insulation and sound proofing.

[cliffy]

My wife and I built a new home a couple of years ago...but due to budget limits, we left three rooms in the basement unfinished (two bedrooms that both share a common wall with a bathroom) We are now moving ahead and trying to get those rooms completed. We are almost to the point of throwing up the sheet rock.

I work nights 6 months out of the year...so one of these new bedrooms will be my part time bedroom. I am trying to build it to be as sound proof or at least quite as possible. I was thinking of throwing up some insulation in the ceiling and walls that are shared with the bathroom and family room. Can a person use any type of insulation??? Does anyone see any problems in doing this? I want to do this cheap and fast......

Thanks

Cliffy

[Redlantern]

Along with the insulation, try using sound channel. Most hotels and apartments use this on common walls.

[CodyDawg]

I am in the middle of building a house and we are going to soundproof my home office. The big thing is the studs carry the sound through the wall. One way is to use built-rite before you sheetrock (4X8 sheets). Another is to use a 2X6 plate and cap and alternate your 2X4 studs. Insulate between the studs and the sheetrock and you have sound breaks.

[Jigging Joe]

I built my own house back in 2003, I insulated ALL walls. I used the cheapest fiberglass insulation I could find for the interior walls. ANY type of filler will help break the sound, even stuff hanging on the walls break the sound. My broth-in-laws first house had hollow walls and the sound traveled thru the entire house, if somebody flushed the toilet, everybody heard it.

[LakeDocktor]

I am in the process of planning out my theater in the basement. I am having everything spray foamed and using sound channel. Before the sheetrock, I am also adding a rubber sound barrier to further eliminate any noise transfer. In some of the theaters I have seen have used double walls. Remember, the more air space there is, the less sound will travel.

[cliffy]

Thanks for the information. My plan is just to use basic insulation to fill the space in the roof and walls. I understand there are much better ways and products...but I have a very...very limited budget. I just wanted to make sure I was not going to hurt anything by doing so. No problems or code violations.....

Thanks.

Cliffy

[Redlantern]

Cliffy, someone mentioned earlier, using a 2 x 6 plate for a 2 x 4 wall, staggering the studs. It will double the cost of your studs if you are going 16 on center but it is probably the cheapest and easiest way to go. Seen it done many times in commercial properties. I think if you just use insulation you won't be too happy with the results.

[JohnMickish]

We did some work in a church a few years ago and this is how they soundproofed their walls. 2X4 interior walls, sound insulation (not the temperature type, but true sound insulation. It's much denser.), plywood on one side and 5/8 sheetrock on both sides!

I personally thing it was a bit of an overkill but the rooms where absolutely soundproof when done.

Don't forget to insulate the ceiling as well.

[Hillbiehle]

Turn the studs 90 degrees: [ = = = = ] This will spread the sound and disperse. This way there is nothing between the two sheets of drywall.

[DREZLER]

what ever you do- don't try quiet rock. it costs about 7X the price of normal rock and doesnt' seem to be that effective.

[LakeDocktor]

Turn the studs 90 degrees: [ = = = = ] This will spread the sound and disperse. This way there is nothing between the two sheets of drywall.

This will have an adverse effect on what you are trying to accomplish. The more air space equals more sound dampening space. The same goes for double pane windows. The bigger gap between the panes, the less air can travel from pane to pane. If there is no place for the sound to diminish, it is just going to travel up and through the walls.