Ok since they’ve been leveling the transient apts behind the park behind my house Ive been kept awake by loud music coming accross the park into my BR. Ive called the police about 30 times wrote the city councel/city manager,police chief and all.
I tought it was a neighbor but after the police told me that they found out the music is coming from some tavs down town. They are zoned and permited for live music.
M backyard block fence is only 4 feet high on my side of the fence. Ive been thinking about raising it using some cedar frames and nailing a wooden fence on it. Mybe it will help block the noise. I can only legally raise up another 2 feet as city ordinances allow only a 6 ft fence Do you think this will be good enough to block some of the noise or should I go to the city and request a variance and raise it up to 8′.
The music ist even that good. they play it from 10pm to 2 am about 3 times a week.grrrrrr they are aware of the problem and are working on it,but I guess there are alot of issues to consider.
Replies
how high is your BR window?
IMO a cedar fence won't stop much noise
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter WFR
"But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG
That's tough. Your whole life changes when you can't get good sleep. Unfortunately the fence won't do much at all. Solid barriers need to be specifically designed and are only effective if they are continuous and close to the room being protected. Otherwise the sound waves simply curve around them. The most surefire solution is to get used to sleeping with earplugs. If you find you can't, try closing your window and providing masking sounds of "white noise" such as an air conditioner. All other solutions become fairly involved. Reducing the sound coming into your bedroom will require replacing your window and adding layers of sound absorbent material to the wall - with no real guarantee of success.
Hope you find a solution. I've been there and it isn't funny.
http://www.customearplugs.com/
these are a lot cheaper than building a fence, which probably won't work anyway.
an audiologist in my ENT doc's office made mine for about $45 ten years ago.
i love them.
carpenter in transition
What the others said - plus - at Target I bought a CD of running water & bird songs - the title is something catchy like "Pure Stream". I have it next to the bed, & it works as white noise very nicely - tells my primitive brain that, since the birds are singing, everything is ok & it's safe to go to sleep...
They may be zoned for live music but there are usually limits on volume, especially late night, that could be addressed under current ordinances.
Are you allowed to build a berm? They're very effective at stopping noise.
Hmm, my first thought was vegetation, actually.
All the leaves act as reflective and diffusing points for the sound. Plants also generally don't violate fence construction limitations, either.
Ok, could be a situation where plants ain't cheap, too--I'm picturing 5gal lygustrum at 36" O.C. That plant count gets pretty high pretty quick. But, they're drought and neglect tolerant. In warm climates, they'll grow in any direction you do not prune them.
Or, go to the nearest Oshman's and pick up a set of foam ear plugs for about 25¢ the pair (or a box of 500 from the safety supply place for around $10). Get the highest SRF (sound reduction factor) you can (foam plugs run 25-28).
thanks i guess im gonna have to move my br and swap with the kids up front. kids can sleep trough anything
View Image "We fight not to enslave ,but to set free"
Thomas Paine
Listen to what Ralph said.
They may be emitting more sound then they are allowed to by law.[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
Going on Capns suggestion of plants and another idea I used effectively to block Texas sun: How about a vertical arbor, with at least some sunshade material on the backside and plants on the front. build it close to wall, but not close it prevents maintenance. I don't know about sound, but mine cooled a room significantly. It seems any form of barrier and Capns plant idea may defeat some of the sound.
You could also get a night job and sleep during the day, or ask the club owners to hire better bands who play easy listening or elevator music. : - )
I don't want to be too much of a smart azz, as you being without sleep may put my life in danger.
Call their booking agent and have him book Great White. Maybe they can bring extra pyrotechnics!
Constructing in metric...
every inch of the way.
I'm a firefighter in Warwick, RI. One day after the anniversary of 100 deaths at the Station nightclub fire, allow me to say a quiet, " not funny"
Edited 2/22/2007 8:06 pm ET by Bing187
Somehow it escaped me that people died. Sorry it was in bad taste.Constructing in metric...
every inch of the way.
Ouch. Talk to the city. One the cheap, you could try some heavy drapes with the foam liner over your window and possibly the whole wall, which might help some, as most of the sound would be via the glass (unless you have no outside insulation). Worst comes to worst, you might have to bring a nuisance lawsuit (just as if your neighbor doesn't take care of a dead tree hanging over your roof) against the city. Good luck.
Look up the noise ordinance. They usually specify the SPL (Sound Pressure Level) at a specific distance from the building or door. You can buy an SPL meter at Radio Shack for not a lot of money and if it costs $75 but you get some quiet, it's worth it.
Lorazepam, 1 mg, 1/2 hour before bed. Pleasant dreams!
Ah, better living through chemistry, you gatta love it!