| In today's world, basements are no | | | | most of the airborne sound transmission |
| longer simply places to store things | | | | and some of the impact noise from above, |
| like a glorified garage. With the price | | | | but the best way to alleviate the |
| of housing ever on the rise, many people | | | | majority of the footfall or impact noise |
| are converting their basements into | | | | is to float your ceiling using sound |
| rental spaces where they can make a | | | | clips and metal furring channels. I will |
| little extra income each month. There | | | | talk more bout them in subsequent |
| are also a lot of folks who want to | | | | articles. |
| create a refuge space for reading or | | | | There is one other method for |
| meditation or even a home theater in | | | | soundproofing a basement ceiling that I |
| their basements. In this article I am | | | | will briefly discuss. Instead of using |
| going to talk about soundproofing your | | | | the mass loaded vinyl, consider |
| basement from the tenants below or from | | | | installing 2 layers of sheetrock with a |
| the noise transmitted by a home theater. | | | | layer of Green Glue applied between the |
| The first order of business is to talk | | | | 2 layers. Here's how it works. First you |
| about the ceiling. Many times pipes and | | | | make sure you have your batt insulation |
| conduits as well as electrical and cable | | | | in place between the joist cavities, |
| lines run between the joist cavities in | | | | this is only necessary if your need the |
| a basement ceiling. A lot of people feel | | | | thermal protection of the insulation. |
| that need to have access to these | | | | Next you would screw in a layer of 5/8" |
| components, but in order to achieve | | | | drywall. Always screw in your drywall; |
| great soundproofing, there devices need | | | | never nail it in especially in a ceiling |
| to be sealed up by constructing a sealed | | | | application. Then you will lay out your |
| drywall ceiling below. If you are | | | | second layer of 5/8" drywall on saw |
| concerned about the plumbing and wiring, | | | | horses, but on this layer you will apply |
| have a professional come in before your | | | | 3 tubes of a product called Green Glue |
| drywall in your new ceiling. Remember | | | | top the backside of the drywall. Green |
| that 90% of your plumbing and wiring is | | | | Glue is a visco elastic damping compound |
| behind drywall and if there are problems | | | | that is used to deaden or dampen the |
| with them then naturally the drywall | | | | existing drywall and the newer layer |
| will need to be removed. My point here | | | | that is being installed. You could apply |
| is that if the plumbing and wiring has | | | | only 2 tubes of Green Glue per 4' X 8' |
| been inspected and given a clean bill of | | | | sheet of drywall, however using 3 tubes |
| health, then go ahead and seal up the | | | | per sheet of drywall is much better for |
| ceiling below. | | | | soundproofing. Once you have applied the |
| Generally most basement areas have low | | | | Green Glue to the backside of the second |
| ceilings which prevents us from | | | | layer of drywall, you will simply screw |
| installing a fully floated ceiling, | | | | in the second layer directly over top of |
| however there is always room for | | | | the first layer. A little hint here is |
| materials like mass loaded vinyl that | | | | to screw the second layer of drywall |
| can be stapled or nailed directly to the | | | | down as tightly as possible without |
| bottom of the joists like a membrane. | | | | pulling the screw through the drywall, |
| You will caulk all of the seams as well | | | | this will insure the best dampening |
| as around the entire perimeter of the | | | | possible of both pieces of drywall. |
| MLV using a good quality acoustical | | | | After that second layer of drywall and |
| caulk, stay away from cheap silicone | | | | Green Glue are installed, you will |
| caulks, they do not work as well. | | | | simply tape mud and texture the ceiling |
| Once the MLV membrane is caulked and | | | | as you would a normal ceiling. Well, |
| sealed properly, it is advised that you | | | | that's all there is to soundproofing a |
| also tape the seams with a lead tape or | | | | basement ceiling. For more information |
| a mass loaded vinyl sealer tape. You | | | | about soundproofing a ceiling, walls or |
| will tape directly over the dried caulk. | | | | floors, read my subsequent articles or |
| Now it is time for a layer of drywall. I | | | | simply call a reputable soundproofing |
| would recommend a layer of 5/8" fire | | | | company, they will be glad to help you. |
| code drywall. This application will stop | | | | Until next time, this is Dr. Bob...Out! |