On 31 May, 22:34, jimmyjim wrote:
I just bought a 1920s end of terrace house. The party wall is doors
joining so I thought it would be very quite. The house is currently
being gutted as im doing lots of renovating and doesnt really have
much carpet or furniture in it.

I have found in the few days that i have been there that it is really
noisy ( i can here the people in the other house pee, and also put
there cup down on the kitchen worktop). This doesnt really bother me
but my girlfriend will go mad.

Party wall will be solid with no cavity.
Some sounds can travel through the structure and kitchens are usually
screwed to the wall, so cups on surfaces can transmit through the
wall.
You will also hear people going upstairs if the stairs are fixed to
the party wall.
But on the positive side, you can shut the doors to isolate that side
of the house and there are no neighbours on the other side. Be glad
you are an end !
Also, it will seem noisier when empty, and no furnishings so lots of
echos.

BUT, if you are renovating and plaster is off the wall etc, chance is
an air path that carries sound has been opened up. Check for gaps
where joists enter the party wall. If this is the case, you may smell
next doors cooking too. Pack around the joists with mortar and ensure
the are sealed tight.


Does anyone have any ideas if this is because there is nothing left in
the house or should there be that much noise?

As i said i am currently renovating the house so can do work if it
will get rid of the noise, but also dont want to loose too much space
adding plasterboard ect.


There's lots of advice on party wall sound proofing on this newsgroup.
Search the archives using google groups.
Only real way is to build a separate wall (masonry or stud wall and
double plasterboard) isolated from the party wall, but that could mean
moving stairs etc. Any other approach is a compromise and hard to rate
for effectiveness until it is done.

I previously lived in a mid-terrace, now in an end. With parties both
sides, THAT was bad !!!

Good luck,
Simon.