Reduce noise by altering the way sound travels through space.
Excessive noise can turn a comfortable environment into one that is unbearable. Sound is simply a vibration of air waves moving through a space. By eliminating the paths by which these vibrations travel -- through walls, floors and ceilings -- the sound transfer between adjacent spaces is eliminated. Acoustic separation is the key concept. Any time air space can be added between two building materials, the ability for sound to travel through the materials is reduced or eliminated. A quieter, more peaceful living environment is easy to build and will add a lot of enjoyment to your home.
Instructions
Walls
1. Cut a piece of 2-by-6-inch lumber in half. Attach this as the bottom plate that serves as the base for the wall. Normally, a two-by-four is used, but by using a two-by-six, you can stagger the studs, further increasing the sound resistance of the wall. Cutting the two-by-six also eliminates any direct transfer of sound through the bottom plate.
2. Attach the two-by-six top plate to the bottom of the ceiling joists, using framing nails. This will provide support for the top of the wall.
3. Install two-by-four studs with framing nails, 16 inches on center, along one side of the two-by-six bottom plate. Do the same thing on the other side of the bottom plate, but stagger the studs on this side eight inches from the ones on the first side. The goal is having studs 16 inches on center on both sides of the bottom plate, but with the studs offset from each other on each side. This prevents a direct sound path from one side to the next.
4. Run a bead of silicone caulk along the length of each of the wood studs. This adds further resistance to sound within the construction system. Install the sheets of drywall, using drywall screws, to the wooden studs on one side. The silicone caulk will be between the back of the drywall and the wood studs.
5. Install batt insulation between the wood studs. Snaking the insulation material between the studs along the length of the wall will increase its capacity to resist sound transfer. Run a bead of caulk on the second side. Install drywall sheets the same way as you did on the other side of the wall.
Floors and Ceilings
6. Install resilient channels on the bottom of the ceiling or floor joists above a space. If the space above the room being soundproofed is an attic, then usually the ceiling construction is adequate for soundproofing. If the space above is a source of sound, such as another room, then installing the resilient channels will help reduce the sound transfer. Resilient channels are metal pieces used to attach the drywall to the wood studs or floor joists.
7. Attach the resilient channels at a 90-degree angle to the wood framing, using framing nails. Stop the resilient channels about 1/4 inch short of the walls. This gives the channels room to flex, which is the key to their functionality.
8. Affix sheets of drywall to the resilient channels using drywall screws. Attach the screws through the drywall and into the channels at locations where studs are not present. If the screws are driven through the channel and into the stud, the purpose of the channel is defeated. It won't be able to move and dissipate the sound vibrations.
9. Lay pieces of batt insulation between each floor or ceiling joist, above the ceiling drywall and below the floor sheathing for the space above. This material will further dissipate any sounds that transmit through the drywall-and-resilient-channel assembly.
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