Achieving acoustic comfort in a building is a relatively complex issue, depending primarily on the type of burdensome noise. There are four basic types of noise: transportation noise, housing estate noise, neighbor noise and household noise. The methods of protecting against the first three types of noise overlap to some extent. The most important in this case are tight external and internal envelopes or partitions. Their noise insulation factor should be as high as possible. Finding building materials with a high insulation factor is not a problem nowadays. The same applies to the windows – the matter really boils down to the potential costs. Problems may arise if the building is older. In the case of windows or doors the solution is obvious, because the inferior model can be replaced with one that insulates sound better. Unfortunately, it is much more difficult with walls, because the only solution in this case is to build an additional insulation wall, either of the traditional or the plasterboard type, filled with mineral wool or polystyrene. Floor slabs can be insulated with a special layer under a floating floor and the ceiling can be suspended, with the free space filled with an insulating material. Household noise can be combated by replacing noisy devices for newer, quieter ones or additionally insulating rooms in which these devices are located. Of course, none of the above solutions guarantee success. This is also due to the very nature of noise, which may be a sound wave propagating in the air as well as in a solid body, such as a wall. In addition, noise may generate vibrations which may then generate another noise themselves, with a respectively lower intensity. If none of the above methods work, you should seek the help of a professional.
