Best sound absorbing system for floor? Presently have 2×6 TnG Doug Fir on 8×10 redwood beams at 36 inches oc. This is all that separates two apartments. Don’t want to fill in beam spaces more than 1 1/2 inches, as ceiling of lower unit is only 8 feet high between beams. Floor of upper unit is carpeted but you can still hear people talking even if you can’t make out the words. Adding a barrier on top of the 2×6 is also an option, but I have only 3/4 inch to play with there. Am familiar with soundboard and ridgid foam but is there some better way? Also fire retartant properties would be nice.
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Thjat's a hard one, giveen the lack of spacce on an already completed space.
I would consider something like this;
Install some rigid foam between the beams. Maybe space it down from the floor above with furring strips 1/4" to 3/4" thick to create a resonance chamber to baffle the sound.
Overlay the foam with Armstrongs plank ceiling material. You would have to plan an attachment method that might involve another air chamber with furring strips. This might lower the ceiling by about three inches altogether.
In other locations on post n beam homes, I've seen it with a layer or two of rigid foam or homasote on top of the 2x6 and then another subfloor of ply topped with carpet. It seemed to work pretty good.