Quickest and least disruptive method for insulating stud wall?

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Hi,

I have a stud wall that was built when the house was constructed. It was constructed using metal studs and seperates two high traffic areas and an internal door. I find the wall to be very flimsy, it provides no sound insulation and shakes whenever the door is closed shut. Part of the problem I feel is that metal studs were used. I am wondering if I could use some sort of spray foam to insulate it and 'pad it out' so I get some insulation as well as some mass in between the plasterboard. Or should I remove the plasterboard on one side, replace the metal studs with timber studs and lay rolls of insulation instead?

Ideally I would like to avoid having to redo this wall or end up having to plaster it.
 
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Firstly, the best generally available, low-ish cost insulation which will give reasonable soundproofing is mineral wool batting g which comes in slabs and is cut to a tight fit between studs using an insulation knife (e.g Stubai), an insulation saw (e.g. Bahco) or less neatly a 20/22in hand saw..

In terms of stiffness thin metal stud (e.g. 70mm) is pretty dreadful. Timber stud framing, made tight to the opening and screwed tightly together rather than nailed is far better, especially if fitted with sufficient noggins. Make sure that there are sufficient fixings into floor and ceiling and that they are solid - if they just go into plasterboard at the ceiling then part of the ceiling needs to be cut out and extra noggins inserted between the joists to provide fixing points for the top of the wall. If you have the space, two thin (4mm) skins of plywood glued and screwed ir pinned to either side of the wall make a big difference, providing the wall is proper anchored. Thicker plasterboard screwed tightly to the stud walling helps, as will choosing a board such as SoundBloc (lilac board) with all joints filled with acoustic caulk before plastering.

Unfortunately retrofitting an existing MF stud wall won't achieve much - a classic case of "if I was going there I wouldn't start from here" I think
 

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