All Forum Posts by: Stuart Alexander
Stuart Alexander has started 2 posts and replied 11 times.
Post: Soundproofing between units?
- Posts 11
- Votes 2
Quote from @Erica Murphy:
I think at the end of the day there will always be sound transferring, the goal is to get it to an acceptable level. Lower units I’ll inherently have sound transfer issues - my main goal is to make the upper unit not experience sounds from the lower so as long as I can add enough mass to get rid of airborne noise I should be okay. Best of luck!
Post: Soundproofing between units?
- Posts 11
- Votes 2
Quote from @Erica Murphy:
I just renovated an up/down duplex. We added blow-in insulation between floors. The cavity was 9" tall and we filled it completely. We left the original plaster ceiling and added 5/8" drywall over it. It did almost nothing to dampen sound. You can still hear everything from above when in the lower unit, including voices when speaking at a normal level and every footstep. Even every footstep of the dog upstairs. We are now facing having to tear out all the layers of the ceiling and the insulation we just added. We are starting over with the more expensive methods. Paying to have all of that installed, and then immediately having all of it demo'd is going to end up costing about $8k. It's one of the most expensive mistakes I've ever made. We should have just gone with the more expensive and reliable methods from the start. Looking into this right now: https://www.soundproofingcompa...
Most expensive mistake I ever made was going variable when I bought this place ;) what did you use for insulation? I could see my current set up being similar to what you have now. I’m hoping the extra inch of mass/sound dampening brings Me to an acceptable level of noise transfer.
How is your house heated by the way? I’ve heard ducts pass a lot of sound.
Post: Soundproofing between units?
- Posts 11
- Votes 2
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:
Quote from @Alan Asriants:
Insulation between the beams and thicker sound proof drywall.
Do you mean the joists? And there is no 'sound-proof' drywall, just 'sound -resistant'
Yes, I believe that's what he means.Yes, I believe that's what he means.
From my research, the name of the game is mass. I guess my debate is how much better is insulation then 5/8th dry wall - as it will be quite a bit more costly to rip out the existing ceiling and purchase the insulation than it would be to add on top of the existing ceiling.
Post: Soundproofing between units?
- Posts 11
- Votes 2
Quote from @Paul De Luca:
Quote from @Stuart Alexander:
Quote from @Paul De Luca:
Quote from @Stuart Alexander:
Hey everyone, currently living in a house-hack (over/under - we live in the upper unit). Original plan was to move on after a year, but we really like the area.
Problem is, it's a wood frame construction, and the noise transfer between the units is starting to bug me. Louder conversations can be heard as muffled speech, I often use the heat pump to drown it out. Social visits from either unit will cause a decent amount of sound to enter the other unit.
Considering living here longer, but we might address the sound issues. Does any one have any experience with this?
Hoping to mostly resolve speech/ect noises not impact as I know that is a different beast.
Planning on keeping the existing ceiling, but adding
-sonopan
-resilient channel
-5/8th dry wall
Would this make a noticeable difference? It will be a decent chunk of money.
Is it possible to just do the living spaces (living room, kitchen, hall way) and leave the bedrooms unchanged?
Thanks in advance!
I know you're focused on the ceilings and you've already gotten advice there, but in the future you can use carpet on the floors or install an underlayment under whatever flooring you have to further reduce noise. I wish I had done that when we had vinyl plank flooring installed in the unit above us. Similar issue as you with the noise from the tenants above us is a bit much.
I actually did add sound deadening underlay to our unit when we bought the place. Originally it was carpet, the seller added laminate directly on the subfloor. I pulled up the entire unit piece by piece and redid the floors - it was a lot of work! Sound in the unit was slightly better, but still not where I need it.
Oh bummer! I figured that would help but was somewhat skeptical it would be enough. How much extra was it to install the underlayment?
Pretty cheap - well in the grand scheme of sound proofing. I think it was an additional $600-700 for the 1200 sqft unit.
Post: Soundproofing between units?
- Posts 11
- Votes 2
Quote from @Paul De Luca:
Quote from @Stuart Alexander:
Hey everyone, currently living in a house-hack (over/under - we live in the upper unit). Original plan was to move on after a year, but we really like the area.
Problem is, it's a wood frame construction, and the noise transfer between the units is starting to bug me. Louder conversations can be heard as muffled speech, I often use the heat pump to drown it out. Social visits from either unit will cause a decent amount of sound to enter the other unit.
Considering living here longer, but we might address the sound issues. Does any one have any experience with this?
Hoping to mostly resolve speech/ect noises not impact as I know that is a different beast.
Planning on keeping the existing ceiling, but adding
-sonopan
-resilient channel
-5/8th dry wall
Would this make a noticeable difference? It will be a decent chunk of money.
Is it possible to just do the living spaces (living room, kitchen, hall way) and leave the bedrooms unchanged?
Thanks in advance!
I know you're focused on the ceilings and you've already gotten advice there, but in the future you can use carpet on the floors or install an underlayment under whatever flooring you have to further reduce noise. I wish I had done that when we had vinyl plank flooring installed in the unit above us. Similar issue as you with the noise from the tenants above us is a bit much.
I actually did add sound deadening underlay to our unit when we bought the place. Originally it was carpet, the seller added laminate directly on the subfloor. I pulled up the entire unit piece by piece and redid the floors - it was a lot of work! Sound in the unit was slightly better, but still not where I need it.
Post: Soundproofing between units?
- Posts 11
- Votes 2
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:
Quote from @Stuart Alexander:
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:
Are you talking about walls or floors? There are some things you can do with walls, but with floors (other than rebuilding) you are limited to carpet or floor coverings....
Apologies, should have specified. I am talking about approaching this from the ceiling of the lower unit as my tenants are currently away for the summer.
Well then, you can fur out the ceiling with 2x2's, add insulation, special sound-resistant drywall etc... I've used these before and they work (at least somewhat :-)
https://www.certainteed.com/dr...
Oh excellent! How much of a difference would that all make in your experience? Noticeable?
What if I left the existing ceiling and didn't do insulation (not sure if it is currently insulated, i'll need to check).
Complete system would be
-sound dampening underlay (upper unit)
-5/8th dry wall
-sonopan (https://www.homedepot.ca/produ... )
-Resilient Channel
-5/8th dry wall
Thanks!
Post: Soundproofing between units?
- Posts 11
- Votes 2
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:
Are you talking about walls or floors? There are some things you can do with walls, but with floors (other than rebuilding) you are limited to carpet or floor coverings....
Apologies, should have specified. I am talking about approaching this from the ceiling of the lower unit as my tenants are currently away for the summer.
Post: Soundproofing between units?
- Posts 11
- Votes 2
Quote from @Chris Seveney:
Quote from @Stuart Alexander:
Hey everyone, currently living in a house-hack (over/under - we live in the upper unit). Original plan was to move on after a year, but we really like the area.
Problem is, it's a wood frame construction, and the noise transfer between the units is starting to bug me. Louder conversations can be heard as muffled speech, I often use the heat pump to drown it out. Social visits from either unit will cause a decent amount of sound to enter the other unit.
Considering living here longer, but we might address the sound issues. Does any one have any experience with this?
Hoping to mostly resolve speech/ect noises not impact as I know that is a different beast.
Planning on keeping the existing ceiling, but adding
-sonopan
-resilient channel
-5/8th dry wall
Would this make a noticeable difference? It will be a decent chunk of money.
Is it possible to just do the living spaces (living room, kitchen, hall way) and leave the bedrooms unchanged?
Thanks in advance!
Carpet and padding on the upper unit should work as well. There is not much else you can do than what you prescribed.
Thanks for the reply Chris. Carpet and padding was what was originally in the upper unit before I purchased it - likely effected a lot when it was removed.
Should I notice much of a difference after completing the work I have outlined?
Post: Soundproofing between units?
- Posts 11
- Votes 2
Hey everyone, currently living in a house-hack (over/under - we live in the upper unit). Original plan was to move on after a year, but we really like the area.
Problem is, it's a wood frame construction, and the noise transfer between the units is starting to bug me. Louder conversations can be heard as muffled speech, I often use the heat pump to drown it out. Social visits from either unit will cause a decent amount of sound to enter the other unit.
Considering living here longer, but we might address the sound issues. Does any one have any experience with this?
Hoping to mostly resolve speech/ect noises not impact as I know that is a different beast.
Planning on keeping the existing ceiling, but adding
-sonopan
-resilient channel
-5/8th dry wall
Would this make a noticeable difference? It will be a decent chunk of money.
Is it possible to just do the living spaces (living room, kitchen, hall way) and leave the bedrooms unchanged?
Thanks in advance!
Hey everyone, currently living in a house-hack (over/under - we live in the upper unit). Original plan was to move on after a year, but we really like the area.
Problem is, it's a wood frame construction, and the noise transfer between the units is starting to bug me. Louder conversations can be heard as muffled speech, I often use the heat pump to drown it out. Social visits from either unit will cause a decent amount of sound to enter the other unit.
Considering living here longer, but we might address the sound issues. Does any one have any experience with this?
Hoping to mostly resolve speech/ect noises not impact as I know that is a different beast.
Planning on keeping the existing ceiling, but adding
-sonopan
-resilient channel
-5/8th dry wall
Would this make a noticeable difference? It will be a decent chunk of money.
Is it possible to just do the living spaces (living room, kitchen, hall way) and leave the bedrooms unchanged?
Thanks in advance!