At the risk of repeating some of the discussions in other threads, I wonder if someone could summarize the options available for sound proofing (muffling, deadening might be better words) a ceiling.

I am concerned with keeping sound IN the room versus external noise out. I am doing 2x6 walls with staggered 2x4 studs, safe&sound insulating and using a solid core door.

But from what I've read, and tests I've done, the biggest issue will be low frequency sounds coming up through the ceiling from my basement HT room to the living area upstairs.

I have 8 foot ceilings in the basement which I suppose leaves me some leeway to do something effective but there seems to be very little consensus on the best course of action. The exisiting ceiling is already finished with 1 layer of drywall and is un-insulated.

What are my best options?
Would a layer of sound proofing board (the Rona one- can't recall the name) and another layer of drywall do anything to stop the transmission of low frequency sounds?

I'm no expert, but from experience, the only thing that stops sound, especially bass, is mass. Heavy, solid, dense, etc.
I put in safe and sound insulation, it helped for high end, did almost nothing for bass.
Then i put up 3/4 particle board. That helped a lot.

Hi Moosebump,

It's late, but I did Green Glue (for damping), and Isomax Clips (for decoupling)and hatchanneling and 2 layers of 5/8" Drywall (for mass) on my ceiling plus Roxul S&S.

Search AVSforums for more info. This method is highly recommended by HT guys on that spot. It also has a very active HT construction thread.


I am hoping it helps. I am about 2 nights away from priming, and a couple weeks away from installing doors (i've got to make my own jambs due to the odd thicknesses of my walls.) I really hope it helps. I won't know until about a month - best case scenario.

FYI, the greenglue costs about $17/tube, and u should use 2 tubes for a 4x8 sheet of drywall, and the isomax clips were about $7 each.....

It would take u about a day with a hammer to rip out the ceiling and do that..... the other option would be to put up a 2nd layer of 5/8's drywall over the existing ceiling....

P

Thanks for the info.

Since I already have a layer of drywall in place would it make sense to install the isolating clips below this layer? ie. attach the clips to the joists by screwing through the existing drywall layer - and then add the second layer of drywall?
This would leave a couple of inches of space between drywall layers which i could fill with S&S or leave empty. Any thoughts?


From the Green Glue website there was a link to AcoustiGuard which has an isolation clip system similar to IsoMax. It LOOKS cheaper - though I haven't found out what they cost yet. Anyone have any experience with this product?

Where did you buy the green glue from?

a place in Missisauga. I have some left 11 tubes.. that I am also trying to sell privately.

Check out greenglue.ca They have their Missisauga contact info there.

P

Moosebump....

I believe the Clips need to be added to the joists.... I believe what u are thinking about doing leads to a 'triple leaf effect' or something like that. Not entirely sure what that is, but it is to be avoided.

How big is the room?

the room is 13x17.5

Maybe some bad layering ends up turning the room into a giant woofer?!

Just an update....

My HT/Theatre Room is almost complete.... Carpet goes in on Thursday, and I've got 3 doors installed and weatherstripped.

The details of the construction used can be found http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=702266&postcount=2

The general layout is:
http://pjbj.ca/basementdrawing2.jpg

I haven't yet got a 2nd door for my 'communicating door setup', but likely will get one of the cheap solid pine HD doors ($60) and add it in. The Jamb on that door is 12.5" wide, so a 2nd door will fit in no problem as far as the door knobs are concerned.

I did a quick test of my room, and I was surprised by the results. The efforts seem to have paid off. No more sound comes thru the ceiling of my room. Most of the sound that gets out goes out the door that leads up to the stairs.

We've got a very open concept 'big-@ss' house, and the banisters of the 2nd floor horseshoe around the perimeter of our 'lobby'

http://pjbj.ca/uploaded_images/707bre2.jpg
http://pjbj.ca/uploaded_images/mini-IMG_3851.JPG

My kids rooms are at the top of the stairs.... Using a portable radio (ghetto-blaster), I had the volume loud in the room, and you could make out some of the voices/music at the top of the stairs.

The rest of the house was next to silent in terms of sound making.

I could leave the room as is for now, but the problem is that both are kids sleep with their doors open. Our youngest actually sleeps in the doorway, rather then in his toddler bed. I think in their rooms with the door closed, the sound wouldn't bother them at all.