Insulation - blow in services
We are renovating our garden apartment which will be rented out in the future. The ceilings are drop ceilings from what I can tell (probably just a few inches below the original ceiling height – still looks like relatively high ceilings for a garden level apartment). The problem is that I can hear every creaking…
We are renovating our garden apartment which will be rented out in the future.
The ceilings are drop ceilings from what I can tell (probably just a few inches below the original ceiling height – still looks like relatively high ceilings for a garden level apartment).
The problem is that I can hear every creaking floorboard or footstep from the parlor floor. It is not like this on other floors of the house. It may be that the original garden level ceiling was completely removed and not reinsulated when the current ceiling was installed, or the space created by the drop ceiling is amplifying the sound.
I want to try to provide some better sound proofing and thought that “blow-in” insulation into the ceiling space would be an option.
What do others think? Would that be an effective sound barrier (I know it would not be 100%, but I would like to reduce the noise somewhat so future tenants can live and sleep in peace).
Any recommendations for companies that provide this service and estimated costs? It is a 22.5 x 45 foot brownstone (though we would not be doing the hallway, so it would be approximately 850-900 sq. feet of ceiling space).
Thank you for any recommendations or advice.
Fair enough Derek. I think I’ll just make sure the carpets have good padding and call it a day. Kids are in bed well before the tenants would be so they would not keep them up at night. Apartment is warm, so no need for insulation other than my not so effective sound proofing idea.
The garden to parlor floors are rarely insulated so no surprise there. The blow-in insulation may help dampen the noise some but there will be little cost benifit in terms energy savings, why one normally insulates. If you do go this route I’ve used Joey – Federal Conservation group. http://www.federalconservation.com/
He is great, a little hard to get a hold of this time of year but a real pro and will give you good advice on the soundproofing qualities.
Depending on the anotomy of the ceiling, 2 holes may need to be drilled at every joist (one as a vent)so a lot of patch work afterwards. You may get lucky and only end up with a few. I can’t remember the SF price on this offhand but I think in the $4.00 a foot range for insulation only – add cost of patching and painting on top of that.
I agree with the earlier poter about density though…if renovating already you could add sheets of different density material to the ceiling but this can be pricey too. (one layer of Homosote and one layer of 1/2 rock might work.
But…(sorry to the tenants out there)why bother for tenants? I would consider disclosing the noise issue and hope prospective renters are noisy themselves and/or chaulk it up to living in an old house.
Original Poster here. Thank you for the advice.
Despite my post, it is not so much the creaking of floorboards as it is the sound of footsteps, toddler(s) thumping around etc.
Most of the areas have rugs on tope of hardwood inlaid floors. Maybe I’ll just add some better carpet pads too. My wife and I can be careful and try to walk softly, but the little guy and his friends are all just early walkers or toddlers, so you can imagine the thumping they make. I suppose I can just let tenants know this and tell them to feel free to tell us if it is getting too noisy. Hmm…
I’m no expert but I don’t think blown in insulation will give you the soundproofing you are looking for, especially given the price.
From doing some searches on soundproofing, the main thing to consider is the mass of the insulating material. This is not the same as insulating effectivness. This is especially true with lower frequency sounds which I imagine are the ones that are coming through the most.
The suggestions I would have (once again,not an expert) are:
1) see if there’s anything you can to to shore up floorboards to reduce creaking in the first place.
2) put rugs or some other floor covering upstairs to dampen the footsteps
3) Look into putting another layer of sheetrock on the ceiling. If you are willing to spend a little more, there are special sound dampening coverings that will do even more but they get pricey. I think one incorporates a sheet of lead (don’t worry, it’s not harmful) to really block the sound. The more mass, the more sound blocking capability.
Do a google search on soundproofing and you’ll get lots of other ideas in a range of prices.