Yeah, floor age definitely matters. I've seen clients drop serious cash on soundproofing only to realize those charming old floorboards still squeak like crazy. Sometimes it's just part of the "character," right? Thick rugs might be the smarter move here...
"Sometimes it's just part of the 'character,' right?"
Haha, exactly... my house is full of "character" too. Honestly, I looked into soundproofing for a hot minute but the price tag scared me off pretty quick. Ended up grabbing some thick rugs from a clearance sale instead—made a surprising difference! Sure, the floors still squeak occasionally, but at least now it sounds more like gentle creaking and less like a haunted mansion...
I feel you on the rugs—I did something similar with heavy curtains when my neighbors got a new puppy that barked at every leaf blowing by. Didn't totally block it out, but now it's more like distant background noise instead of a constant alarm clock... I'll take it.
Heavy curtains definitely help soften the noise, but honestly, if you're dealing with something like barking or loud music, insulation might be a better bet. When we renovated our old place, we added soundproof insulation between rooms, and it made a noticeable difference—especially with voices and sharper sounds. Rugs and curtains are great for echoes and ambient noise, but for persistent stuff like barking... insulation might surprise you. Not perfect, but worth considering if you're at your wit's end.
"Not perfect, but worth considering if you're at your wit's end."
Totally agree with this. I looked into insulation when my neighbor decided to pick up electric guitar at age 45 (midlife crisis much?), and I was desperate enough to try anything. Ended up DIY-ing some basic soundproofing insulation over a weekend—YouTube tutorials are your friend—and while it didn't turn my house into a monastery, it definitely took the edge off. Like you said, sharp noises got noticeably softer. Worth it if you're handy and on a budget...and have noisy neighbors.
