Clients often ask me: can the subway noise that I hear in my house be reduced? The answer is not simple and usually not what the client wants to hear.
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Subway noise can often be heard in homes close to a subway line. The noise and vibration can travel up to 200 m or more from the subway tunnel. The noise is usually the loudest in the basement.
Cause of subway noise
Subway noise is caused by ground vibrations transmitted from the subway tunnel to your house. This causes your walls to vibrate and re-transmit vibrations into the air, creating noise.
Ground vibration noise is difficult to eliminate. The best approach is to address the source of the problem, which only TTC could do by modifying their rails. As I understand, the new subway cars are quieter than the old ones. All complaints that I get are from clients who live near the Bloor – Danforth line that uses mostly old cars. Their noise may be reduced when TTC introduces the new cars on that line.
Reducing subway noise
Some measures during a major renovation can be taken to mitigate the problem of subway noise in a house.
Proper foundation design using neoprene dampers can be beneficial if you are building a new house or underpinning an existing house. This treatment will reduce vibrations in the entire house; however, the benefit is proportional to the extent of excavation and underpinning being done. This is a specialized job best handled by a consultant experienced in dealing with this problem.
I know that the solutions discussed are not what my clients want to hear because they are costly, but there is no easy solution to the noise caused by the subway in nearby homes.
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