Acoustic and soundproofing works
We design and install soundproofing for flats and houses across West London, North London and Essex: party walls, ceilings under a neighbour, floors over one and whole rooms where the noise comes from more than one direction. We survey first, name the build-up we will use, then decorate the room back to a finished standard, because a soundproofed wall still has to look like a wall.
What is included
- A survey that finds where the sound is coming through, including flanking paths through floors, ceilings, chimney breasts and service penetrations
- A written specification naming the system, its build-up and the space it will take from the room
- Independent wall, ceiling and floor systems, decoupled from the structure, not boards glued to the existing surface
- Acoustic sealing of sockets, pipes, downlights and perimeters, which is where most installations fail
- Full redecoration of the treated room, skirting, coving and finishes reinstated
- Pre and post completion sound testing by an accredited tester, available as a priced option
What is not included
- A guarantee of total silence; we state the measurable decibel reduction the system is designed to achieve and identify what it cannot stop
- Noise through windows and doors, which is a glazing and door-set problem, unless it is part of the scope
- Works to the neighbour's side of a party wall
- Structural alterations, which are surveyed and priced separately
Typical projects
- A party wall in a Victorian terrace where voices and television come through from next door
- A ceiling in a converted flat with footsteps and furniture noise from above
- A whole room for a home office, music room or nursery where the noise comes from more than one side
How much noise will soundproofing actually stop?
It depends on the noise and the build-up. We size the wall or ceiling system to take the wall or floor up to, or past, the Part E standard for separating walls and floors between dwellings. Airborne sound such as voices improves most; low-frequency bass and impact noise need the floor treated as well as the ceiling.
Will we lose much space in the room?
An independent wall system typically takes 60 to 100mm from the room; a ceiling system takes a similar amount from the height. We show you the exact figure in the specification before you decide, and we detail skirting, coving, sockets and window reveals so the room reads as it did before, only quieter.
Does soundproofing need building control or the neighbour's consent?
Work on your side of a party wall that does not cut into the wall itself normally needs neither. Where the project is a flat conversion or a material change of use, Approved Document E applies and the work may need a sound test. We tell you which applies to your project at survey, in writing.
Why use a decorating contractor for soundproofing?
Because the last third of the job is finishing. Most installers leave the room as bare plasterboard for somebody else to make good, and the joints, reveals and skirting are where that shows. We install the system and bring the room back to the standard of our painting and decorating everywhere else, under one specification and one project manager.
Recent projects
In a converted flat in Maida Vale we fitted a decoupled GenieClip RST ceiling: two layers of plasterboard with an acoustic membrane between them, skimmed and decorated. Under the new engineered wood floor we laid a Hush Panel 28 overlay board on cork underlay. We sealed every perimeter. The room reads as it did before, only quieter.
Indicative cost
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A decoupled acoustic ceiling to one room is usually £3,500 to £6,500.
A whole flat, five rooms, is £14,000 to £22,000.
What moves it: the required acoustic build-up, whether we can decouple from the existing ceiling or build an independent frame beneath it, the ceiling height available, and whether perimeter cornices are run in plaster or lightweight acoustic profiles.
We survey, then put in writing what reduction the system will give you and what it will not stop, before you agree a price.
Frequently asked questions
Can you soundproof a flat without the freeholder's permission?
Usually, where the installation remains within your demised premises and does not alter the building's load-bearing structure. Leases vary, so we review the relevant lease clauses before starting and advise in writing whether your freeholder or managing agent requires a formal licence to alter.
Can the room be used while the work is on?
No. A soundproofing installation is a dusty, sequenced job and it takes the room out of use while it runs. For a single wall or ceiling that is about four and a half days: a day to prepare, a day to install, a day for the plaster and a day and a half to prepare and paint. We seal the doorway and keep the rest of the home usable.
Do you soundproof music rooms and home studios?
Yes, with a different specification. A studio needs isolation on every surface, treated ventilation and often a floating floor, and it costs more than a single party wall. We survey it as its own project, usually alongside a residential renovation.
What happens if it does not work?
Our acoustic survey and detailed specification are designed to eliminate that risk. Where a project includes independent acoustic testing, certified pre- and post-completion results provide the definitive record. Where testing is not required, we specify in writing the performance the system is engineered to achieve before you agree a price.
Tell us about the project.
We reply within one working hour, 7:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Outside those hours, first thing the next working morning.
Enquiry form
Thank you. Someone from our office will call or email you within the hour if it is a working day, or first thing the next working morning.