soundproofing floors

does anyone have some experience in trying to cut down on impact and/or flanking noise between floors? i am feeling my best course of action is beefing up the subfloor with a rubber underlayment and then adding two more plywood layers to increase mass and stagger seams but i am wondering how my joists will handle this extra dead load. anyone had success with soundproofing? or does anyone think i am well within the range of safety? or have a recommendation for who to contact for these types of questions? thanks!

juliaalexis

in General Discussion 8 years and 8 months ago

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juliaalexis | 8 years and 8 months ago

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my past experiences with roxul for certain projects have been good as well…
did you use it on the lower level’s ceiling side – attaching between the joists? or did you place it on the subfloor in the apartment and then cover with a new subfloor and the rubber? and did you use the 1″ or 2″ roxul?

landlord | 8 years and 8 months ago

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I used Roxul on an apartment that was above a loud bar. I used a db meter to quantify the results. Before the installation the meter read 105db at peak volume (very loud). After the Roxul insulation installed under the wood floor as well as a rubber underlayment the db meter read 55-60db (still loud). I had the bar replace their large speakers with 12 inch woofers with smaller speakers that had a limited frequency response and had them lower the speakers from the ceiling (ceiling at the bar is 16ft) down about 4 feet and angled toward the patrons. The difference was dramatic.

stuyheights | 8 years and 8 months ago

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The ceiling is supported by H channels and clips. Not only do they support 2 layers of sheetrock, I also have plaster ceilings and moldings. I have no issues

juliaalexis | 8 years and 8 months ago

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did you run your plans past an architect or engineer with regards to the extra weight? or was this something that never really crossed your radar?

stuyheights | 8 years and 8 months ago

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You are correct in that assumption. The floors were already down at this point so we had to attack the situation on the ceiling side. Honestly, if you have the option, I would do both sides no matter what it cost. Our house is night and day after going with SPC Solution 3. If I could have attacked it from the top down as well I would have. Its expensive but peace and quite is priceless. We have a 3 family with tenants directly above us and hardly even hear them.

juliaalexis | 8 years and 8 months ago

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Yes! i have been discussing my approach with him and he is helpful. am i correct in assuming that you went with the ceiling side approach because of a lack of access to the floor side? i have a bit of a window now to address the floor side and have always been under the impression that it is better to attack sound problems as close to the source as possible but i certainly have been considering the same approach you used. the flooring side might be a bit easier to address also since i don’t need any permits for flooring but the suspended drywall system might need permits? i am not sure. did you have any concerns about the added weight to your joists?

stuyheights | 8 years and 8 months ago

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I did exactly this- and its night and day. Ted, who owns the company is very helpful.
http://www.soundproofingcompany.com/soundproof-ceilings/spc-3-soundproof-ceiling/