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