Selecting a quiet home site is the least expensive way to diminish the din, but not all sites are as peaceful as they look. Home Plan Ideas magazine says evaluating the noise environment before signing on the dotted line may save lots of headaches later.
The location of the lot and the topography of the land can affect the amount of noise a family will have to live with.Overall topography of a site has a dramatic effect on noise. A location upwind from a source of noise, such as a neighborhood ball diamond, will be quieter. Those building downwind should plant a windbreak between the house and the noise. A tight evergreen or deciduous hedge will provide noise protection as far downwind as 20 times its height. If space is limited, use fences or column-shaped shrubs as noise buffers and privacy screens.
In an urban area, large buildings can reflect unwanted sounds onto a site. The noisiest places will be located on traffic arteries set between tall buildings. On the other hand, skyscrapers can perform a service if they are located between a house and a source of noise. Greenbelts or trees can also create pockets of quiet.
Families considering a site within two miles of a major airport should get a map and check with airport officials on normal flight paths. The noisiest area will be a three-mile-wide swath of land directly under these paths for 15 miles on either side of the airport.
People who are serious about a building site should take the time to visit it several times during the day.
Sometimes an area that is quiet at midday can become noisy in the evening or early in the morning. A building site near a school playground is apt to be noisy several times during the day.
Check out the activities of the neighbors. Auto buffs and do-it-yourselfers may ply their noisy hobbies well into the night. And ask if major construction projects are planned for the neighborhood. The sounds of some heavy equipment are enough to rattle the dishes right off the shelves.