Replies

1. 
   Thauma11 | Sep 29, 2004 08:38pm | #1

   Mark,

   I'm assuming you've already put in the joists?  If so, that's a shame because the only truly effective soundproofing would be to separate the ceiling joists from the floor joists.  In essence leave the existing ceiling (2x6) in place and put in the new floor joists above.  I used this approach with great results.

   If the ceiling and floor joists are the same, then the underlayment for the floors is your only choice.  There are several products on the market that utilize rubber and other "soft" materials to get you some sound reduction in higher frequencies.  However, remember that most of the sound will be transmitted directly through the joists from floor to ceiling.  Those sounds will be the familiar low frequency thumps that apartment dwellers know so well.

   BTW, laying in fiberglass insulation will accomplish almost nothing as its the direct contact of wood-joist-ceiling that acts like a speaker diaphragm and transmits the noise.

   Check out this site for some interesting approaches and info:

   http://www.cwc.ca/design/building_science/sound_control/floor.php

   
   

   ---

   Edited 9/29/2004 2:14 pm ET by THAUMA11

1. 
   markloe | Sep 30, 2004 06:13am | #6

   Actually, the ceiling below still has the joists exposed and I guess I could do a drop ceiling, as long as the ceiling joists aren't nailed to the floor joists. Maybe?

2. 
   VaTom | Sep 29, 2004 08:41pm | #2

   No good answer for you but I remember a customer in Denver who had a tub over the kitchen.  They found out that anybody tootin' in the tub made a commotion downstairs.  To the later embarrassment of the bather.

   PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

1. 
   DANL | Sep 30, 2004 12:46am | #4

   When I lived in a really cheap apt., I could hear the woman upstairs squeak when she moved in her bathtub--like rubbing wet thumb on a very clean plate--that kind of sound. Sort of like on "Night Court" where the unpleasant bailiff union steward, an overbearing, witch of a woman says to Bull, "I'd like nothing better than to strip to the waist and go a few rounds. Got the picture?!" Bull replies, "Vividly." 

3. 
   WayneL5 | Sep 29, 2004 11:50pm | #3

   Check out this site.  There are two sound ratings for assembiles, impact (Impact Insulation Class, IIC) and transmission (Sound Transmission Class, STC).  In your case you want a high impact rating.  You can get ideas how effective various alternative measures are by their scores.

   http://www.usg.com/Design_Solutions/2_3_4_acoustictips.asp

4. 
   DavidThomas | Sep 30, 2004 01:40am | #5

   FG in the bays won't do anything.  Too late to to have off-set joists witih alternate ones for the ceiling and the others for the floor.

   Resilent channel mounted on the ceiling below and then hang a sheetrock lid would help a lot.  You have to extend/remount the electrical junction boxes in the ceiling, but otherwise, it is straightforward.

   David Thomas   Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
1. 
   markloe | Sep 30, 2004 06:14am | #7

   Maybe not. Ceiling joists are still exposed and kitchen ceiling isn't established yet.

5. 
   sungod | Sep 30, 2004 06:20am | #8

   I stop sound by placing nail in the middle of the joist to suspend strips of drywall between the floor and ceiling.

   Partical board stops sound too.