What is the difference in sound insulation between a solid house and a prefabricated house?

Hello dear forum,

We, a family of four, are planning to build a single-family house in Ingolstadt at the end of 2017/beginning of 2018. We are still at the very beginning and are currently looking for the best building partner for us (if anyone here has a recommendation in this region, very welcome!). At the very beginning, one of the decisions is whether to go with a general contractor or an architect and whether to choose a prefabricated house with timber construction or a solid house in brick construction.

We have already done a lot of research and have realized that for us the most important difference between a solid house in brick construction and a prefabricated house in timber construction lies in sound insulation. This is supposed to be better in a solid house and is an important point for us since we have two small children.

The question is how big the difference really is here? Bien-Zenker (our current favorite regarding prefabricated houses in timber construction) also offers a mix of wood and brick wall called “EFFIZIENZHAUS 40 KLIMA-MASSIVWAND.” Does this practically mean that there is no difference anymore compared to a normal solid house? Or is it all marketing nonsense?

Regarding indoor climate, our current understanding is that brick construction and timber construction are not much different since modern new buildings are airtight anyway, and it mainly depends on a good ventilation system. Therefore, sound insulation seems to be the last remaining big difference since both types are supposed to be similarly priced.

Can you shed some light on this for us?

Thanks and best regards,
Oliver

whether prefabricated house with wooden construction or solid house with brick construction.

Solid does not have to mean brick, there are more than a handful of alternatives.

We have already done a lot of research and realized that for us the most important difference between a solid house in brick construction and a prefabricated house in wooden construction is in sound insulation. This should be better in the solid house and is an important point for us as we have 2 small children.

So what now? One can only "realize" facts, but "should be better" sounds more like hearsay. Sound must first be divided into two categories: airborne sound and impact sound. Airborne sound comes from environmental noise, conversation, singing, etc., transmitted through the air. Impact sound primarily comes from the energy of footsteps or vibrations of the floor and is transmitted through structural components. Without special environmental noise (highway in main wind direction etc.) airborne sound does not require special attention, except when the children practice trombone. This applies to both construction methods with regard to the walls. Where the prefabricated house is conceptually slightly at a disadvantage is impact sound—simply due to more rigid connections between ceiling and wall components. When the children are jumping rope or playing tag in their rooms, it disturbs the living room downstairs more in the prefabricated house. But I would not immediately turn my back on the prefabricated house for that. First, the difference is not that dramatic, and second, the kids are not permanently rowdy either.

That's why I wouldn't turn my back on prefabricated houses right away. First, the difference isn't that dramatic, and second, the kids aren't constantly unruly.

I can only agree with . If increased sound insulation is important to you, there are various measures such as special fillings for floors and separation of building components. Just google "sound insulation eco" or "sound insulation in prefabricated houses".

If you knock on the partition walls in a prefabricated house, you do not get the impression that they are soundproof. The providers also do not want to give quantitative dB values for sound insulation, except for the provider Gussek Haus.

We have looked at it twice now in the prefabricated house park in Frechen but will definitely stick with the solid house. Somehow we just don't really get along with the prefabricated construction method.

Maybe we are mistaken, but our impression was also that the houses somehow emit something and create an unpleasant indoor climate.....

Attached is an excerpt from the building description of Gussek Haus, which was just sent to me.

Maybe we are mistaken, but our impression was also that the houses somehow off-gas something and create an unpleasant indoor climate.....

That certainly depends on the manufacturer, possibly there were also too many new pieces of furniture containing formaldehyde?

There are various manufacturers in the prefabricated house sector who have committed themselves to the "healthy living" construction method with biologically tested materials (timber frame construction and solid wood construction). Conversely, why shouldn't floors, paints, plastics, etc. also off-gas in a solid construction?

Regarding sound insulation: I have read similar dB values in other construction service descriptions as well.