Hi! I am planning to build a house in Mexico (Baja) and cement and steel are the main components in building. Sounds seem to vibrate or magnify through cement walls and I am looking for information on products or techniques for soundproofing and insulation for this type of building material. Any ideas or suggestions ?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Listeners write in about haunted pipes and building-science tomes, and they ask questions about roof venting and roof leaks.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
we have some friends who did this near cancun recently and have not complained of noise. unfortunately i lost their email address when my computer went in for repair. i'll hunt around for a hardcopy and send them your question.
Some of it's in the design. An open floor plan will allow for more sounds to bounce around, and the place will seem livelier. Cut it up more, and the liveliness will drop. Of course, you might prefer openness, and that's ok.
Another part is how you change materials. We use foam on the exterior of our concrete, and that helps a lot with absorbing different frequencies than the concrete. Blankets/tapestries on the walls would have a comparable effect, if not to the same degree. The more soft stuff you put on the floors and walls, the less cacophony you'll have. Handling this through decorating might be easier for you than handling it with construction, i.e., other layers of material, air spaces, etc.
i just heard back from my friend, no real help regarding structural soundproofing for exterior noise barrier. they just hired the local crew to do what was standard for the area, and didn't ask questions, just let them go. apparently someone made them an offer they couldn't refuse on the place last month, and they are in the process of selling it and moving back home (paradise was boring).cloud hidden is right, as far as noise from within goes, yeah- you need to dress it out with lots of soft stuff to absorb the harsh ricocheting vibes. if you wanted to, you could add drywall to a few rooms i suppose. and floors- how do wood floors hold up in that weather? concrete is terrible on your feet and legs, and back-
If you are talking about sound transmission through the walls, then ICF's would be a good choice. But since you probably don't need much (or any) thermal insulation you'd be adding a lot of cost by using ICF's, then having to stucco over the foam.