Dealing with noisy neighbors can be quite a task, especially when the neighbors are located upstairs. Apartment dwellers have dealt with noise coming from upstairs neighbors since the invention of the apartment building. At the same time, while owners have sought ways to provide a reasonable amount of protection from the transfer of footsteps and other day-to-day upstairs noise.
Fortunately, the methods employed to accomplish soundproofing between floors in an apartment building or a residence have never been better than today. Essentially, all these approaches to dealing with noise coming from upstairs involve a process known as soundproofing. With soundproofing, materials are inserted into the spaces between floors that will muffle a great deal of noise, which will lead to a lot more harmony around the building.
One medium used to soundproof the space and reduce the noise coming from upstairs is thick layers of insulation. Rolls of insulation made from fire-retardant materials are used to essentially stuff and fill the space between floors. The fibers in the insulation act as absorbents to the noise occurring on the floors below and above, providing more privacy for both tenants.
A new alternative is the utilization of foam insulation that can be blown into the space between floors. This process is actually much easier than using rolls of insulation, as the foam will expand and fill in every nook and cranny in the space. Once set in place, the insulation provides a solid barrier to noise coming from upstairs, as well as preventing music and party sounds from coming through loud and clear from below.
Some older buildings were not constructed with a space between floors. When this is the case, the ceilings are usually high enough to allow the addition of a drop ceiling in the rooms on the lower floor. The dropped ceiling only needs to allow a few inches for the inclusion of insulation in order to provide a decent level of protection from noise coming from upstairs.
However, keep in mind that all these solutions work for simple day-to-day noise. In the event that there is already a buffer between floors, and the upstairs neighbors tend to have loud parties or play music at high volumes, the main solution may be a serious talk with the landlord.
