Avoid Sound Transfer by Isolating Electrical Gang Boxes
Isolating electrical gang boxes can make a difference when it comes to sound transfer between rooms that share a wall.
Wherever noise from one room might disturb occupants in another, I use batts of fiberglass or mineral wool to dampen the sound transfer between interior walls. I’ve had happy homeowners thank me for recommending this extra step because they noticed a marked difference after I remodeled and soundproofed an existing space.
On my most recent project, I added one additional step to this soundproofing method: Isolating electrical gang boxes. When I installed an electrical box for a light switch or outlet in a wall shared by both a bedroom and living room, I installed a box for each room in separate stud cavities. The theory is that sound can travel from one room to the other through two electrical boxes in the same cavity, like soup cans connected with a string.
I was admittedly skeptical, but it worked. While I have no verifiable evidence that isolating electrical boxes made a difference, my ears tell me it did. I plan on using the same technique on my next projects, regardless how much the electricians grumble.
—Mark Petersen, Waco, Ky.
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
Published in Fine Homebuilding #310
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Don't forget acoustic putty pads on electrical boxes. Very effective at blocking sound, but you have to do it before the drywall goes up.