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I know this subject has been up time and time again. I’m just looking for a bit of clarity and opinion. I’m moving into a downstairs flat of a two-family house. I’ve just insulated all walls and ceilings of each apartment. In further soundproofing the ceilings I’m going to drop the ceiling below the acoustic 12″sq. existing, with metal channels and either sheetrock (one or two layers) or plaster blue bd and two coat plaster. Which condition would be most effective in reducing the noise from above. I also plan on installing a good carpet pad on all floors above, and as an extra thought would it be beneficial to put a layer of 1/4″ underlayment, (either a plywood or hardboard or cementious board such as hardibacker)under the pad to help reduce the noise going through the floor. Money is not unlimited so I need to do this as economically as possible but I also want the most effective solution that I can afford. Thanks for your help!
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The metal resilient channels and sheetrock are pretty effective for ceilings. A double layer of sheetrock is even more effective. The goal, as you knpow, is to eliminate the direct path between the flooring above and the ceiling below. The channels do that fairly well.
For the above floor's underlayment, consider a sound-deadening layer like half-inch Homasote 440.
*To add to mongo's homasote recommendation, read and follow their instructions esp. pertaining to gap between panels. Lay it too tight and you'll have problems. Not good around water neither. A good product when used properly. I should add that I am not familiar with 440. Have only used the 4x8x1/2 $16 sheets of homasote. Mongo, is the 440 a special variation manufactured for underlayment? Tell me more.
*calvin, Here's a link to the Homasote 440 infomercial. Some basic info there.Way back when I got in touch with their tech department, they were pretty good about sharing info. Good, honest recommendations (for and against their product) from them on a few applications I was wondering about.
*The solid underlayment will not help under carpet. The carpet and a high quality pad should eliminate any impact sound transmission problems. You could also install a woven mat (similar to the stuff used under wood shingles or for foundation drainage). The mat is required under any hard floor materails (tile, wood, vct).
*Rd - Are you talking about landscape fabric? How will that help? Mongo - Thanks for the link to Homosote 440. It's a new one on me but here in the northeast the supply houses seem to keep their cards close to their chest. I'll give them a call to see what's up!Thank's guys
*Thanks Mongo, finally remembered to come back here and check.
*I'm in south-central CT, there are a few yards that carry Homasote in stock, but fewer that know what the '440' is.Again, the physical properties of all of the boards look similar...I wonder how much benefit you get from 'upgrading' to the specific product.
*I would use Resilent channels on the ceilingand walls. These form a sound barrier because you are not actually attatching the drywall to the ceiling joists.
*I would use resilient channel with a layer of sound board, than a layer of sheet rock. A good quality carpet pad is always a plus.I would also let your "fingers do the walking" and call an acoustical engineer and ask for advise... they're usually pretty good at giving you a few minutes of their time.Also, you can use google.com to research "sound proofing underlayments". There are some thin products that would work well underneath the carpet padding... I don't think I would use hardibacker.
*Not to get too technical but you want an acoustic impedance. In other words you want to have different material densities in the transmission path. Adding more of the same density material is not as effective.Thick carpeting is a good method. Suspended ceilings work well too.Remember that often sounds travels like an electrical short - it does not take much to short an acoustic system. Pay very close attention to your details.