the racket out, but what sort of thing would be best? There is at least space for a low level wall within the boundary, would one make much of/ any difference? Fence? Dynamat!?! Give up?!?
I can't see anything other than that solution will work to reduce noise to a level of acceptability.
Are they sash windows? You can have them renovated and new seals etc but very labour intensive (£250+ per window done professionally)
Secondary double glazing is quite effective at noise reduction and shouldn't have any issues from a planning / LBC perspective..
You will get used to any noise in time. The only downside will be the potential buyer of your house could be put off by the road in future, but if you fall in love with it someone else will!
Secondary double glazing is quite effective at noise reduction and shouldn't have any issues from a planning / LBC perspective..
You will get used to any noise in time. The only downside will be the potential buyer of your house could be put off by the road in future, but if you fall in love with it someone else will!
Can't see how you'd ever fix that. The only ones I've seen do it are the Japanese on Tokyo's elevated highways. A high-cost properly engineered and very expesively installed system.
Problems:
1) you can reduce noise with shrub/tree-planting (that will take many years to grow enough to do the job)
2) the sound of traffic will still 'bleed' around the house's frontage from the untreated boundaries of the neighbouring properties
Walk away.
Problems:
1) you can reduce noise with shrub/tree-planting (that will take many years to grow enough to do the job)
2) the sound of traffic will still 'bleed' around the house's frontage from the untreated boundaries of the neighbouring properties
Walk away.
Thanks for the replies,
I read this thread which suggests a 90% solution (internally) is not enough, and given it is listed, what I would not want to do is 90%, and find out it isn't good enough/ doesn't make enough of a difference to have warranted the expense...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=954...
I read this thread which suggests a 90% solution (internally) is not enough, and given it is listed, what I would not want to do is 90%, and find out it isn't good enough/ doesn't make enough of a difference to have warranted the expense...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=954...
essayer said:
Are they sash windows? You can have them renovated and new seals etc but very labour intensive (£250+ per window
Yes, wood framed and generally past it, will be speaking with the conservation officer about options, even like for like replacements would be better if they are new/ refurbed and can carry acoustic glass (another £OMFGHooooooowMuch!), then with secondary as well, it may stop one of the prime culprits, but it would be nice to try and dampen the outside too, unless it rewlly is clutching at straws (and ferns aside, it sounds like it may be!)I haven't bought it yet!
Perhaps that was too veiled in my op, suffice to say I don't want TO buy with an intention of trying to mitigate it and then spend 20 years being bitter that I can't make any difference at all. Itmust be possible, at least in part, there is enough material science out there (i hope!!)
Perhaps that was too veiled in my op, suffice to say I don't want TO buy with an intention of trying to mitigate it and then spend 20 years being bitter that I can't make any difference at all. Itmust be possible, at least in part, there is enough material science out there (i hope!!)
You will get used to the noise, but it will always be a problem when ever selling.
I know someone who lives in a huge house, the garden backs on to the M25, I stood in his garden and the traffic noise was awful, he was pretty ambivalent to it. He does have a lovely house that he would never have afforded if it was in a nice quiet road.
I know someone who lives in a huge house, the garden backs on to the M25, I stood in his garden and the traffic noise was awful, he was pretty ambivalent to it. He does have a lovely house that he would never have afforded if it was in a nice quiet road.
Edited by megaphone on Monday 23 December 09:54
I think you will probably get used to the noise so probably not worth spending copious amounnts of money on soundproofing. Plant some trees and investigate insulation for loft space etc. If it were me I'd feel downhearted if I spent a fortune and didn't massively improve the noise situation.
Unfortunately although you will get used to it most who visit will comment on it which will be annoying in the future.
I once had a house near the A1M and didn't notice the noise in the property unless I listened for it. However once I openend a window or a door I was hit by a wave of motorway roar. Didn't bother me overly.
Where I live now I am approx. 1/2 mile from the M25 and can hear that when the wind blows in my direction, but again I am used to it and that's saying something as noise really bothers me, especially neighbour noises to the extent that I DIY'd soundproofed my part walls!
Unfortunately although you will get used to it most who visit will comment on it which will be annoying in the future.
I once had a house near the A1M and didn't notice the noise in the property unless I listened for it. However once I openend a window or a door I was hit by a wave of motorway roar. Didn't bother me overly.
Where I live now I am approx. 1/2 mile from the M25 and can hear that when the wind blows in my direction, but again I am used to it and that's saying something as noise really bothers me, especially neighbour noises to the extent that I DIY'd soundproofed my part walls!
I lived next to the M56 link road in Manchester for 10 years clicky
That's 23m from the edge of the slip road. We were probably only 1-2m up from being at the same level as the carriageway. We got used to it in no time, as we'd previsouly lived in the city centre for nearly 2 years, but after some time you realise it gets incredibly wearing.
Our problem was that traffic started to increase. When we moved in it was noticably quieter in the off-peak periods, especially at night. By the time we moved though the roaring never really stopped, and it started to affect the quality of sleep we got. This only really became apparent when we moved to somewhere that's deathly quiet at night. And bear in mind the place we lived was a new build (we were the 1st owners) and so the windows were decent double-glazed modern units.
I checked out noise reduction boundary treatments at the time, and asked one of our noise and vibration sub-consultants that we use at work. His view was that it's not the thickness that counts, but the height. He said to imagine noise as though it's water flowing over the top of the boundary fences, and that as it hits the top it eddies over. By raising the height of the fencing, even if it's just lap-board like ours was, you'll have a more marked effect on the noise impact. The trouble is you then get into planning issues - our fence was already 6ft high.
That's 23m from the edge of the slip road. We were probably only 1-2m up from being at the same level as the carriageway. We got used to it in no time, as we'd previsouly lived in the city centre for nearly 2 years, but after some time you realise it gets incredibly wearing.
Our problem was that traffic started to increase. When we moved in it was noticably quieter in the off-peak periods, especially at night. By the time we moved though the roaring never really stopped, and it started to affect the quality of sleep we got. This only really became apparent when we moved to somewhere that's deathly quiet at night. And bear in mind the place we lived was a new build (we were the 1st owners) and so the windows were decent double-glazed modern units.
I checked out noise reduction boundary treatments at the time, and asked one of our noise and vibration sub-consultants that we use at work. His view was that it's not the thickness that counts, but the height. He said to imagine noise as though it's water flowing over the top of the boundary fences, and that as it hits the top it eddies over. By raising the height of the fencing, even if it's just lap-board like ours was, you'll have a more marked effect on the noise impact. The trouble is you then get into planning issues - our fence was already 6ft high.
I guess you need to decide if you could live there happily the way it is.If you could, then go for it and add some 'soundproofing' to try and make it better.If the noise is too much for you at the moment then I'd avoid, as planting trees etc is a long term solution that will only partially help.My ex next door neighbour has just built a new house right next to the A1M, I visited him in the summer and was amazed at how little noise there was, even outside, but there is a 3.0m high mound of earth/grass bank which separates the houses from the road.
Have you been there at various times of the day? It sounds like it's the only thing you'd be compromising on so I'd recommend visiting at various times. I'd also be asking the vendor about it and whether they mind you checking it out from inside - I'm sure they'll be aware it could be a problem in terms of the sale - we certainly did when we sold ours.
Is the property elevated above road level or below it?
As for height of fencing, generally over 6ft you start encountering issues in planning terms but how much of an issue it could be is dependent entirely on circumstance and you wouldn't know unless you asked the LA. Some of the planners on here might be better able to advise.
Is the property elevated above road level or below it?
As for height of fencing, generally over 6ft you start encountering issues in planning terms but how much of an issue it could be is dependent entirely on circumstance and you wouldn't know unless you asked the LA. Some of the planners on here might be better able to advise.
I looked at a massive place right next to the M1. It was huge so I tried to convince myself that the noise wouldn't bother me, but when I sat in the garden with my other half to discuss the place we couldn't hear each other without shouting. We didn't buy it.
We now have somewhere very peaceful, everyone points out how quiet it is and it is fantastic as all I can hear is bird song. Don't buy this place, it'll just drive you nuts.
My tuppence worth..
We now have somewhere very peaceful, everyone points out how quiet it is and it is fantastic as all I can hear is bird song. Don't buy this place, it'll just drive you nuts.
My tuppence worth..
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