Hotel Soundproofing

With Hotel travelers leaving and checking hotel reviews on the web it has become of utmost importance for hotels to give their guests a pleasurable relaxing stay.

Cleanliness, friendly staff, new decor and lately a quiet room has become the standards that guests look out for. Indeed, of all the complaints that guests have about hotels, noise continues to top the list, according to a recent guest satisfaction survey by J. D. Power and Associates (See this NYT Article and readers comments)

Hotels sometimes do not realize the importance of applying sound control between rooms, hallways and floors during the construction process. Once the beautiful hotel is finished and the noise complaints start coming in, it is frustrating and very difficult, not to mention expensive to correct the problems.

Some Hotel owners rely on the architectural plans, however those are usually out dated using old techniques (e.g insulation and soundboard) or newer materials that have not been field proven. Meaning that a company can show STC ratings of a product however it requires a real soundproofing professional to be able to discern just how these tests were run and how much these materials actually helped out. 

There are many pro active Hotel Owners/Builders who do their own research. We have worked with many of them. From the Four Points in Niagara to the Las Vegas Suites in Panama, From the Marriott in Massachusetts to the Pelham in Louisiana and many more. Every building and every existing structure requires its own analysis and solution.

First we will present you with a straight to the point "How To" on new construction soundproofing for hotels and then we will delve into more details.

The simplest most glaring sound issue in Hotels is by far the DOORS. Gaps at the bottom of the door leading to the hallway and at the doors of adjoining room make for an unpleasant stay at any Hotel. Shockingly this is overlooked by many of the most luxurious hotels. The door bottom and sides need tight SEALS. While many hotels do put some sort of seal they are usually torn or not sealing properly within a short time. If you want to test this, turn off the light in the Hotel Room. Any light coming in at the bottom or side of the doors is allowing sound in and out.

BTo the right are 2 images that we took when we stayed at a Hotel. You can see the light shining in at the bottom and the sides. No wonder you wake up everytime someone talks or slams their door in the hallway.

  • Walls between rooms/hallways

    Walls between rooms are the next biggest problem in Hotel Noise Complaints. Walls between rooms (not on the top floor) can be easily be soundproofed by using the proper techniques.

    Don't hang mini split AC units back to back on walls. Consider framing a double wall (completely not touching each other) between all rooms. If cost or space is an issue than use resilient sound clips on one side of the wall. Cover all outlets with an acoustical putty pad.   Fill the cavity with Thick Fiberglass insulation, use 2 layers of 5/8" thick drywall on both sides with Green Glue Damping Compound in between the layers. Seal the perimeter of the walls with acoustical caulk. (you will be spending half the money and getting a much better soundproof wall using this method).

 

  • Floors

    For a wood built structure. Install Joist Gasket Tape on top of the floor joists. Use two Subfloors (on the deck, before framing of the walls begin) with Green Glue Damping Compound applied between the 2 layers. This is one of the best techniques you can do for controlling sound between floors.
  • If installing carpet in the room. Use the Premium Carpet Underlayment to greatly stop sound transfer between floors.

 

  • Ceilings

    On The ceiling below use resilient sound clips like Whisper Clips with Hat Channel and hang 2 layers of drywall on the channels (luxury hotels should add another layer of Green Glue between these 2 layers).

 

  • Walls to the outside

    Insulation, double drywall with Green Glue in between.

 

  • Windows

    Not as important unless the hotel faces a busy road. You can install 2 sets of windows one in front of the other leaving as large an air space between them as possible. Install double pane windows with laminate glass. windows should be sealed properly before moldings are put up. You can have a window covering that guest can close on their own.

Customers Questions and Answers

1) Guy C: We have metal stairways in an apartment building which echos into the adjacent apartments whenever tenants run up or down the stairs. How can this noise be eliminated or at least dampened. Thank you.

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Your best of putting acoustical panels or acoustical sound absorbing curtains on the walls of the stairway to absorb that sound (the curtains are more durable for a commercial application such as this one).

2) inga: what do you say if we install carpet floor with soundproofing underlay on the hotel floor? it this products approved for sound insulation?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Hi Inga. I would say that is an excellent idea. Yes this product has been tested and is approved for sound insulation. It will help you with footsteps and airborne sounds between the room above and the room below.

3) inga: we are much interesting in soundproofing standards can you please let me know approximately how many dB should reduce a hotel door? i understand as much as better but still - from how many dB should be as minimum (Not luxury hotels)

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

You should be looking for an STC rating on a door of close to 50 (luxury hotel 60). You would need a heavy solid door and very good door seals around the door and a high quality automatic door bottom at the bottom of the door.

4) Hector R: For luxury a hotel room, one level above ground and with a noisy restaurant underneath, what sound reduction products, if any, would be recommended bellow the floor slab? The floor is a 5 inch concrete slab.

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Hi Hector. You should construct a decoupled ceiling by using resilient sound clips, hat channel and double layer of drywall with Green Glue. However I would like to get some insulation in there as well so I would first fur it out with wood furring so that there is room for a minimum of 2-3 inch of mineral wool insulation and then add the clips to the wood furring as mentioned.

5) Madusha: I want to stop or reduce the DJ and musical sound going out to the neighboring houses from my hotel. what will be good for me?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: I would suggest that you call into our office and schedule a phone consultation for that.

6) Bill: We are contemplating the purchase of a small, older hotel and soundproofing, or lack thereof, is a real concern. It's a 2-storey facility. Wondering how best to improve soundproofing between floors and through adjoining walls? Room to room; room to common hallway? Drywall on wooden frame construction. T-bar ceilings throughout.

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Hi Bill. I would suggest that for this project you schedule a phone consultation. To schedule please call 845-388-1200 ext 103. Thank you.

7) Max C: Hello, what is the best insulation between connecting doors. The door we have a full solid wood. wondering if you have additional creative ideas. thank you

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Hi Max. You have to seal the gaps around the doors. Door gaskets around the jambs and an automatic door bottom for the gap at the bottom. We have helped many hotels with this. Please give us a call.

8) morris : I am about to build a 65 room hotel, can you list the materials I will be needing to complete sound proofing the rooms, between floors, ceilings, walls and especially doors. Thanks Morris Weingarten

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Hi Morris. We can definitely do that. Someone from our sales dept will be sending you a detailed email.