It’s no surprise that living in an apartment can be noisy. The walls are thin, and there are so many people crammed into such a small space.
It can be hard to get the silence you need in order to work or relax, and it can seem like your upstairs neighbors are always stomping or talking. If this is true of your life, you shouldn’t settle for a noisy apartment.
There are things you can do to make your living space more comfortable, and there are products that are easy to install that can help dampen the noise of other people.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to find a way to live with your noisy upstairs neighbors.
Locate the Source and Deal with Your Neighbors
Have you ever had a situation where your apartment or house is located above someone else’s and they make all sorts of noise, day in and day out? It can be tremendously frustrating! There are many ways to deal with this issue.
The first step is to find the source of the sound. Is it airborne noise like music or loud talking, which will dissipate as soon as they stop making it?
Or does it seem to be impact-related such as footsteps? If so, then there might not be much that you can do (although if there’s really no other option for living space nearby, try asking them nicely). When the source of the noise is located, you should consider talking to your neighbor and ask them nicely to try and be as quiet.
Since this is a delicate situation and you don’t want to start a fight with your neighbors, being as nice as you can is crucial. Before adopting more serious steps like soundproofing, it is worth attempting because most people would willingly appreciate that. There are always alternatives if speaking with your neighbor does not work.
Inquire about assistance from your landlord or the building management! Although I wouldn’t bet on them, they might be able to take action.
If everything else fails, adding soundproofing will be your only option. Although not completely effective, this technique will significantly lower noise levels and allow you more personal space to live your own life.
There are many different materials that can be used for soundproofing, including fiberglass, foam, or even mass-loaded vinyl (MLV). All of these have their pros and cons, although the best method is to combine some of them.
In this article, we will go through all the different DIY ways to soundproof your place, as well as a list of materials you will need for that.
Install Acoustic Foam
When the look of your home isn’t the most important thing, you should consider this hack. It’s effortless to do, and with no need for professional help, it will cost you little money as well, but it really does the job!
The product you’ll need is acoustic foam panels like JBER 24 Pack Charcoal Acoustic Panels or a simple
Acoustic foam is a material that you can put on your ceiling to reduce the sound from people upstairs. It’s made of a special material that doesn’t let most of the noise through.
Treating your ceiling with acoustic foam will not only bring you peace and quiet, but it can reduce the energy costs in your home too. The cost is really cheap compared to other methods, so give it a test!
There are a few ways to install acoustic foam. One of them is by hanging it on the ceiling. To attach the foam, you can use staples, nails, or hooks. Sealing the ceiling with a layer of green glue will always help to increase your acoustic insulation.
Drywall
Drywall is a type of material that you can put on the inside of your walls and ceilings. It is made of paper and gypsum, and it is used to add a layer of thermal and noise insulation.
Will drywall keep noise away from my house? In most cases, yes. Drywall may be the best option for your house if you want to reduce the amount of noise created by your upstairs neighbors or other sounds from outside sources. Drywall is extremely effective at absorbing and removing noise, especially low-frequency noises like footsteps.
Installing drywall is actually a fairly easy process. Yet, calling for professional help has been proven to be more effective in a number of cases. A professional can help you avoid many problems experienced by do-it-yourselfers and will get better results faster than you would ever accomplish on your own.
When hiring a contractor, you need to be aware of the following:
- Don’t fall for cheap rates or deals that seem too good to be true
- Look for contractors that are insured, licensed, and bonded
- Check references from other clients to ensure you’re dealing with a reputable contractor
- Carefully check the contract to ensure you are paying for everything you need and that the company has agreed to do what they said they would do.
In addition to the drywall, adding a layer of green glue can improve sound insulation.
If you already have drywall on your ceiling, but the noise reduction it provides is not enough, you can add an additional layer of soundproof drywall. This process is not hard, it is very similar to installing the first layer of drywall.
Green Glue
This is a special adhesive that you can use to keep the noise from upstairs neighbors from bothering you. It works by sealing the gaps and cracks on your ceiling and adding an additional soundproofing effect.
Using this product is easy, won’t cost a fortune, and no professional help is needed. It comes in tubes that you can apply to the ceiling with a brush or roller. Before applying green glue, you should first remove the existing ceiling where the sound-lagging is.
Combine green glue, like Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound, with other soundproofing methods to gain the best results.
Acoustic Tiles
In order to reduce the amount of noise that comes from upstairs neighbors, we can install acoustic tiles.
Acoustic tiles will help us dampen the sound that comes from upstairs neighbors. They are typically made of polyester or fiberglass, which offer mid-range sound absorption. They come in different colors and sizes.
Acoustic tiles are relatively cheap and very easy to install by yourself. Putting the tiles on the ceiling is similar to installing foam panels and will be a perfect choice to reduce unwanted noise from upstairs neighbors.
Even though the tiles are not commonly used in homes, they can be installed everywhere – in the basement, garage, or even bathroom. They are also perfect for hiding things like piping or ductwork.
Related: 10 Smart Ways to Soundproof Ceiling
Consider Moving Out
If all else fails, you might have to move out. Sorry! But hopefully, that will be the last resort. I know this might be hard to hear, but it’s my advice. That is because you will have to find a new place where they won’t be doing those things mentioned in this article.
After all, you can’t (or you can?) make your upstairs neighbors move, and unfortunately, having to listen to them scream all night when they’re up there with their friends forces you to put your own well-being at risk.
The fact is that living in an apartment building is always going to have some sort of noise. You can reduce it, but you can’t make it disappear entirely.
When choosing a new home, make sure to ask neighbors about noise and living conditions. Appraisers know this as well, so they will tell you a bit of the home’s history if it has had problems with neighbors in the past.
Lastly, when you move out, make sure you’re not still paying your old rent. Check the lease. Most apartments should have a clause that allows you to get out of it early — and avoid paying extra rent — if your apartment is really unbearable for some reason.
Final Thoughts
After reading this article, you should now be more informed on how to reduce the noise from upstairs neighbors.
There are many DIY hacks that can help make your life easier and less frustrating while living in an apartment building with noisy neighbors. Try some out for yourself and see which ones work best for you! The key is to find solutions that will work within your budget–whatever it may be.
We hope these tips were helpful. Remember: there’s always someone who has had or still has problems with their noisy upstairs neighbor too, so don’t feel alone because we’re all here together. ?