The true cause of the noise is your upstairs neighbors

The true cause of the noise is your upstairs neighbors

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An audio expert claims that the true cause of your upstairs neighbors' constant noise is

It's after midnight. You're going to bed soon. Then, in the flat above you, the sound of marbles rolling in all directions sounds like clockwork, or at least that's what you believe you hear. It's true that you will always hear the loudest, least thoughtful individuals in your life from your upstairs neighbors. The aged design and infrastructure of the building, rather than the occupants above, are more likely to be the cause of the noise that echoes in your unit.

What's up with your loud upstairs neighbors?

Let's imagine you reside in a newly constructed home that was completed more than ten years ago, or in a structure that was developed in the early 1900s. Things will naturally go crazy at night since there's a strong likelihood that internal systems have been pressured, connections have grown loose, and pipes need to be replaced. It goes without saying that the apartment's acoustics are not intended to muffle sound. Rugs are often placed on interior surfaces to assist reduce echo effects; however, they are not placed on ceilings to block out sound.

Even if sound-absorbing flooring exacerbate issues with furniture dragging and legs protruding, one acoustic problem still baffles people: why are the dang marbles? It makes sense to move furniture, but who spends so much time moving metal balls?

The pipes are usually the main source of the noises. The power of the water may cause air pockets to get caught in the network of pipes, jolting the pipes and scattering the trapped air, producing a sound like rolling marbles.

Preston S. Wilson, an associate professor in the Walker Department of mechanical design at the University of Texas at Austin, where he teaches dynamic systems and controls and acoustics, told Curbed that while hydraulic shock or a "water hammer" might not be the direct cause of the sound, it could be its source. The sound of the pipe striking the pipe is called "water hammer" when the water flow is abruptly stopped.

"I think the sound of marble tumbling comes from the water hammer effect of the pipe being agitated and then smacking other pipes, floors, beams, etc.," Wilson explains. "This is the sound of the cylinder hitting a nearby object, rather than the sound of water flowing throughout the pipe."

What action then can you take?

It's doubtful that you'll be replacing old pipes entirely because of this little noise, unless you live in a building with the best landlord in the world. This is not to say that you can't try different solutions in your house if the issue still exists. To further reduce noise, Jessica Davis, interior designer at Atelier Davis, recommends installing insulation to the ceiling.

According to Davis, soft surfaces are essential for reducing noise. Although carpets are fantastic, even a cork floor performs better in terms of sound absorption than a hard surface like stone or wood. You have an excellent base if you place a rug over a cork floor.

While the dragging, dropping, and stomping won't end anytime soon, at least the noise will get softer.