weight of another wall?

Here is a pic of our semi detached house being thrown up. For reasons of economy I guess they used the cheaper grey blocks full of spaces for the party wall.
I did have a second party wall constructed downstairs but as they did not do it as agreed (never did with a cavity) I did not have the upstairs double walled. It was a struggle to get them to do the downstairs anyway, but i am glad I did due to poor sound insulation.

The problem is normal sounds coming through the bedroom wall, get woken when next door get up so want to put another wall upstairs, at least in the front bedroom. In the pic you can see the party wall in the room on the left half built up to the first pillar. Question is would the construction of the house take the weight of another wall upstairs? it would be on the beam (just), also, use the same grey bricks or not?

I realise it would not be a perfect solution as would only take the wall up to the existing ceiling and not through the roof space, but something would be better than nothing.


https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u.../normal_hh.jpg


better view


https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...normal_hh3.jpg

finished house, nice but noisy!


https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...shed_house.jpg

If you are after sound insulation, why brick?
Line the current wall with that egg carton type sound insulation and cover it with a wood framed gyprock sheet wall.

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Originally Posted by xanax

finished house, nice but noisy!

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Living close to noisy neighbors always a problem. Likely most of the sound coming through windows. Rather than mess with wall, try double glazing your windows.

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Originally Posted by Norton

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Originally Posted by xanax

finished house, nice but noisy!

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Living close to noisy neighbors always a problem. Likely most of the sound coming through windows. Rather than mess with wall, try double glazing your windows.

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the noise is not coming through the windows, well, apart from the barking dogs. Double glazing is on the list though

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Originally Posted by Necron99

If you are after sound insulation, why brick?
Line the current wall with that egg carton type sound insulation and cover it with a wood framed gyprock sheet wall.

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yes also considering that, think brick would be better than what sounds like plasterboard though. Tried that in a UK house with very expensive sound proofing and two layers of board, virtually useless.

Move! You are pouring money into a lost cause

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Originally Posted by liveinlos

Move! You are pouring money into a lost cause

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It's not that bad and the neighbours are good and out all day. It's just that the construction is poor but can be improved as did it downstairs which does seem to work. Everywhere is noisy even the countryside, does not mean you cannot make the best of a bad job though.

From the pictures there is no dividing wall in the roof space. My take is the sound is coming through the gyprock/plywood ceilings.

Install some form of barrier in the roof space and apply some insulation material above your ceiling.

^ after crawling through the roof space and robbing all your neighbors.

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Originally Posted by VocalNeal

From the pictures there is no dividing wall in the roof space. My take is the sound is coming through the gyprock/plywood ceilings.

Install some form of barrier in the roof space and apply some insulation material above your ceiling.

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should have said they did that after the pic was taken, going to add insulation above ceiling.

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Originally Posted by xanax

It's not that bad and the neighbours are good and out all day.

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so all you can hear is them having better sex than you?

I suppose you have to be sure where the noise is actually coming from

if the roof space and through the ceiling, then a wall in the roof and fibreglass insulation on your ceiling would help

if the wall, an additional wall of 10cm QCon would cut the noise and would not be too heavy

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Originally Posted by DrAndy

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Originally Posted by xanax

It's not that bad and the neighbours are good and out all day.

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so all you can hear is them having better sex than you?

I suppose you have to be sure where the noise is actually coming from

if the roof space and through the ceiling, then a wall in the roof and fibreglass insulation on your ceiling would help

if the wall, an additional wall of 10cm QCon would cut the noise and would not be too heavy

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No, rather disappointed in not hearing them have a shag yet, I expect QCon might be like the white blocks on the outside? Def not going to double the wall in the roof, but will put down insulation on the ceiling. Of course mrs thinks is all a waste, probably as nobody will be able to see it! Does QCon have holes in it or is it solid?

QCon is aereated concrete so looks solid but is full of little bubbles

it is a good insulator, heat and sound

so you can just build them up like a normal wall, but also make sure they are stuck to the existing wall (you may need to have some sort of ties put in as the wall is built)

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Originally Posted by xanax

QCon have holes in it or is it solid?

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Solid white blocks with wee bubbles as Doc says.

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Originally Posted by xanax

will put down insulation on the ceiling

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Will cut down sound and insulate room for cooling.

I think I have seen them about the site, quite light compared to other materials, this is it then

http://www.qcon.co.th/products/property_e2.php?id=e201

DrAndy says go for 10 Cm thick so will do that as he knows what he's on about, thanks. How much each or per sq meter should they cost?

Polytsyrene (Jablite) in the cavity would help. Cuts the noise down, not sure of cost though.

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Originally Posted by xanax

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Originally Posted by liveinlos

Move! You are pouring money into a lost cause

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It's not that bad and the neighbours are good and out all day. It's just that the construction is poor but can be improved as did it downstairs which does seem to work. Everywhere is noisy even the countryside, does not mean you cannot make the best of a bad job though.

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My house has 2 outside walls with 3" of insulation between them and I have 10" of fiberglass insulation in the ceiling. I live in the country, on a main road at the end of a small village. Nothing I've done can compete with loud stereo's from the temple and neighbors. My closest neighbor is 100 feet from my house and the stereo is so loud, I have to turn the TV on full blast to hear it. So, I'm with one of the other posters moving, buying land on a back road and build a house is your only option.

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Of course mrs thinks is all a waste, probably as nobody will be able to see it!

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Now here is a Thailand home truth.

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Originally Posted by ralphlsasser

I have to turn the TV on full blast to hear it. So, I'm with one of the other posters moving, buying land on a back road and build a house is your only option.

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Not moving as it's not that bad and if we did it could be far worse, Thailand is a noisy place where they have no concept of how the noise they make affects others, yet they go on about grengjai all the time as well. It's even noisier in the mrs village miles from the main road, people have sound systems outside the house, permanently and wake us up at 5-6. I recommend Boots wax earplugs. Schizo place

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Originally Posted by xanax

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Originally Posted by ralphlsasser

I have to turn the TV on full blast to hear it. So, I'm with one of the other posters moving, buying land on a back road and build a house is your only option.

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Not moving as it's not that bad and if we did it could be far worse, Thailand is a noisy place where they have no concept of how the noise they make affects others, yet they go on about grengjai all the time as well. It's even noisier in the mrs village miles from the main road, people have sound systems outside the house, permanently and wake us up at 5-6. I recommend Boots wax earplugs. Schizo place

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Not only do they have no concept of hot much they noise they make, they don't care. Me and 2 of my neighbors have come close to blows over their stereo being so loud and it's not only the young ones. The parents are as bad as the kids with the same crazy music. Another problem is there are no zoning laws. One of the neighbors I almost fought with put a radio station in his FUCKING house and plays that crazy music 24-7 and thinks everyone in the village wants to listen to it.:deadhorsebig:

When we built our bungalow in 2008, used Qcon block all around. 2009, added perimeter wall, many trees, grass, plants and other landscaping. 2010, added steel framed trellis around southern half of house, growing flowering vines for natural shade, but it also helps with sound cushioning.
All of these things combine to help provide an acceptable sound level, most days.
Wat is 1km across open fields to the NE; and/or local celebrations at nearby neighbors can be challenging. When I see them pulling in to a neighbors place with the sound system in a trailer; multiple 6 foot tall speakers - I start thinking about a day long trip out of the village.
We are planning our permanent house build; and am seriously consider either double Qcon; Qcon layed flat; or cavity wall type.
In other places, some of the successful sound limiting techniques included - 5/8 gypboard - (really good sound proofing plus fire protection); after market rubberized sound proofing mat/pad above the ceiling.

I frequently go for long walks very early in the morning, outside the village. Very quiet and enjoyable. When Wat music starts in the distance or local announcements begin, over the public address system thru out the village, I start thinking of Ko Kood.

Ack! Am going to build a house in Don Kaew, and now I'm scared to death about noise! :O So far, it's QCon, attic insulation, gypsum board, plants and trees, outer wall, double panes . . . what else? :)

Wax ear plugs from boots!

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Originally Posted by terp80

Ack! Am going to build a house in Don Kaew, and now I'm scared to death about noise! :O So far, it's QCon, attic insulation, gypsum board, plants and trees, outer wall, double panes . . . what else? :)

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Read all you can about noise. It is usually the windows and the gaps that are the culprits.

If the wat bass speakers can rattle the walls then all is lost. Egg cartons would work for higher frequencies if installed. As they break up the sound waves. heavy curtains also can work.

go stay on your land in a tent for a few days

if the noise is acceptable, build

you may still get the occasional party but that is normal anywhere

This like the camp out near a new house and drive to work and back before buying advice!

OP before adding an extra wall please check with the Mumbai building inspectors!

Built our house with the superblock (Qcon) and insured it was done properly (many want to use them with cement mortar at regular block or brick thickness=wrong), double glazed windows and sliding doors, 5CM wood door at exterior rear with inside 4CM wood door. Upstairs ceiling have R12 covering the suspended ceilings. Unless windows are open, don't hear much of anything, unless next door or across the street neighbors blasting, and even then only the bass sounds mainly.

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Originally Posted by DrAndy

go stay on your land in a tent for a few days

if the noise is acceptable, build

you may still get the occasional party but that is normal anywhere

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That's an idea.:)

yes the tent is a good idea ....but controlling the noise from within is another problem.
At times my lot just converse at seeming 120Db level.