What is Green Glue:
Green Glue is a visco-elastic damping compound. In simple terms that means that it damps vibrations. The reason it is such a fabulous soundproofing material is because sound is an energy wave that travels by vibration. It travels through the air by vibrating air molecules and through walls and ceilings by vibrating them as well. (Actually sound travels faster through a solid than through air due to the fact that the molecules are closer together in a solid). The better damped a material is the quicker it will dissipate (disperse) the sound energy into heat energy, to keep it simple, it will stop the vibrations quickly.
Green Glue is the highest performing damping compound to have been lab and field tested on the market today. It works in a Constrained Layer Damping System, meaning that it is applied in between two rigid layers. In practical terms Green Glue is applied between two layers of drywall (walls and/or ceilings) or two layers of plywood (sub flooring) etc. The result is that the two layers are now one larger damped material which dissipates sound energy very quickly and efficiently. All factory damped drywall use a damping compound in the middle in order to achieve sound proofing characteristics. However with green glue you will get better results a) because it is a better damping compound and b) because you are applying it between two full layers of drywall so your wall/ceiling/floor is heavier than if you were using one layer.
Green Glue Cost & Application:
Green Glue is cheaper than factory damped panels and is also a very cost effective material due to the fact that it very simple to apply saving on labor costs and there is no waste. When you buy a factory damped drywall or a material like Mass Loaded Vinyl you end up losing material that has to be cut and thrown away, whereas with Green Glue you only apply it to the drywall that is already cut to size. Green Glue doesn't need any tools other than a standard quart size caulking gun. (When using Green Glue Buckets use of a bulk caulking gun is highly recommended). It is applied using 2 tubes for every 4 x 8 sheet (1 tube for every 4 x 4). Any random pattern will do and a tube can be dispensed in 30 seconds. The drywall is hung, screwed into place and finished like any other standard drywall installation.
For actual installation hang your first layer of drywall then apply the Green Glue either on the face of the hung layer or on the back of the 2nd layer that you are about to hang (this is the most popular way). Screw the 2nd layer of drywall all the way to the studs. Green Glue does not work by decoupling or by creating an air space, so feel comfortable screwing the 2nd layer of drywall tightly to the 1st layer. The above applies as well if you are adding a 3rd layer of drywall with a 2nd layer of Green Glue (make sure you use longer screws that can reach the studs). This technique is also used when you are installing drywall on to Whisper Clips and Hat Channel, just make sure to screw into the channel in place of the joists.
Results:
A standard 2 x 4 wall 16" OC with 1 layer of drywall on each side has an STC rating of approximately 32. A double layer of drywall with Green Glue installed on one side of the same wall will give you an STC of approximately 45 (compare that to 2-3 points achieved with insulation, MLV or just another layer of drywall) a 2nd layer of drywall with Green Glue on the other side will give you an additional 4-5 points, bringing your wall up to a STC of about 50. On 24" OC studs or on metal framed studs you can achieve ratings of 56-59.
Do you still need more information about Green Glue? Give us a call at 845-352-3200.
Additionally check out the following Links:
Click here to return to our Sound Proofing Homepage.
Products
Authentication
Find us on facebook
