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