Soundproofing Consultation

 

 

Soundproofing Consultation

 

We are here to help with any question you may have about our products, installation and general questions. Please give one of our friendly customer care specialists a call.

We have written detailed and extensive articles on how to soundproof new construction and existing structures. Additionally we have also answered thousands of questions asked by anyone visiting our site (worldwide), these can be found at the bottom of all articles and product pages.

If you still need help with designing a soundproofing plan for your project, you can call and request a phone consultation with one of our soundproofing experts.

The fee for a phone consultation is: $50.00 for 15 Minutes.

You can send in drawings and emails before the consultation to maximise your phone time.

To schedule a consultation please call 845-388-1200 extension 103. Or email rachel@tmsoundproofing.com

We look forward to helping you achieve the best possible results for your sound control project!

Customers Questions and Answers

1) Kathleen: My contractor wants to attach the 2nd stud wall directly to the current studs instead of using the staggering effect. I'm unsure about this. Should he do this and if so, how? Thank you.

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Hi Kathleen, You will have much better results if the 2 studs are not attached to each other. This can be done by framing a new wall 1" in front of the existing one or by using specialty sound clips like these https://www.tmsoundproofing.com/TMS-Silent-Clips-A48R.html

2) Jacob S: Hello, I am doing a remodel with a finished basement. The main level has squeaky wood floors; you can hear every step especially with hard soled shoes. I would like to mitigate this problem. At the moment the basement ceilings are open to the joists. One consideration is that I wish to preserve as much height as possible since the ceilings are low at around 7'. What are your recommendations? Thank you.

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Hi Jacob. IFiberglass insulation , 2 layers of half inch drywall with Green Glue in between them.

3) Ted: I can hear snoring, the TV, and talking from my downstairs neighbor (condo). He has the same problem with noises coming from us. The contractor suggested installing MLV (1) in his ceiling or (2) under my floor. If we do (1), would it help both of us? Same question for (1). Thank you!!!

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Hi Ted, Yes it would help. If you will be working wit your ceiling you are better off adding a 2nd layer of drywall with the Green Glure damping compound in between (make sure there is insulation in the ceiling as well).

4) Jesse J: Using the whisper clips and hat channels, how do we handle the door frame? The frame sticks out to allow the door jam to come out flush with 2 layers of drywall (with green glue) on top of the hat channels. Then drywall would be touching the door frame, is that ok? can we put the acoustic sealant on the door frame 1st so its between drywall and door frame? basically how do handle around the door, thanks!

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Hi Jesse. You would use what is called an "extension jamb" for the doorway to meet the additional width of the wall. Any decent trimmer can help you with that. Usually there is a slight gap between the drywall and door jamb and yes you should fill that with acoustical caulk. No big deal if touches here or there although you are better off with the small gap.

5) Howard S: What would be best to eliminate road noise, We live in townhouse and our bedroom is about 25 yards from a main street. The room has 2 windows on and Is on the side wall and the main wall needs some soundproofing. What would recommend? My wife has sleeping problems

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Please see this how to soundproof existing walls and ceiling article.

6) Angie: My neighbor floors constantly creek when is walks upstairs condo, he's very heavy, has a child that constantly runs over top of our heads what can we do? Thank you!

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

If he is willing to put down carpet you can use a special sound control underlayment.

7) Jerry: What do you suggest for stopping noise coming through a common wall in a condo?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Another layer of drywall with Green Glue damping compound. See this article

8) Jerry: Thank you for the response. Your email refers to an article--"see this article". However, there is no link to the article.

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Sorry about that. Here it is https://www.tmsoundproofing.com/soundproofing-existing-rooms-walls-ceilings.html

9) Kenn D: building walls between sleeping rooms am I better off designing them with staggered studs and 2X6 plates or build a thinner wall with one inch space between?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: A thinner wall with 1 inch space in between.

10) Rudy B: building two story apartments. we have trusses and decking already down on second level. We are using channel on sheet rock where needed and foam on walls, and fiberglass between floors. The question is should we use green glue on the decking already down on second level and then put another layer of decking down on it? Would it help?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Hi Rudy. Yes that would help a lot for both airborne and footfall noise. Your other choice would be to add the Green Glue and another layer of drywall onto the channels below. However the floor is a better first choice as there are less cut outs and it absorbs some foot fall as well.

11) Ken: Hello, I am thinking about using whisper clips to float walls and a ceiling inside a walk-in closet to create a practice booth. Would this be possible and would the floated walls and ceiling be removable if it is a rental apartment? Thank you! Ken

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: That is possible. It is not removable unless you want to remove drywall etc.

12) Ken K: Thank you for the reply. My follow-up question is does the installation compromise the existing drywall in any way? For a rental apartment, upon move-out I would want to remove any construction and would like to know if it would leave any damage. Could you please walk me through what the removal/clean-up process would look like? Thank you again! Ken

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: It would involve removing the screws that hold up the clips.

13) Peter: Hi, Your site has been very helpful. I will look to purchase products shortly. We are blending families and starting a basement renovation to accommodate 3 new bedrooms and a TV / games room. The basement also has a laundry / bathroom and a mechanical room. Some rooms are existing already and I will use GG and layers of drywall along with blown insulation in one wall and batt in another (mechanical room) shared wall. I plan to use 2 layers 5/8" gypsum with GG in the rec room area ceiling screwed to the joists with insulation. For the bedrooms I plan to additionally use sound isolation clips and channels. My questions for you is what type of wall assembly for the wall separating two bedrooms (no door) and the wall separating these two bedrooms from the rec room (two doors). It is new construction so I can do metal, wood, staggered studs, etc. I would prefer to not use clips due to cost and square footage loss. I also ruled out a double stud wall for sq. footage loss. For the wall with the doors, it doesn't seem to make sense to go overboard since the doors won't have the same STC rating anyway - weak point. Also, I cannot find on your site construction techniques for framing walls and ceiling connections. Do you recommend doing the clip/channel ceiling first and screwing the wall top plate into the hat channel through the drywall? I'm thinking I want to avoid attaching the wall top plate to the joists. An article on this would be very helpful. Much thanks, Peter

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Thank you Peter. A staggered wall with Green Glue in between double layers of drywall will be the best option for your situation. You can use a specialty clip to decouple the joists from the ceiling joists, see here https://www.tmsoundproofing.com/Resilmount-A24R-Double-Clip-For-Acoustical-Bridging.html. There are new articles and videos in the pipeline. Thanks for your suggestion!

14) Adam W: Hi Friends, I am building a recording studio in my unfinished basement. 2 of the walls that exist for my project are cinder block (which I plan on building studded walls in front of). The 3rd wall is a studded wall that runs below the "I" beam. I will be building the fourth wall to connect them all together. I have a couple of questions. First, being that 2 of the walls will have cinderblocks behind them (and this is all underground), do I need to treat them as heavily as the other 2 walls? Should they all be treated the same for continuity? Behind the wall that I have yet to build is our central AC and heating unit. The air ducts for this will be running through the top of this wall and along the ceiling in the room I am building. What are your thoughts for insulating around these ducts? Should I build a frame around them and insulate the same as the ceiling and walls? What are your suggestions for running ventilation into the room and out of the room? I know these are a lot of questions! Thanks in advance.

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Hi Adam. You do not need to treat your 2 exterior walls as heavily as the other 2. Best would be to keep the ducts in the ceiling ducts. If that is not possible frame from 3 sides and wrap with double layer of drywall and Green Glue.

15) AJ: I'm planning to finish our basement with an area for a home theater. The ceiling is open web trusses which I plan to fill with insulation. I've been looking at installing either A237 or RC-1 Boost clips to use with hat channel or resilient rail and double drywall with green glue. Would the A237 or the RC-1 Boost clips give me better isolation from the rest of the house? Also would it be better to use hat channel or single leg resilient channel with RC-1 clips and double drywall? Thanks

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: The A237 Will give better results. Hat channel is superior only when used in conjunction with the resilient sound clips.

16) Rick: I am building a semi-attached home. The layout requires that the master bedrooms of the 2 homes are adjacent to each other. Due to code, the homes are separated by a double 2x6 wall, with staggered studs. Between these 2 walls is a Вѕ" gap with 1 layer of 5/8th mold resistant, fire-rated sheetrock. My question is, what further steps should I take to minimize sound transfer between the homes: should I spend my money on insulation (and at which R-value?), on soundboard sheetrock and/or on noise channels?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Definitely have insulation, like fiberglass , put into both of the walls. Add a 2nd layer of drywall to both of the master bedroom walls (at least the walls that are back to back and the ceilings) with the Green Glue Damping Compound between the 2 layers.

17) Dan Ca: I live in a twin that was built in 1925 in Royersford PA. Downstairs we can hear loud conversations from our neighbor and upstairs I can hear coughing. I discovered the party wall is structural terra cotta with plaster applied directly to the block. Could I sound proof with green glue and dry wall? Also would floor joists go all the way across both homes?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: If the plaster is smooth, then yes. Otherwise you would have to sand it down so that the new layer of drywall with Green Glue sits tight. It is possible that the floor joists are shared, we cannot know that without inspecting it.

18) Jim: We want to soundproof our 1980s condo ceiling from squeaky floors above (we hear every step like is in the room with us). We believe that there is no insulation in the ceiling, and we do not want to remove the drywall. So, we were thinking to do the following: 1) apply WallDamp Retrofit strips on the current ceiling for sound absorption 2) apply another drywall sheet on top of the WallDamp 3) apply green glue then attach tongue and groove 1x6 panels for aesthetics. Would that work, or do you have another advise for us? We do want to have the tongue and groove panels. Thanks.

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Hi Jim. The Squeaky floors are usually due to the rubbing of the sub-floor to the ceiling joists and most probably will still be heard after you do the work on your ceiling. What is Wall Damp Retro fit strips?

19) Yvonne V: Do you have any recommendations for experienced Green Glue installation contractors in the Westchester County area? Am looking to have it done to my ceilings, as I live in a cooperative apartment complex with a noisy upstairs neighbor. Thanks for your assistance.

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Please give us a call 845-388-1200 and we will give you some numbers of contractors in the area that are experienced in applying the Green Glue.

20) Justin R: I notice that you provide a consultation service. I was wondering what type of services you provide in this service. Is this consultation service just for Analysis of required soundproofing requirements, or do you also provide fully comprehensive detailed quotation service for a person's individual requirements? Please explain. Thanks Kind regards Justin

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Hi Justin, It is for analysis and best practice for soundproofing requirements. We can only supply quotes for material that we carry as the labor installation costs vary greatly per region and contractor.

21) Bob: I will be building 2x4 walls with 5/8 drywall on each side. I will be applying 1 lb. MLV to the studs. Does it matter which side of the studs the MLV is applied? (trying to keep sound from exiting the room.) Thank you

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Always better if you apply the sound control material closer to the source of the noise, if possible.

22) Vien G: I have a sleeping problem where the heater/boiler in my basement is vibrating through the floor and into my bed (probably even the walls too). I can feel it going through my body when I'm trying to sleep. I am quite noise sensitive, so even though it is quiet, it is extremely hard for me to sleep well. Unfortunately I don't have much control besides making adjustments in my own room and possibly some small ones to the heater/boiler. What could I do to improve my situation, ideally without making huge adjustments like tearing out my hardwood floor? I am considering 1. adding a rug/carpet to help with this and 2. putting some suspension clamps on the pipes along with removing some unnecessary poles in there used for other purposes. If that helps, does the rug/carpet need to cover the entire floor or just under my bed?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Sorry to hear that. Without major adjustment i would say your best of with premium carpet underlayment and plush carpet on top. While we always recommend doing the entire room in this case just under the area that your bed is enough.

23) judith green: hi i am wondering can this product MLV be used under a tile installation. we are doing a mud floor over plywood and thinset and then tile? if yes do you ave a drawing of how this should be installed and at what point this gets installed. your advise would be appreciated. Judy Green

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Not really. Unless you put down MLV and then another plywood and work from there.

24) Arthur: Hi - I have a small closet in the basement that has a sump pump. When it runs, we can hear it on the 1st and 2nd floor - it is louder upstairs than right next to the sump. The closet has zero insulation on the ceiling. Any recommendations? Doesn't need to look nice since it is just an unfinished closet anyway. Thanks!

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Mass Loaded Vinyl on the whole closet and 2 Sound Absorption Panels.

25) Janeth: Hello, I recently bought a condo, my bedroom wall is shared with my neighbor who happens to be extremely noisy at night hence I have trouble sleeping. I asked the maintanence company of the building if there was any kind of insulation between the walls, they said no. My question is if I add GG and 5/8" drywall to the existing wall that is shared with my neighboor would help to reduce the noise? I can't add the insulation between the walls since this requires hiring a contractor and I'm looking for a diy solution. Thank you.

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

It would however adding insulation first would be so much better. You can drill holes in each bay and blow in cellulose insulation then cover with 2nd layer of drywall and Green Glue.

26) AL ZABA: Is there any way to soundproof against footfall noise without removing the existing drywall ceiling?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Footfall noise is really difficult to eliminate. Best for an existing structure is to put down carpet with a thick padding, using our carpet underlayment would be great. Otherwise rubber underlayment and your flooring on top of that.

27) Nate: We are in a new construction home located on a double line road with busy traffic. We have unwanted traffic noise from passing cars. We have vinyl exterior siding, R-15 or R-19 fiber insulation (pink in color) in the wall cavity (2x6). Do you recommend using densely packed cellulose to fill the wall (that already has fiber glass insulation)? Or extra dry wall with green glue? Or a combination of both? Lastly, how can I tell if my windows aren't the source of the noise (we have Andersen 400 series). Thanks!

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: Do not bother with the cellulose. The fiberglass is enough. Another layer of drywall with Green Glue is a good addition. Sound is coming thru the windows as well. Once you treat the walls you can decide if you still need to treat the windows.

28) Vinnie: Our office is on the second floor of a two story building. The HVAC units are on the roof and create a droning sounds in our office when they turn on. Anyway to fix this?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

Vibration pads under the HVAC unit may help. In the meantime you can try the 3M damping tape on the machine and on the ducts.

29) Dustin Farrell: Good day, My house is next to a busy road, and the road noise is beyond irritating! We currently have a 6' wooden fence, and I was thinking about using MLV to help with some sound absorption, which I would then cover with additional fencing boards on the interior to double up. Is this something you would recommend, or is there a better, cheaper solution? Also, curious if you offer different color MLVs, as I understood there are transparent or tan options? Thanks so much, Irritated by road noise! Dustin

Trademark Soundproofing Reply:

MLV can help somewhat however sound will still go over the fence. Colors are available on our outdoor MLV soundproofing curtains.

30) PJ Rezvanian: I'm currently renovating my two story house. I was lucky to uncover beautiful old wide plank pine underneath layers of linoleum and laminate flooring. I would like to preserve those, but now there is nothing but 1 layer of 1" pine floor sitting on top of floor joists, and the plaster ceiling underneath. I'm specially concerned with foot fall noise considering the pine floors have no underlayment. Contractor suggest blowing in cellulose insulation through holes in the ceiling into the spaces between joists and then adding 1 layer sheetrock to the ceiling underneath, with either Green Glue between layers or using Whisper clips and hat channels. In your opinion which one will help reduce the noise better than the other?

Trademark Soundproofing Reply: I would do all. Blow in cellulose. Whisper Clips. Channels, Drywall, Green Glue, Drywall. Leave the holes made in the plaster open to mitigate the triple leaf effect.