Home Sound Proofing Control

In my view home soundproofing and sound control is an essential benefit to living in a well constructed home. Reducing ambient noise adds to client comfort and lifestyle. Let’s review the basic, low cost options and then take a look at some more thorough methodologies for controlling interior noise levels in your home.

At Wardell Builders, the basics include:

·        Insulation in every interior wall and between all floors

·        Sound board (fiberboard) installed on walls between bedrooms and common room or baths

·        Solid core interior doors

·        Use of 5/8” drywall over ½” drywall

·        Careful locating of outlets boxes

The theories of home soundproofing and home sound control involve two primary methodologies, first absorb sound, next block it’s transmission through the structure. The items above do both of these tasks fairly well and inexpensively. Insulation and sound board absorb sound. Solid core doors and 5/8” drywall help prevent the transmission of sound. Locating electrical boxes (as much as possible) to prevent them from being back to back in a common stud bay maintains the wall assembly sound characteristics. All of these methods require thinking and good craftsmanship. The best acoustic assemblies will have poor results if installed incorrectly.

The strategies listed above will do a reasonable job with wall assemblies; insulation is a marginal aid to floor to ceiling assemblies. Fiberboard can be difficult to use in some finished floor applications. Our basic floor assemblies start with a manufactured joist system. This can be I joists (like Truss Joist or TJI) or open web joist (Red Built or Trim Joist). A prime benefit of manufactured floor joist is their low sound transmission. Above, a solid plywood or OSB layer (3/4” minimum) is glued and twist nailed in place. This assembly with insulation and 5/8” drywall below will do a moderate job in controlling sound between floors. With this method the finish layer installed above will heavily influence sound transmission. Carpet will absorb the sound prior to its transmission through the floor. Hardwood floors will be quiet for low sounds but higher pitched sounds will easily transmit. How can this be improved?

Floor assemblies can be greatly improved by adding a few dollars to the design. Below the joist, resilient channel can be installed to breakup transmission to the drywall. The drywall itself can be upgraded to a “QuietRock” or equal product. This is a laminated drywall designed for sound control. Acoustic caulking can be used between the ceiling and wall drywall to inhibit sound transmission. On the top of the floor frame assembly, sound deadening products (cork, vinyl mass, gypcrete, enkasonic, etc.) can be applied that will greatly reduce sound transmission. This finish installed above tends to drive the selection of these products. Their application can enhance or reduce the viability of the finished floor’s lifespan. There are too many factors involved to cover in this short blog.

Sound control is lifestyle enhancement. Make sure it is designed into the construction of your home. When thought of early, planned and installed correctly the benefits will be easily apparent and effective. Other than the more exotic installations, none of these should be seen as cost prohibitive. The basic addition of interior insulation will add much less than two thousand dollars to a five thousand square foot home. Sound control is a high value purchase and should be a part of any quality home.

Home SoundProofing | Home Insulation | Solid Core Interior Doors | Sound Control in your home |

Wardell Builders | info@wardellbuilders.com  | 858-793-4190 | Solana Beach, CA 92075