sound deadening in floor joists

[dwayman]

Hello everyone,

I am a drummer and building a new house, so therefore I am building a music room. It's in the basement. I am planning on putting unfaced batts in the floor joists for sound deadening from people walking around upstairs. Here's my question: will R30 deaden much more sound than R25, or even R19?


thanks in advance for your replies,
denny

[joelpat]

Just a WAG, but I would think that regardless of how much insulation you stuff in the cavities, the main source of sound transmission is the framing.

I would find a way to isolate the ceiling from the joists. Suspended ceiling? Quietrock?

[dwayman]

uh, yeah...my bad, i plan on putting in a suspended ceiling. i guess that brings me to another question. what kind of tiles would work best to control the noise? i haven't had much luck finding any around my area. i live in southern indiana.

denny

[giddonah]

I'm currently building a home theatre room.

I'm going to use 1/2" drywall then 1-1/2" ridgid foam furring strips and then another layer of 1/2" drywall. I don't know how well it'll work, but I'll let you know in two weeks. The 1-1/2" air gap between drywall layers should block a lot of sound. That's the theory anyway...

[Sweep]

The difference in STC between 6" and 10" of fiberglass insulation might be 1 or 1.5. It's primary purpose is to absorb the sound that leaks into the floor cavity through a crack and travels horizontally through the insulation to another crack. It won't have a noticable effect on the sound of a drum set.
What you need is a heavy gypsum drywall ceiling (very carefully sealed at the perimeter) suspended by resilient hangers from the floor above. There are many good hangers available that support a metal channel grid that supports the drywall ceiling. The biggest drawback other than cost is the height they require. Let me know if you need more info about them.

To get the most "bang for the buck" attach the drywall to the joists with resilient channels (USG's RC-1 or equal). Two layers of 5/8" GWB should get you an STC of 56. For more isolation you must use the hanger/grid system and more drywall. Don't forget there are many other paths for the sound to travel into the house so sealing the perimeter, all openings especially doors ad ducts/pipes, is important too. There is no point in creating a good ceiling if the sound can find an easier path. Sound especially from the high-hat, likes cracks.

If you don't mind using millimeters (25 per inch) try this site
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/imquaf/himu/soateswofl/index.cfm#calc

Also
http://www.bkla.com/stdiofaq.htmAlso

http://www.kineticsnoise.com/arch/ksch/resources/ksch_selection_guidelines.pdf

http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/vibration_mounts/iso_hangers.htm?d=24

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/roomacoustics/SoundIsolationNoise.php

http://www.acousticalsolutions.com/products/isolation/hangers.asp

http://www.stewartacousticalconsultants.com/floor-ceiling.pdf

[dwayman]

Thanks sweep

I think I'll try the resilient channel with drywall method first, as money is becoming an issue this late in the home building game (upstairs is almost finished, painting right now). The height of the ceiling isn't an issue because I had the basment poured with 9' walls, planning on putting a suspended ceiling at about 8' anyways. I'll let you know how it works out.

thanks
den

[danh]

Is this a practice room or recording room? Because based on what you said about not wanting to hear people walking around upstairs, it sounds like a recording room.

In which case the approach should probably be a bit different.

[dominog]

Owens Corning makes several noise control products available at home depot and other stores.

http://www.owenscorning.com/around/sound/soundhome.asp
http://www.owenscorning.com/around/sound/products/index2.asp

I put up quietzone batts between all bedroom & bathroom walls and in between joists in one room to deaden the sound from the surround sound room below it... and it makes a difference although the insulation alone just muffles the sound doesn't block it... but it definitely helps. In retrospect I should have done more.

Good reading on that site. Also do some google.com searches for "soundproofing rooms".

[dwayman]

It's a recording room. Most of my recording will probably be when nobody is around, but knowing my luck right when I get something recorded perfectly, somebody will come tromping in the house upastirs!!! Any suggestions welcome.

thanks
denny