Sound Proofing

[gummy bears]

Hi All,

Currently I have carpet in the upstairs bedroom - I guess under that there is underlay, then the floor boards, then the void between floor boards and lath plaster (I think it's called) ceiling.

When someone is on the phone or playing music/watching tv - it can be heard fairly clearly in the room bellow!

All floor boards are coming up anyway. So im thinking of sound proofing - from what I read this is hard (costly) to do if you need to pass the sound proofing test for say HMO.

What simple things could (floor boards are coming up anyway, and ceiling are very old) be done?

Would just installing ROCKWOOL Sound Insulation Slabs and fireproof plaster board on the ceiling make much of a difference?

Thanks

 

[StephenStephen]

As an amateur, from my experience, yes those things would make a difference. What has also helped us is to fix the boards down really well, insulate the gaps between the boards with string and acoustic sealant, screw down a layer of ply, and then put acoustic underlay down.

...and it's worth thinking about any edges, gaps, holes - acoustic bypassing.

 

[gummy bears]

As an amateur, from my experience, yes those things would make a difference. What has also helped us is to fix the boards down really well, insulate the gaps between the boards with string and acoustic sealant, screw down a layer of ply, and then put acoustic underlay down.

...and it's worth thinking about any edges, gaps, holes - acoustic bypassing.

Thanks for the reply Stephen.

crumbs sounds like lots to lift up if something goes wrong under. as I'm trying to do my own plumbing I would like easy access to them.

I just measured the joists, they are about 20cm - I see they sell the acoustic insulation 10cm thick, would I just use 2 layers?

 

[catlad]

No reason not to use two layers. Another layer of plasterboard underneath will help.

 

[^woody^]

Anything you do needs to be on the floor or under the boards. Not on the ceiling or a new layer under the ceiling as that will reduce sound going up not coming down.

A better quality heavy under lay and carpet would be more beneficial than messing about with the floor.

 

[StephenStephen]

Thanks for the reply Stephen.

I just measured the joists, they are about 20cm - I see they sell the acoustic insulation 10cm thick, would I just use 2 layers?

Yes, that's what I did, though it's best, I think, not to pack it in too tightly

 

[gummy bears]

Anything you do needs to be on the floor or under the boards. Not on the ceiling or a new layer under the ceiling as that will reduce sound going up not coming down.

A better quality heavy under lay and carpet would be more beneficial than messing about with the floor.

thanks for the reply woody.

I guess I need to reduce sound both ways though.

I saw this youtube video where they used a double layer of plaster board with an acoustic filler between the two.

 

[gummy bears]

No reason not to use two layers. Another layer of plasterboard underneath will help.

thanks for the reply catland.