Google Quietrock drywall. Excellent soundproofing and if your on a raised foundation make sure to insulate the subfloor. Good Luck.
What's the best way to soundproof a room on budget
I'm starting to research ways to reduce sound transmission through a wall since I'll be moving in a few months and my new living space will share one wall with another family. What I am thinking is nailing cork board onto the wall and then covering the cork board with inexpensive foam pyramids. I think I could do thewholewall (8-9 feet high? 14 feet wide) for around $500-$600 dollars going this route. Any suggestions for whats worked for you?
- ...
- 26 posts total
MASS is the way to control (reduce) TRANSMISSION of sound from one space to another (or from outside to inside.) Adding stiffness to the dividing surface/partition can also help, but as you will discover, it's pretty hard to add stiffness without adding mass at the same time -- so back to 'square one' ;~) FUZZ is the way to control sound WITHIN a space (reverberation, decay, reflections, etc.) There are refinements of course, including combining the two (when 'tuning' your listening room, for instance) but those are the TWO BASIC principals of SOUND CONTROL. These two principles (and the differences between them) were drummed into my head when I studied acoustics at MIT with Bob Newman, a principal in the famous acoustical engineering firm of Bolt, Beranek, and Newman. So in your case, forget the 'fuzz' (the cork and foam) at least insofar as addressing the sound transmission problem is concerned (you may need it to 'tune' your listening room, but that's not what you asked about.) Budget? The least expensive (and least invasive) way to add mass to (YOUR side of) the wall, assuming you've permission from the landlord, is simply to add more drywall. Either 3/4" thick, or two layers of 1/2" thick drywall. For ease of installation, you can use 4x8' sheets for an 8' ceiling, or 4x10' sheets for a 9' ceiling. There is one very effective cost- and-labor-reducing trick however, if you can work out the aesthetics ;~) which is to apply the additional drywall sheets (one layer or two) as a 4' (high) band HORIZONTALLY and halfway between the floor and ceiling, for the length of the wall. This puts the additional mass where it will do the most good in terms of keeping the wall from acting like a diaphragm and transmitting the sound to the next space. The QuietRock product that needfreestuff mentions is excellent for new construction, where it will be the only wall material and may have to meet new sound transmission codes; however for your purposes (budget and retrofitting over existing drywall) it won't be cost-effective, compared to 'ordinary' drywall ;~) One other thing. Do make sure there are no actual LEAKS between the two spaces -- any place air can go, sound can go. This problem commonly occurs in cheap construction, especially in the form of electrical outlets (boxes) have been installed back-to-back for the two spaces! This also applies to floors and ceilings where there are common attic and/or crawl spaces. It doesn't seem like it would make that big a difference, but it does! So take off all the wall plates and caulk your brains out! . |
If you add drywall also consider using Green Glue between the layers. It is not a glue, but rather a sound deadening compound. You can also use mass loaded vinyl. This website has some good information on various methods and their effectiveness. Sound Proofing Company The biggest problem is deep bass. It is almost impossible to stop without major work. |
- 26 posts total