Silence at Home: Soundproofing Walls and Floors by the Numbers

Daily footsteps from the upstairs neighbor or bass from a teenager's room through the wall — acoustics is the renovation that buys you peace. Here are the numbers. ## Wall soundproofing (e.g., 12 m² wall) - Stud frame + 5–10 cm mineral wool + 2× drywall: £40–£70/m² → £480–£840 total - Effect: approx. 8–12 dB reduction — conversations are no longer intelligible, and the TV becomes mere background noise. ## Floor soundproofing against footsteps from above (if you have influence) - Damping layer (wool or foam) + acoustic underlay + engineered wood: £30–£50/m² - Effect: reduction of impact noise by 15–20 dB. ## Suspended ceiling (option without neighbor's cooperation) - Acoustic boards on a frame: £36–£60/m². ## What 10 dB actually means The volume scale is logarithmic: 10 dB less = perceived as half as loud to the human ear. Soundproofing one wall is often the difference between "I hear everything" and "I can sleep." Note: before renovating, check if the problem is caused by acoustic bridges (doors, electrical outlets, radiators) — sometimes £100 worth of sealing replaces a £800 wall renovation. Compare quotes for soundproofing — post your request on LocalTrader.