Old houses can often be better insulated for sound than some new builds when it comes to the thickness of walls. Unfortunately, there will inevitably be some areas of the house that don’t provide adequate soundproofing such as old wooden floorboards.
Some people aren’t particularly bothered about hearing noise from footsteps above while for others this can cause distress over a period of time. If a house is being converted into a HMO for example the need to insulate between floors becomes even more important.
Before starting work, it is important to gain advice from an expert on sound insulation if you have no previous experience to ensure you are spending money wisely and on the right kind of sound insulation.
A common method for reducing noise in older houses is to install a false ceiling. Plaster ceilings are best left in place if you plan to do this because removing them is messy and unnecessary. The extra layer can even help add to the insulating properties.
If you have converted a loft, then acoustic matting can be an effective form of insulation when fitting a sub-floor would reduce the amount of headroom. It is worth spending extra on higher quality acoustic matting to ensure you get value for money.