For all the DryWall Wizards, a puzzle…
Uh oh; the acoustical consultant is loose on the job and has spec’d a rafted, hanging ceiling of two sheets 5/8″ sheetrock. The ceiling hangs on special hangars (Kinetics ICW; http://www.kineticsnoise.com/arch/ceilings.html ) that acoustically isolate it from the noises above (and noises from below from propogating upwards too). When done, the ceiling is supposed to be floating 3/8″ from the walls in the restoration of a Victorian. Acoustical (flexible, never-skinning) caulk fills in the space between the edge of the hung sheetrock (now gently hanging in space) and the walls. Supposedly, that joint can be taped over and painted (it serves as a hinge and doesn’t couple the floating ceiling to the walls—thus, no acoustical “short”)
No problem! Straight forward enough so far…
Except…
How do you replaster the coved ceilings into place and onto the new, just recently “rafted” ceiling without blowing the acoustical dampening? Am I missing something? If you plaster from the walls to the floating acoustical ceiling, didn’t you just anchor it to the walls again and couple the free-floating mass to all the noise propogating walls and ceiling you were drying to isolate in the first place?
Hmmmm
Any ideas?
Thanks
NotAClue
Replies
It would seem like the cove would defeat the purpose, at least around the perimeter. Since there's an acoustics guy involved he should specify the entire detail. Mess with his plans and it'll be your head if the owner thinks there's too much sound transmission. Is the building being condo-ized?
Hmm; no, the building isn't being condoized.
You know, should have thought of asking the acoustics guy how to solve the problem in the first place!
Not my most clever moment, but THANKS!
NotAClue
Wait a minute, just had an idea; what if the cove is hung from the false ceiling only and is free of the wall? Then all that has to happen is a bead of acoustical caulk around the outside of the cove where it meets the wall...and the acoustical silencing is preserve.
Shouldn't I be able to use a plastic cove for this?
NotAClue
Edited 2/20/2005 2:48 am ET by NotaClue
my first thought was the same as dave's- ask the specialist to slve the problem. you'll get any blame due, otherwise. present him the whole problem you have; he should respect you for knowing enough to ask.don't offer your solution at first. ask and see what he says. after he's answered, you can throw out your idea to him. see which one he goes with and if it's yours, add "accoustics expert" to your business card.
I was thinking the samething.But rather hang the cove under on the walls and leave a gap to the ceiling. I think that is would be easier to fill and less noticable.But then again I know nothing about plastering or coves.And even less about accoustical control.
I'm seeing the outlines of an answer; where do people buy plastic coving from?
Thanks!
NotaClue
I empathise with your position,I have been in drywall for 20 years and it seems that every new project someone has to reinvent the process,be it a sound consultant,waterproof consultant or whatever.
Request documentation,cover your ####,and if they ask for your advice,make sure they draw it and stamp it.
Maybe that cove is a good thing-have you ever tried to get sound caulk to stay in that gap between wall and ceiling,because it dosen't,it sags an sags and sags.
I am more involved in the condo/commercial side of construction and I am becoming tired of the game,thinking I should go back to houses where craftmanship is respected.
Now I see here the "consultants" are already infiltrating,probably owners "reps" too,How far behind are the lawyers,arbitration specialists ect.
A little ranting and tongue in cheek.I hope you project comes out successful.