Talking about noisy neighbours

I'm sorry but I honestly don't. You say it isn't illegally loud and they are gone by 6pm so, I'm afraid I think you should just tolerate it as best you can.

Get some silicone ear plugs they really work. Not ideal I know but if you only use them now and then at least you get some respite.

To be honest I don’t think you can do anything about it, they are within their rights to do what they want to their homes, they don’t seem to be doing anything wrong or illegal, If it concerns you that much you can invest in ear plugs make it more tolerable for you

Yes I suppose that’s what I will do

It’s usually the builders who turn up with a dust ladened ghetto blaster. Where I used to live, I had building extensions & renovations going on all around me for 2 summers on the trot. 7 skips in the road at one point. It almost drove me to drink so I know how you feel Cava. I did at one point ask the builders next door if I could choose the music; they just laughed but did turn the sound down - for a day?
I felt cheated of a peaceful time in the garden especially as everywhere I looked, there seemed to be a builder up a ladder, so definitely no topless sun bathing on the patio ....

i'll remember tanith's advice about silicone earplugs if I ever have the need.

You have my sympathy Cava. My own garden is a quiet peaceful place and I feel grateful I have neighbours who have no small children or barbecues and don't cut their grass or hedges.

The music wouldn't bother me as I always have the radio on anyway and I like most types of music, with earphones if I'm sitting in the garden. What annoys me at the moment is when the builders working on a house in our road turn up early, about 7.15 and park outside my (open) bedroom window with the van windows wound down and the radio blaring while they drink their coffee and read the paper while they wait to start work at 8. The other morning I did slam the window shut and he looked up and then closed his van window. I think he got the message lol.

I agree that constant noise all day drives me mad. I live in a village and do so to have as much p&q as is humanly possible. I can't go in my garden when neighbours are using power tools all day, probably for diy projects. Occasionally I don't mind. I have things done that involve power tools, also mowers, hedge trimmers - but they are one offs and I get the jobs done quickly.
But DIY with power tools everyday of the week drives me nuts!

Hi Cava

Have you tried noise cancelling headphones?

I find it so relaxing having a bit of my own music as background noise in the garden

We had some building work done and the builders came in, first thing they did was place the large dusty brick of a radio down and switch it on. Then commenced bringing all their tools and equipment in and I was left with the radio. Then they went off to get materials and breakfast and still left the radio on. It went off!! It seems to be a thing with builders. Maybe they cannot get going without some form of background noise and dont' realise how annoying it can be for us who just like some peace and quiet.

I totally agree and it's also ignorant presume they can play their music in your house or garden loud.

Noise like music or tv doesn't have to be illegally loud or in the evenings or nights to ruin your enjoyment of where you live and drive you mad. I know from past experience. It just has to be regular and go on for long periods, even if it's just in the daytime. Before we moved, about 20 years ago, we had this from neighbours on both sides. Went on for a few years. TV, radio, even a karaoke. Not so loud that we could make a big fuss, but loud enough to be a constant annoying background noise that distracted us from reading and any other quiet relaxing pursuits. We became very anxious and depressed. It's sometimes too easy for other people to say you'll just have to put up with it. It can be like torture.

Our neighbours had a huge extension done and alterations to the inside of the house, and the whole thing stretched over 4 months. Quite early on, I went and had a word with them about the loud radio (when the site supervisor was there). It wasn't so much the music, it was the BASS that thumped, thumped, thumped, even into our house. I explained it as nicely as I could, and they did turn it down. BUT I also got myself a pair of noise cancelling headphones. Between those two things I got through it !

I completely agree. We had new indoor doors fitted and the joiners lugged a huge dusty radio blaring pop music from room to room. I honestly don’t know who these people think they are. I wouldn’t mind if they had even asked but the didn’t! I complained to the company and they stopped. Unbelievable rudeness.

Cava I have every sympathy for you. We have just had houses and flats built to the rear of us. It took twelve months to complete and we had constant noise and heavy vehicles passing the front of the house with dirt and muck (this was during the very wet January and February) being the norm. Four houses were directly affected, including mine, and we got together to campaign against the constant noise and affects the building work was having on us. We had residents' meetings involving the builders and council and are now waiting for compensation (yes, it was that bad!) but, of course, the builders are now blaming lockdown for not paying up! I hadn't realised I was a campaigner before all this happened but I know I would have been there with the suffragettes!

It seems to be a fact of life with builders. The first thing they do is turn it up loud. My regular builder has a habit of turning his music on and then disappearing for an hour or so - going for coffee or supplies or breakfast.

The one thing about tradesmen, any tradesmen, it their appalling choice in radio, and loudness of said radio!
Personally, it does irritate me, but only a little, but l totally understand the annoyance you must feel.
Just tell yourself that it will be finite: at some point it will be over, and peace will return.
Meanwhile, purchase a good quality pair of sound cancelling ear defenders, and enjoy you book in the garden.

My younger son lives in a caravan in our drive and unfortunately suffers from mental health problems.They are building a new housing estate just to the side of us,which used to be a really quiet village location.They start work at eight o'clock and then the beeping starts and the thumping and the shouting.It certainly isn't helping his mental health.It was wonderful when they were furloughed!

We used to live in a semi-detached house where our next door neighbour and his son both played the piano. They both played beautifully and the quiet background music was never unpleasant.
My in-laws however were in the same situation and lived next door to a pianist who played some something like Les Dawson in his comedy act. Every time he hit a wrong note he woukd go back and start again often going wrong in exactly the same place. The only answer was earplugs!

My daughter always has the sonus on playing an 80s radio station which I can’t stand ?. Earlier this year we had the builders to n to do work to the kitchen/ dining room and the first thing they did every day was to plug in their radio and play 60s/70s music which I love . They were only here fo 3 weeks but what a great 3 weeks it was

They don't cut their grass or hedges?!

I live on the edge of Sidmouth in a quiet road. I like to sit on my patio and read while having a cup of coffee. Yet every day somebody nearby is using hedge cutters, mowers, power tools, etc. Every day. All summer long. I go out to
check and if it seems quiet I make some coffee and get my book. By the time I get out you can bet that somebody has thought they would like to mow their lawn. My nearest neighbour is now having several trees cut down... All the neighbours are nice people and I just don't want to complain. Of course everybody has a perfect right to do what they want to their properties, and they would probably think I was just a grumpy old woman, which I am.

We had windows fitted by a well known company a few years ago. Initial fitters were great, no noise and pleasant. The second lot of fitters, one brought a ghetto blaster to the front of the house and switched it on, loudly. I told him neighbour next door was asleep as working nights. What did he do, brought it inside the house, no permission given and then he complained about me to the company when I told him to switch it off. Funnily enough, he no longer works for that company - I wonder why!

Anyone seen the advice in the media lately about the best ways to set up your home cinema in your garden? I read an article this morning that blithely advised how to get the best effect. Apparently, it's important to wait until it's properly dark! In June that will be around 11pm. Good luck to neighbours hoping to sleep with their windows open on a sultry night. The home cinema goers may even be watching from their hot tub.