Replies

1. 
   jackwater | Jul 01, 2008 01:29pm | #1

   I am not an expert but my fiance made me research soundproofing becuase I built an apartment to rent out over our house.

   I think the best way is to build separate walls and ceiling structure. but sound will travel well through wood joists and studs. If you cant do that you should look into RSCI-1 clips onto which you attach hat channel and than dry wall. If your sheetrock is already up you can add a second layer of sheetrock with "green glue" between.

   For my room I put 2 layers of drywall sandwhiched around greenglue and screwed it up into subfloor above, between floor joists. Than we added fiberglass insul (would have blown in cellulose next time). Than the RSCI-1 channel than 2 more layers of 5/8 drywall with green glue between. We caulked all the seems with acoustic caulk. The system works pretty well- but was a royal pain.

2. 
   arnemckinley | Jul 01, 2008 02:12pm | #2

   metal studs and double 5/8 sheetrock

    

   Every day is a gift, that's why it's called the present.

3. 
   DaveRicheson | Jul 01, 2008 04:02pm | #3

   I think JLC did an article on that within the last two years.

   Might be worth a search of thier archives and then order the article.

   If the budget can stand it, the article JLC had some excellent methods.

4. 
   fingersandtoes | Jul 02, 2008 03:52am | #4

    Sound responds unpredictably to just adding materials to a wall or ceiling. If you want to beef up a floor structurally you can be fairly sure that adding more wood will make it stronger, but in many cases just adding components to a sound assembly will do little or even reduce its efficiency. That is why wall and ceiling assemblies are tested as a whole, and STC and IRC ratings assigned to them.

   Rather than picking one solution, say green glue or sound isolation clips, Google some wall and ceiling assemblies and find one that you like with good ratings. This goes a long way towards taking the guess work out of it.

1. 
   Jer | Jul 02, 2008 04:50am | #5

   Post #5 is good advice. Research it.
   Sound travels differently through different materials, and the more you can break it up to dissipate with different materials, the better.
   If you are using hat channel, it must be resilient sound channel which is different than the stuff you'll find at HD or most lumber yards. It would have to be a special order. Otherwise you're channeling sound right into the room.
   No holes in the ceilings, a double wall is good, foamed in insulation is excellent.
   "Floating" a room within a room is really great, but takes some doing.

5. 
   reinvent | Jul 02, 2008 06:47am | #6

   Her are some links to start your research.

   http://www.acousticalsolutions.com/education/index.asp

   http://www.soundproofing101.com/index.htm

   http://www.soundproofing.org/index.html

6. 
   Engineerguy | Jul 02, 2008 10:21am | #7

   Lou, Fine Homebuilding #184 had an article about soundproofing.

   Also, check out: http://www.acoustiguard.com

    

    

   Impossible is an opinion.

1. 
   ravz | Jul 03, 2008 10:52pm | #8

   Also, go to the AVS forum and look at the dedicated home theatre forum.  they have lots of great tips and ways to reduce sound transmission