Wall soundproofing: what actually works against noisy neighbours

What the price depends on

Labour is priced per square metre of wall. The system moves the rate: a frame on acoustic hangers or a free-standing one, one or two layers of board, and whether sockets, switches or a radiator have to be brought forward. Skimming and painting the new wall is often a separate job. Rates are in the table and kept up to date.

Studs, hangers, mineral wool, plasterboard, acoustic tape and acoustic sealant are paid for separately. Fixings are usually included in the labour. Rubbish removal and carrying boards upstairs are separate too, as written into the handyman’s offer.

Rather hand the job over? More here: interior finishing in Warsaw.

How wall soundproofing works

The approach that works in a flat is a second, lightweight skin in front of the existing wall. It’s a metal stud frame fixed through acoustic hangers, or standing clear of the wall altogether. Soft mineral wool fills the gaps between studs, and two layers of board go on top, ideally acoustic board, with staggered joints. Round the edges, where the frame meets the floor, ceiling and side walls, tape goes in and the gaps are filled with flexible sealant.

The point is that the new lining isn’t rigidly tied to the old wall. The neighbours’ wall vibrates and yours hardly does. Gaps in the wool and open edges spoil the result more than you’d think.

Bear in mind that the wall gets a few centimetres thicker and the room a little smaller. Voices and TV drop noticeably, while deep bass from speakers is the hardest to stop. Footsteps from upstairs won’t go away with a wall, since that sound travels through the floor slab. That needs work on the neighbours’ floor or a ceiling on acoustic hangers.

Safety

If there are sockets or cables on the wall, they get moved out onto the new lining. Before that, the circuit is switched off at the fuse box and checked to be dead. Electrical work should be done by someone qualified for it; if the person doing the soundproofing doesn’t do electrics, ask about it in the offer. Mineral wool calls for gloves, a mask and glasses, as the fibres irritate skin and airways.

How the job goes

1. The handyman listens to the wall and works out where the sound gets in: through the wall itself, sockets, the radiator or ventilation.
2. With the power off, sockets, switches and skirting come off.
3. Acoustic tape goes under the tracks and the frame is built on hangers or clear of the wall.
4. Wool is packed in tight with no voids and covered with two layers of board, joints staggered.
5. The perimeter and socket openings are sealed with flexible sealant, and back boxes fitted in the new lining.

Common mistakes

• Foam or decorative acoustic panels on the wall, in the hope the neighbours go quiet.
• Studs screwed straight to the wall with no hangers or tape, so sound travels through the fixings.
• Wool with holes and gaps, and an open joint between the board and the ceiling.
• Sockets in the old and new wall directly opposite each other, leaving a hole right through the lining.
• Only the wall gets treated, while the sound comes through the floor or a shared ventilation duct.

What to prepare

• A description of what you hear: voices, TV, music with bass, footsteps, and at what time.
• Photos and measurements of the wall, with sockets, switches, radiator and any cabinets marked.
• How many centimetres of room you are willing to give up for the lining.
• If you rent, the landlord’s agreement to the work.
• The wall cleared of furniture and some floor space nearby to lay out boards.

Frequently asked questions

How to order

Describe in the app what you hear and through which wall, and add photos and measurements. Tradespeople near you will send offers with their own price, system and timing. Compare them by reviews and pick one; only that person sees your address.

You pay the handyman directly and they issue the invoice. They stand behind their own work: if the lining cracks or they left a gap somewhere, they’ll fix it. Sound travelling through the building’s floors and shared ducts is not on them.

Build decoupled frames and know where sound leaks through? Create a tradesperson profile and take soundproofing jobs in your town. You work for yourself and pick the business form that suits you.