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DIY Noise and Car Repairs

If you have got noisy work to carry out, using power tools, drills etc. let your neighbours know in advance. 

Doing a DIY job?

Don’t start too early and don’t finish too late. 

  • We suggest not starting before 8am weekdays and finishing by 7pm. 
  • On weekends do not start before 9am and finish by 7pm. 
  • If you have neighbours who work nights discuss what hours would suit them best.  They may prefer the late night noise as they won’t be at home.  This can however cause problems in terrace properties where one neighbour is a night worker and another would prefer the noise during the day.  Try to compromise to suit both neighbours.
  • If you’ve got a major project on, let the neighbours know so they are aware how long it is likely to be before things go back to normal.
  • If you are a DIY enthusiast, agree times between you and your neighbours when it is okay to do your projects
  • Make sure you leave plenty of times when they can have a complete rest from the noise.

Car Repairs

If you’re repairing cars at your property it should only be your own car, avoid revving engines and make sure if you’re doing something noisy to consider letting neighbours know how long you will be doing the work.  Car repairs should not take place on a road unless absolutely essential.  If you are repairing cars at your property on a regular basis that do not belong to you, you may find you get reported to the planning enforcement officer.

Flooring

Before sanding your floorboards or laying laminate flooring particularly in flats, maisonettes, terraced or semi-detached houses consider the layout of the rooms. Many leases prohibit hard floors, for good reason, they can be very noisy.

 

If you sand floorboards where you previously had carpet you are taking away noise insulation so your neighbours will be able to hear what you do in your house more than they would if you had underlay and carpet as there is no soft layer to absorb the noise.

 

If you are laying laminate or wood flooring you should use an acoustic underlay first. You should wear soft shoes, slippers or walk around in bare feet on hardwood floors as hard bottomed shoes will be noisy.

This webpage was updated on 12/21/2011

 

Ashford Borough Council, Civic Centre
Tannery Lane, Ashford TN23 1PL
Telephone: 01233 331111
Email: customer.care@ashford.gov.uk or view our contact us page.
Ashford Borough Council Ashford, Best Placed in Britain

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