Soundproofing

I have dirt cheap rent for the slope, or any neighborhood in north america. I'm not going to start crap with the guy, especially since I'm not rent controlled or stabilized. I've been here over a decade and we have a good relationship. He pays for any work I have done or if I DIY, he pays for the materials. I like it that way and so does he.

Prior to putting new tiles in the drop ceiling, there was fiberglass on top of the old tiles. From what I've heard, that type of insulation does not do much for sound. I think the big problem is the sections of old plaster that fell down recently.

I'm not sure about soundfoam as far as building code goes, like can it be in an enclosed space. I knew a musician who had a practice room with soundfoamed walls. You could still hear him. Also, I'd like to get rid of the drop ceiling, as it's ugly.

Posted by: bv706 at February 5, 2008 1:08 AM in response to Soundproofing

Don't let your kid in the yard till you build a dog-proof fence– they can jump and the love to dig, too– or till you poison it. Just don't get caught.

Posted by: bv706 at February 5, 2008 9:31 PM in response to Really scary dog

As for not switching the rooms– when I first moved here the front room was the bedroom. I lived that way for years, same upstairs neighbor. Then I wanted a change and switched to the back room. Noticed less street noise, but street noise is not that bad.

So when I decided to switch back, I did not expect the problem. I could switch back, but REALLY like the new layout.

Thanks for the links to various soundproofing product sites.

Posted by: bv706 at February 5, 2008 9:51 PM in response to Soundproofing

Another idea to ponder is a product called Green Glue. What you want to do is remove the old ceiling and using drywall or wood attach the drywall or wood directly to the underside of the subfloor above you. You can double or triple the amount of layers. Then you can inclose the it with another layer of Green Glue and drywall, QuietRock or Supress. More info here.

http://www.greengluecompany.com/upgradingExistingFloors.php

Dave
http://www.soundproofingwithdave.com

Posted by: guest at February 5, 2008 12:00 PM in response to Soundproofing

esp if u have kids or r pregnant, be careful to limit exposure to dust/lead paint from old ceiling if you demo it...

Posted by: guest at February 5, 2008 1:06 PM in response to Soundproofing

maybe you shouldn't have moved your rooms around...

Posted by: guest at February 5, 2008 1:31 PM in response to Soundproofing

Try a white noise machine first before you do anything drastic. When I lived facing the street in the EV it blocked out almost everything. I highly recommend the Sleepmate: http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-980-Screen-SleepMate-Conditioner/dp/B000KUHFGM

Posted by: guest at February 5, 2008 4:40 PM in response to Soundproofing

As for not switching the rooms– when I first moved here the front room was the bedroom. I lived that way for years, same upstairs neighbor. Then I wanted a change and switched to the back room. Noticed less street noise, but street noise is not that bad.

So when I decided to switch back, I did not expect the problem. I could switch back, but REALLY like the new layout.

Thanks for the links to various soundproofing product sites.

Posted by: bv706 at February 5, 2008 9:51 PM in response to Soundproofing

I can't quite envision the "city-owned" space you are talking about. Is there some sort of alley between your property and the neighbor's? Kind of rare in Brownstone Brooklyn. Seems to me the best thing you can do is build a better fence on your side. And of course talk to the neighbor, altho short of him/her getting rid of dog not sure what s/he can do.

And ignore the poison talk. Major bad karma.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at February 5, 2008 9:59 PM in response to Really scary dog

Thanks for the suggestions. For your information , 9:59, there is an area that divides all the backyards on the block. Most homeowners, myself included, have fences, that mark their property lines. All of the fences go up to the beginning of this right of way. The result being a six foot wide buffer between the rear boundaries. The property owner whose dog is at issue never built a fence and so the animal is able to pace this area and growl menacingly at my child as he plays.

Posted by: ez at February 5, 2008 10:18 PM in response to Really scary dog

I, too, don't understand what we're talking about, here, with this utility right-of-way-- but I also don't care. Whatever. When I suggested that the parent involved here might need to build a fence, what I meant was an opaque fence. As in, a fence through which her child could not see the big scary dog. And I still think that's what she ought to do.

Go, Obama!

Posted by: Rehab at February 6, 2008 12:14 AM in response to Really scary dog

build your own solid fence. simple. there are really some stupid questions on this site.

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 8:25 AM in response to Really scary dog

Dogs, especially those left in confined areas like fenced-in back yards, become territorial. It's one of the traits that humans have cultivated and exploited for years. Otherwise they'd have no reason to stop an intruder from walking into your house.

To suggest poisoning this animal or harming it in any way is unconscionable; it's only doing what comes naturally to it. Agreed that the best solution is for the OP to build a fence that has no openings through which one party can see the other, although if the dog is on 'high alert' it will likely make little difference. Dogs react more to smell than anything.

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:16 AM in response to Really scary dog