Yes, sound does travel from one apartment to the other.
That said, downstairs neighbors are more likely to hear sounds from neighbors above them than the other way around.
This is because the sounds of footsteps or moving furniture travel from their floor to the downstairs neighbor’s ceiling.
If you want to reduce the risk of upsetting your neighbors due to excessive sound, here’s what you should know.
Identifying Sources of Sound Leakages
Regardless of how hard you try, some sound will travel to the downstairs neighbors.
However, it can help to identify the sources of sound leakages to minimize that. Some examples are listed below.
The Floor
If you have received noise complaints of loud footsteps, you’ll know that your floor is the culprit. Some flooring may not have adequate insulation underneath.
In that case, the sound will travel to downstairs neighbors.
Windows and Doors
Upstairs neighbors can also hear sounds from downstairs neighbors.
If your upstairs neighbors complained about TV sound or other noise, then check the windows and doors.
The Walls
The walls may be the source of sound leaks if next-door neighbors are concerned with excessive noise from your apartment.
Cracks in the Ceiling or Walls
You may notice some cracks in your ceiling or walls if your apartment is old.
The sound could be traveling through those small spaces.
Methods of Controlling Sound Leakages
If you play a musical instrument or typically stay up late at the night, you can take steps to control sound leakages.
As a result, you don’t have to keep the volume low to prevent disturbing neighbors in your apartment building.
It’s typically a good idea to also speak to your neighbors before you make any changes. For example, if you play a loud musical instrument, ask them if they can hear it.
If the volume is relatively low, then you have nothing to worry about. Some apartments are designed to minimize sound travel from one home to the other.
If noise is a concern, then consider these methods of controlling it.
Use a Rug to Minimize Footstep Sounds on the Floor
It may be too expensive, time-consuming, and nonsensical to replace the flooring if footstep sounds reach downstairs.
A simpler and more cost-effective solution is to place thick rugs on the floors.
Make sure to use a rug that’s both thick and heavy.
They will do a better job at insulating sound than thinner and lighter rugs. It’s best to place rugs in those rooms in which you walk in the most.
This solution is also beneficial if you have children and pets.
You won’t be able to manage their footsteps or general thumping on the floor. So, the rugs will help keep the noise within your own apartment.
Also, encourage your child or pet to play over the rug instead of the hard floor.
The sound of toys hitting the floor will less likely be heard if it falls on soft carpeting instead of directly on the floor.
Moreover, rugs and carpets are good at managing the echo or reverberations in a room. Therefore, loud sounds like a musical instrument or loud music will be more controlled.
Also read: How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Carpet in an Apartment?
Try to Be More Careful with Your Footsteps
Of course, you can’t place rugs in every room—the kitchen, for example. In that case, you can be more careful with your footsteps.
Try to walk slowly while not stomping your feet on the floor to minimize thumping sounds. It’s a good idea to take more care than usual if you have wooden floors.
Also, be more mindful early in the morning and late at night.
People can have varying schedules, so a little consideration on your part can make a noticeable improvement.
In addition to that, you can try to walk barefoot or with socks. The heels of shoes are likely to make a louder sound than your soles.
Install Weather-Stripping on Your Windows and Doors
Installing weather-stripping is a good solution if the windows and doors are responsible for sound leaks. Weather-stripping is inexpensive and easy to install.
It also makes a significant improvement in keeping sound within your apartment. You can install it around the frames of the doors and windows.
Also, you can cover the space at the bottom of the doors with a sealing threshold. Minimizing small leakages like this can make a significant difference.
It’s worth noting that you don’t have to weather-strip every door and window in your apartment. You can do only those where you feel the noise is highest.
For example, you could weather-strip the doors and windows in your living room. This room is likely where you’re TV and other entertainment devices are.
Another advantage of weather-stripping is that it can help maintain certain temperatures in your home.
Consult the owner before installing weather-stripping if you live in a rented apartment. You don’t want to get into any unnecessary trouble that can cost you money in damages.
It’s also important to mention that weather-stripping will help if you close the windows and doors. So, when you’re about to listen to or watch something loudly, close the doors.
Hang Thick and Heavy Curtains on the Walls
When the walls are the source of sound leaks, hang thick and heavy curtains. Curtains can effectively cut reverberations within a room and prevent sound from reaching outside.
As with the rugs, thick and heavy curtains are more effective at sound management than thin and light ones.
You can also improve the sound control by placing curtains in front of windows or doors.
There are some dedicated sound-proofing curtains available in the market.
However, they can be expensive. So, you can choose regular ones as long as they are thick and heavy.
Add More Furniture Against the Walls
More furniture in a room can help with the room’s acoustics, and cutting echo.
Therefore, there will be less sound that travels to neighbors’ apartments.
If your apartment’s walls are thin, you could place large pieces of furniture against them. Wooden bookshelves are great because of the material and size help with sound insulation.
Pro Tip: If you can, add plants that have thick soft leaves (such as money plant or snake plants). Place these plants in the corners and they will absorb a lot of noise waves that reflect from the corner. I did this in my small study and it worked really well.
Hang Acoustic Panels on the Walls
If you don’t have enough space in your rooms, you could hang acoustic panels instead. These typically help with acoustic treatment, i.e., reducing echo in the room.
They won’t necessarily make a significant improvement in sound insulation. That said, there are different types of acoustic panels.
Some are large wooden frames with fabric on them.
So, those may help with sound insulation in some aspects.
Seal Cracks in the Ceiling and Walls
Once you’ve identified cracks in the ceiling and walls, seal them to prevent sound from escaping. If you don’t own the apartment, have the owner handle that for you.
Try to have them fix that sooner than later if you have already received noise complaints.
Be Smart with Where You Place Devices That Make a Lot of Noise
It’s usually a good idea to place your sound equipment, such as soundbars or home theater speakers, away from walls.
Mounting them on walls will allow the sound to travel directly to other neighbors’ homes. However, this may be less of a problem if the wall attaches to another room in your apartment.
At the same time, it could help to raise a subwoofer if you have one. Placing it directly on the floor may allow the vibrations to travel to your downstairs neighbors’ ceiling.
So, you could use a small wooden platform. It can also help to place that platform over a rug for better insulation.
Also, direct your speakers to the center of the room if you’re using a surround sound system.
Some Tips for Musicians
Many acoustic musical instruments are loud enough to reach neighbors’ apartments even if you take care.
So, here are some quick tips you should know. These tips can help anyone who often makes noise.
Pick the Correct Room for Practice
One consideration you can make is to practice in an enclosed room. Ideally, pick a room that’s surrounded by other rooms in your apartment.
In addition to that, keep all doors and windows closed during practice.
Also, of course, practice at times of the day in which most people are awake. You’re less likely to deal with noise complaints in that case.
Use Rugs and Other Fabrics to Manage Sound Leaks
With instruments that you need to keep on the floor (such as the drums), make sure there’s carpeting underneath.
It may help to use a raised platform to minimize sound travel to the floor beneath you.
For percussion instruments, consider placing clothes over the drums for practice. It will greatly reduce the sound.
Towels or t-shirts are best. Again, thicker fabrics reduce the volume more than thinner ones.
Last Few Words
Living in an apartment means that you must take extra to keep your noise levels than living in a house.
That said, the good thing is that with a few adjustments you can limit sound leaks significantly.
Other articles you may also like: