Double-board ceiling or use plasterboard with insulation inc

Hi All,

I've taken down the old artex ceiling in our liviing room.

The plan was to re-plasterboard the ceiling in 12.5mm plasterboard and then skim it.

As the main bedroom is directly above it occurred to me that it may be worth double-boarding the roof for a bit of extra soundproofing (not that I'm particularly worried about the noise).

I also saw plasterboard that was backed with polystyrene for sale too, roughly twice the price of the normal 2400 x 1200 x 12.5mm board.

I'm assuming that this insulated plasterboard will have a similar sound-proofing effect as double boarding, but also offer some additional insulation as well.

I am thinking that a single layer of insulated boards will be easier to fit (less lifting of heavy boards) so would be my preferred option.

Is there any reason why double boarding with standard board would be better? Or any reason why I can't fix the insulation board to ceilings?

Thanks!
Andy

The foam insulated boards you’re referring to are for heat insulation & will have very little effect on sound proofing, for this you require a much denser medium. For sound insulation you double up on 12.5mm wallboard (watch the extra weight) but much better would either Soundblock or Wallboard 10 but I think you will still be disappointed with the results.

The best value option would be to put normal mineral wool inbetween the insulaiton, this has the effect of dulling airbourne noise but wont do much for impact noise (although short of decoupling the ceiling, nothing much will).

Putting mineral insulation between the joists in conjunction with Soundblock plasterboard would be an even better compromise. BR’s require minimum sound insulation in stud walls between a room with a w/c & another inhabitable room. When forming new bath/shower rooms I use 4” cavity insulation bats & 15mm Soundblock plasterboard.

Personally, I wouldn’t bother unless Building Regulations require it as your likely to be disappointed with the results compared to the additional cost.

Do you intend skimming the celing yourself? If youve never skimmed a wall before (let alone a ceiling) it's going to be very difficult & a nightmare which may well end up looking a pigs ear!

Hi,

Many thanks for the responses!

It’s not really a big concern of mine regarding the soundsproofing or the extra insulation, just because I’d read a few posts about double boarding, and the ceiling was down anyway, I thought it was best to ask the question and get it done property.

If the benefit of either double boarding or insulation boarding is minimal, I might as well just have a single skin of 12.5mm PB and skim that. Save me the price of 10 boards.

I had read about the wool insulation but all the floorboards upstairs are T&G and there’s quite a few pipes and wires routed through the ceiling. I understand you need to leave a gap between the insulation in the floor and all wires need to be shielded (not sure about pipes). That would be difficult when stuffing the ceilings from below and I’d rather not lift the floor from above if I can avoid it.

I’m pleased to confirm I’m a competent DIY plasterer, so no worries there Karis In fact, this house is the first ‘modern’ place I’ve owned (with 2.4m ceilings), and I skimmed my first ceiling at this property last weekend and it was a doddle as I could reach the ceilings from the floor. Always before it’s been 10 foot ceilings so required steps/scaffold boards… even did one with stilts once but they hindered rather than helped!

Cheers
Andy