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This isn’t quite a HOMEbuilding question, but I doubt there’s a better place to ask a question like this…
I currently rent an old apartment in a great location that has a lot of charm (re: it’s a neglected dump with good bones that I’m trying to clean up). It’s got 9-ft lathe-and-plaster walls that I’ve been told are “double walls,” whatever that’s supposed to mean. What I’d like to do is insulate two sections of interior wall – a 10-ft section and a 13-ft section – against sound from my neighbors. Could I maybe just blow some insulation into these walls? What kind would be best for sound? If someone comes around and re-plasters the walls (as may happen), might there be a problem if I do this?
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The insulation will not be worth the effort.
Increase the mass by adding another layer drywall will do more. Adding a layer of cork between the layers will also do more.
Sound attenuation isn't cheap but it can be done.
Gabe
*Ask your drywall supplier, building inspector, or a local engineer or architect to view drawings of sound rated assemblies. These are sketches of different configurations with numerical ratings as to sound attenuation. You can study these and see what effect, say, resiliant channels has vs. a second layer of drywall. There are dozens of combinations rated.These drawings are shown in the thick, contractor versions of drywall catalogs, and often in the same books building inspectors use for looking up fire resistance.