Replies

1. 
   hammer1 | Aug 09, 2009 12:45am | #1

   The things you have mentioned won't do much for sound abatement. Here are some products to consider. It's not easy, you have to understand how sound travels.
   http://www.soundprooffoam.com/

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

2. 
   PedroTheMule | Aug 09, 2009 01:02am | #2

   Hi wedalucas,

   rowhouse with 8" block party walls that you can hear conversations through from the neighbors.  I want to sound proof the walls......

   Well, if you have the time, $ & access......I'd start by tearing out to the block wall.....pop some calculated holes on your side of the block and use spray foam to fill 'em up. Cover block with a layer of plastic, powder nail 2x3's to the block and fill inbetween with r11 fiberglass. Add a layer of drywall. Add resilient channeling and finish with 2 layers of drywall.

   Each material will absorb/block a certain sound frequency creating a wall that will stop most any sound other than kids jumping off the sofa.....but even that will be muffled.

   Don't forget details.....check for lack of a seal between the units in the attic and crawl space etc. Also check for any back to back cable outlets that may have never been sealed off.

   The longer you plan to live there the more you'll appreciate going the extra mile to minimize sound transmission.

   Pedro the Mule - Sleep peacefully there after

3. 
   CapnMac | Aug 09, 2009 03:08am | #3

   8" block party walls that you can hear conversations through

   Well, that block walls are fire speration walls, any modifications you do to them will probably have to hit 2 or 3 hour requirements.

   Are they just bare now?  Which seems unlikely, as the walls likely have electrical in them--is that the case?

   If there is a sheetrock wall fronting the block, then that could be the problem.  Could also be part of the solution, too. 

   If they framed the sheetrock wall tight to the block, then sounds coming though the block come through the framing, and "out" the 'speaker diaphram' the sheetrock represents.

   The cure there is to get the wall board off the framing and on to resiliant channel.  Also a more stiff wallboard can help. along with a soft-fill product, cellulose, demim batts, open-sell foam can help diffuse sounds coming through the block.

   If the wall framing is stood off the block wall, you might want more rigid fill in the framing, and a more rigid wall board, that latter either a heavy sound board, or two plies of conventional board--but resilliant channel can work, too.

   If, you just have bare block wall, that's different.  Then the best answer (mostly) is to frame a wall off that block wall and run wall board up on resilliant channels.  You'll need to get the electrical and any other utilities extended out to the new wall surface, which will vary by jurisdiction.

   Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
1. 
   DonK | Aug 09, 2009 05:33am | #4

   One of the tricks that I have heard here, that worked for me is cross furring. I often use it on bathroom walls.

   If your studs or nailers for rock are vertical, then cross fur it at ninety degrees. Put your nailers in horizontally. Now the vibration/sound is more limited in it's transmission. Add another insulation, even fiberglass or foam, and it helps. I haven't used the resiliant channel, but would consider it too.

   Don K.

   EJG Homes   Renovations - New Construction - Rentals