Sound Proofing - anyone done it recently??

trustno1 · 28-04-2009 4:14pm #1

Hi all,

Just wondering if any of you have recently had their homes sound proofed and was wondering how you got on in terms of 'did it work' and 'how much did it cost'. My neighbour banged on my wall the other evening at 10.30pm as my daughter was watching a film on her portable DVD player (which believe me is NOT loud). The sound proofing in the house is ridiculous (its a 2 bedroomed semi d) to the point that I can hear conversations, I know exactly what they are watching on the telly and even when they are going to the toilet!!.. :eek:

I did do a search on the Boards to see if this was asked recently and could only find posts from 2006. Any advice would be appreciated.

PirateShampoo · 28-04-2009 4:20pm

What sort of cavity is seperating the houses? Is it 9" solid block or something else?

If theres a cavity between the houses then i would suggest Pour fill insulation like Bead ( cant remember name of it) its like polistiren balls. Maybe u and ur neighbour could go halfs on it?

If not i would suggest using Kingspan Backed Plaster boards mushroom fixed to ur daughters wall and replastered.

nulabert · 30-04-2009 7:19pm

ya, i'd recommend the plasterboard with the kingspan on the back. It comes with 1 inch or 2 inch insulation. Its about 16- 20 quid per sheet for the 1 inch version. The mushroom plastic attachments are about 12cent each, the numbers you need per 8foot x 4 foot sheet varies but the most you'll need is 4 rows of 4. Then skim it. If your anyways handy, you'll cut the sheets to size with a hand saw, stand them up, drill thru them into the wall and with a small sledge hammer, hammer in the plastic mushroom heads.

I'm sure you'll get someone to price a 'skim plaster' job cheap enough after that!

Ambersky · 01-05-2009 1:26am

Hi Im getting a bedroom done next week, actually, after years of thinking about it.
Ive looked through old posts and studied other sites specifically on sound proofing.
From what I can gather, if done incorrectly you can actually worsen the problem.
Now this is a job I wouldnt even consider doing myself so I was looking for someone I could trust.
I finally went with a guy who is an acoustic consultant and has 15years experience in surveying, fire protection and sound.
http://www.acoustifire.ie/index.php?about_us.php&MainFrame

I came across acoustifire on pick a pro as well. There were only two companies on that site doing soundproofing, both sounded good and I contacted both of them.
The other company took my number but did not phone me back on the night they said they would. I rang again the following day and was given a mobile number which wasnt answered and no on phoned me that night either.
When I rang acoustifire the owner of the company answered the phone and arranged to come out and have a look at the room and discuss what could be done, not only that he arrived on time.
I think that kind of attention is a sign of someone who means to do a good job.
The guy really sounded like he knew his stuff and the materials he is using appear to be first class.
Its a bit pricey though and they are charging me a bit extra for having to take down a built in wardrobe and putting it back up again. Its going to cost 1562. They have promised to have it all over in a day, which is brilliant and they are very discreet. The last thing you want is neighbours turning up their volume because you have paid for soundproofing. The rubbish is going to be left in bags which is hassle to get removed. I know its hassle for them too but it would be a nice finish to a job wouldnt it.
Cant say how it will turn out and I hope I have made the right decision.
I will post on this next week and keep you all informed. Fingers crossed.

PirateShampoo · 01-05-2009 2:37pm

Ambersky, ask him what hes actually gonna do, because hes probably just gonna go exactly what was stated in the above post.

You could fix the plaster board ur self, all you need is

Tape Messure
Hand Saw
Hammer
Hammer Drill
8mm Concret Drill bit
Mushroom Fixings.

You could take the wardrobe down ur self.

Only person you would need in was a plasterer.

The guy will have it done in a day. 1.5k is alot of money.

gsxr1 · 01-05-2009 4:07pm

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Ambersky, ask him what hes actually gonna do, because hes probably just gonna go exactly what was stated in the above post.

You could fix the plaster board ur self, all you need is

Tape Messure
Hand Saw
Hammer
Hammer Drill
8mm Concret Drill bit
Mushroom Fixings.

You could take the wardrobe down ur self.

Only person you would need in was a plasterer.

The guy will have it done in a day. 1.5k is alot of money.

not sure if PU insulation is the way to go for noise reduction.

From my knowledge dead air space and dence matting are the way forward.

Building regs require a 9" block on its flat with sand and cement on both sides.

here is some more products

http://www.noisestopsystems.co.uk/soundproofing-walls-6/

PirateShampoo · 01-05-2009 4:41pm

Im a dry-liner by trade ( if u can call it a trade lol)

I was just making the point that its probably a job he could do himself.

gsxr1 · 01-05-2009 7:24pm

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Im a dry-liner by trade ( if u can call it a trade lol)

I was just making the point that its probably a job he could do himself.

are you kept going? I would say the slabbing has taken a hard drop off in work recently.

As a carpenter. im at very little these days

PirateShampoo · 01-05-2009 8:31pm

gsxr1 wrote: »

are you kept going? I would say the slabbing has taken a hard drop off in work recently.

As a carpenter. im at very little these days

Doing absolutely nothing. Got a house to slab in a few weeks and thats about it on the Dry Lining front. I work for my dads company and theres little to nothing coming in to do with slabbing.

Its pretty desperate.

gsxr1 · 01-05-2009 8:35pm

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Doing absolutely nothing. Got a house to slab in a few weeks and thats about it on the Dry Lining front. I work for my dads company and theres little to nothing coming in to do with slabbing.

Its pretty desperate.

I hope things turn around fairly quick. Im getting desperate.

Even my old workmates are pricing against me now for jobs.

Ambersky · 02-05-2009 1:04pm

There seem to be loads of different kinds of materials available and opinions on how to do soundproofing. It is confusing and its a big risk with your money, I mean how do I know whats going to work. I dont want to throw money away but sometimes I find if you try to skimp on a job you wind up having to do it again anyway.

A neighbour of mine recently got his house gutted, architects involved, extension built and he specifically said he wanted sound reduction on his adjoining walls. The builders and architect said seal all the blockwork properly leaving no holes, leave a gap between the plasterboard and the wall, but Im not sure if they infilled with anything. Anyway neighbour does not hear any difference in sound reduction. As he says he heard all his neighbours children being conceived.

So one thing I like about the guy Im hiring is that he suggested himself that I only do one room and see if it works on my walls with the kind of noise Im dealing with before considering doing anything else.
He has the best qualifications of anyone I have read about in the buisness.
Heres what he says on his site

"Ted Dalton took the”Institute of Acoustics” Diploma examinations in 1998 with specialist modules in Noise Control & Architectural / Building Acoustics. In 2005 he was elected to the status of Corporate Member within the Institute, affording him the title of Senior Acoustic Consultant. He has been referred to in articles by the Sunday Tribune as a “Walking Encyclopaedia in Acoustics” & currently provides the Sunday Times “Ask the Expert” answers on soundproofing problems. His background is an Honours Science Degree (B.Sc.) in Surveying, with an experience of 15 years in Surveying, Fireprotection & Sound."

His qualifications seem impressive. I mean the man must know what hes talking about musnt he.....very hopeful grin.
He going to install a system called Isostrip T System which he says has produced excellent results.
Ill include a link to their site which has a diagram of how to install
http://www.atil.ie/isostrip-t.html
Its going to be done next week so Ill keep you posted.

PirateShampoo · 02-05-2009 3:55pm

ATIL are based up in JFK industrial estate, thats where he is buying the materials, I'm telling you mate you could do this ur self for a fraction of the price. 1.5k for 1 room is crazy.

How much are the Materials costing?

Ambersky · 02-05-2009 8:28pm

No idea how much the materials are costing.
Had a look at ATILs site but in all honesty its not a job I would be able to do myself.
Perhaps this is the wrong section, DIY, for me to be in. Ill have a go at the odd bit of DIY but feel this is out of my league.
You have some experience PirateShampoo and to you it seems simple. I guess everythng is simple when you know how to do it.
That leaves me to the mercy of those in the know. Ive gone for something that is pricey but I guess Im paying for the guys experience as well as materials
This way it will all be done in a day.
I can go to work and come home with job done and dusted.

PirateShampoo · 02-05-2009 10:24pm

No problem mate, just make sure the plasterer is included in that price and that the skirting board is put back on.

JAMMAN1701 · 07-05-2009 12:43pm

Hey guys

I have just completed my home recording studio, Soundproofing and all back in November.

Here are a link to the video I posted of the soundproofing. It is a review and demo of how awesome and affordable this soundproofing was for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7brFRnP8jgI

Any questions just leave me a comment in the video

Ambersky · 07-05-2009 3:05pm

Well just reporting back.
The guys arrived from the sound proofing company yesterday morning at 8.30am
they worked solid, seeming only to take two quick breaks for tea and a bite to eat, untill 7.45pm.
They said it took a bit longer than they expected because something about the material had changed a bit and because of complications in moving and re installing the wardrobe.
There area always complications. Thats why I hire someone to do these jobs.
They do this kind of work every day so they know how to do it.
Anyway the job looks great, lovely finish on the wall and all I have to do is seal it and paint over it and I wont see the difference.
And most important I cant hear a thing from next door. Certainly ordinary noise is not getting through. I may have to wait a while to be able to judge if I could hear a party.
Heres a link to an interesting forum on soundproofing. Its gives info on common ideas like the old egg cartons and on jobs gone wrong, so might be worth a look.
http://supersoundproofing.com/forum/index.php

And http://www.soundproofing.org/infopages/myths.htm

Anyway Im a happy camper.

PirateShampoo · 07-05-2009 4:23pm

Seal it?

Ambersky · 07-05-2009 6:10pm

The finished surface is a little absorbant but it is manufactured to be fire resistant and Im told it is very good. It looks very smooth and tidy.
Page 15 on the link included suggests gyproc primer or sealer before painting allows you to paint or paper directly onto the surface.

http://www.gypsum.ie/pdf/GypsumPlasterboard.pdf

PirateShampoo · 07-05-2009 6:25pm

For the price you paid they should of plastered it neither mind taped and jointed it.

Ambersky · 07-05-2009 6:41pm

Im really happy with it. Dont see the need for plastering and as you can see the manufacturers of gyproc fireline boards reccommend the use of their primer to finish rather than plastering.

Electric Wizard · 07-06-2009 6:54pm

Ambersky, was the wall divided by a chimney or was it just a one long flat wall? I ask this as people have told me that noise can travel through the chimney breast and that a wall with a chimney can't be sound proofed.

butterfingers · 08-06-2009 1:25pm

What was recommended to me was rockwool acoustic slab (which you
can get in thicknesses up to 100mm thick) and then a double layer
of plasterboard (or even better whats called soundboard I think - it
has a pink backing).

Soundproofing is all about mass. The more mass the better (hence
the double layer of plasterboard). And make sure there are no gaps
at all (especially between the rockwool and the back of the plasterboard,
if there are it can make things worse).

Rockwool slabs are available in most building suppliers.

Hope this helps.

Butters.

danjo-xx · 08-06-2009 9:26pm

Hi Amberskky how many rooms did you do or was it just the one.

Ambersky · 12-06-2009 4:33pm

So far I have only one wall done and it was divided by a chimney.
It also had the side of a built in wardrobe attached to it which was removed and re installed to allow the soundproofing to continue along the whole length of the wall.
I really havent heard any sounds from next door since I have had it done.
Like I said they were mostly ordinary daily living noises, not speakers or anything that I had to cope with but it is all gone.
Havent noticed anything from the chimney but bird noises

.

trustno1 · 12-06-2009 4:41pm

Ambersky wrote: »

So far I have only one wall done and it was divided by a chimney.
It also had the side of a built in wardrobe attached to it which was removed and re installed to allow the soundproofing to continue along the whole length of the wall.
I really havent heard any sounds from next door since I have had it done.
Like I said they were mostly ordinary daily living noises, not speakers or anything that I had to cope with but it is all gone.
Havent noticed anything from the chimney but bird noises .

Thats excellent!.. I am delighted it worked out for you.. I will really have to start saving and start getting my walls done, wonder would it work out cheaper in the long run to get all four adjoining walls done at the same time. Neighbour had a party on Sunday night (of all nights) and was awake until 3.. I don't mind the partying (as its very infrequent and everyone is entitled to have them!) its just the daily noise of the telly or them even walking on the wooden floors thats annoying!!

Ambersky · 12-06-2009 4:51pm

I found Ted Dalton the guy that came out from acoustifire before getting the job done to be really interesting.
He was able to tell me realistically what could be done and what couldnt.
From what I remember vibration caused noise from next door like the sounds of walking on floor boards is more difficult to reduce.
Apparently the way you furnish your own rooms can also cause those sounds to resonate more. So if you have wooden floorboards yourself and a leather couch in a minimalist style room the sounds will be louder with nothing to absorb them.
I would also go along with the idea of doing one room at a time to see if it works.
Also check out the thread on soundproofing windows might be of interest to you too.

Sound Proofing - anyone done it recently??

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