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b Help!! – Noisy Neighbor Upstairs
> We live on the 1st floor of a 30 year old condo bldg. The floors in between are made of wood. Our upstairs neighbor walks heavily (heels 1st). The floors squeak and his steps make a loud thud above our heads.
> We are tearing down the drywall ceiling to correct the squeak – add insulation – and add any other material to create a sound barrier.
>Any advice you have would be helpful.
>We’ve also heard about some special clips (screwed into the plywood and joists) that can be used to draw the plywood and 2×6 joists together. If you have info on this – please write!
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I don't know about clips used from below, but stiffening the floor would also help. You can do that with some combination of:
Sistering additional joists alongside the existing ones.
Installing blocking (2x6's, 14.5" long, trimmed to fit snugly between existing joist, mid-span.
Hang the new drywall on resilent channel so there is not a direct accoustical connection between the joists and the ceiling.
Create a new system of joists, below the existing ones, for hanging the new drywall. Very effective at reducing sounds transmission but you rarely have that much extra headroom.
Screw the subflooring down, into the old and/or new joists. This would require access to the upstairs unit.
Spring for better carpet padding for the upstairs neighbor.
Chain his refrigerator door shut or leave Jenny Craig coupons laying around to encourage weight loss by the neighbor.
Fiberglass insulation will help a bit, but a lot of the sound is being transmitted through the joists. Breaking that accousitical connection (with R-channel, second ceiling, etc) is more important than the insulation. As a seperate issue, you may be heating his floor in the winter, through your ceiling. I knew cheap college students who turned off their thermostat in SLC in the winter (!) and let the neighbors above, below, and on each side heat their apartment for them. As long as the floor is open, FG is cheap. Good luck, David
*Russell - If it's a true condo you had better check the master deed to see what you b ownfirst - usually it doesn't include much beyond the face of finish.Jeff
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b Help!! – Noisy Neighbor Upstairs
> We live on the 1st floor of a 30 year old condo bldg. The floors in between are made of wood. Our upstairs neighbor walks heavily (heels 1st). The floors squeak and his steps make a loud thud above our heads.
> We are tearing down the drywall ceiling to correct the squeak – add insulation – and add any other material to create a sound barrier.
>Any advice you have would be helpful.
>We’ve also heard about some special clips (screwed into the plywood and joists) that can be used to draw the plywood and 2x6 joists together. If you have info on this – please write!