Chances are that if you’ve lived in a condo or apartment then you’ve encountered a noisy neighbour or two — and you know what a struggle it can be.

It doesn’t matter if it’s below, beside or above you, it can be difficult to enjoy your home when somebody is screaming at their PlayStation 4 or replicating a movie theatre in their unit at 12 am on a Wednesday.

Perhaps you have somebody above you who has parties every weekend or a couple below you who fights very loudly and consolidates their relationship even louder. These situations while not the norm are incredibly hard to live with.

Whatever the case, we’ve seen and heard it all from Toronto condo owners and we have some solutions that are far more effective than wearing earplugs or shouting at your neighbours.

You need soundproofing, and though that might sound daunting, it’s actually not as difficult or expensive to achieve as many believe it to be.

Before we get to the measures that will solve your noise issues a quick lesson is needed: sounds travels away from the source, causes vibrations, and a whole number of things happen in your brain converting these vibrations into the sound of what could be an amateur bowling alley above your head at 7am on a Saturday morning.

To stop the vibrations from reaching your ears, you need to interrupt them and the best way to do this is with density; reinforcing the sound dampening on walls, ceilings, and floors can significantly reduce sound transfer, which will in all likelihood significantly decrease your blood pressure.

You’ll Pay Anything to Reduce the Noise

Soundproof drywall and soundproof insultation are two of the best options out there; they’re also some of the pricier options to reduce noise transfer. It’s not just the materials, but also the cost of renovation that you have to consider.

However, if you’re willing to fork over the money for this combination then you’ll have yourself a fortress of solitude. To give you a sense of how this works; soundproofing is graded based on its sound transmission class (STC). A rating of 40 would be considered soundproof; soundproof drywall has a rating between 50 and 55. This measure alone would effectively kill the sound of someone talking on the other side of the wall.

The reasons for its efficacy is the gypsum which is layered — in combination with materials like plastics and glue — to create dense drywall with reduced vibration; less vibration, less sound.

Soundproof insulation is foam that’s comprised of tiny air pockets. When vibrations travel through this form of insulation, sound energy is converted into heat energy, reducing the vibrations and the noise with it.

You Want Quiet but You’re Not Looking to Splurge

There are some very innovative ways to reduce sound travel without renovating a unit and installing insulation; these measures don’t cost an arm and a leg but they’re not a bargain either.

The same principles apply for this option — you need to increase the density of the walls to reduce vibrations. There are a few options here. The best is probably Mass Loaded Vinyl  or MVL because it’s quite heavy, and that extra weight reduces vibrations. It can be added on top of existing walls, so there’s not need for a reno, and if you put this up with a layer of green glue, it will greatly reduce sound travel. This measure won’t give you complete soundproofing, but it’s close.

Student Budget

If you’re still working on your career or don’t have much disposable income available, worry not, there are still things you can do to improve your sound barrier. Sealing holes is one basic approach — under doors, around windows and light fixtures, and anywhere that a gap is present.

As well, carpets, drapes, and soft material can reduce sound transfer. If you’re truly desperate, moving blankets are great sound insulators but will look horrible on your walls. However, there is something you can do that won’t be an eyesore: with a little effort, you can create your own soundproof panels.

Installing soundproof drywall for a whole unit is expensive, but one drywall panel is relatively cheap: 60 dollars. If you buy a sheet, a picture frame, and some stylish wallpaper, you can create a piece that is eye pleasing and sound reducing.

If nothing works and you just can’t take it, it’s probably time to contact a realtor.