Noise Insulation - NLC

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:50 pm

Not in a lotus but in a flat.

Anyone got any pointers/advice how to improve sound insulation? Cheaply?

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:55 pm

roof, wall or floor?

but it all comes down basically to heavy stuff

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:57 pm

walls mainly! Lead lining?

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:29 pm

What's the problem exactly? I'm assuming the source is airborne?

It's a difficult thing to rectify (especially cheaply

)....

Depends on the source of the noise and how it is being transmitted through the building. What's the construction of the walls and floors? Type & age of property? Standard of workmanship? Can you afford to lose space with indepndent re-linings? Is the sound flanking? (ie passing around barriers rather than directly through, such as music transmitted via walls from flat above rather than direct through floor ?

TBH I've seen some people spend lots of money for no appreciable dB difference.

Also, remember that any attenuation measures are only as good as the weakest point in the construction...you need to identify the problem areas as far as possible first- would suggest a proper sound test if you are serious, but this requires access to the adjacet properties, which can be a sensitive issue...

Plenty of cowboys about who'll tell you they know how to fix this but like I say there's so many variables that anyone who gives you an answer without some serious investigation is just guessing...

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:31 pm

Seems to be plasterboard walls, 1988 construction laminate flooring

big gaps under the doors don't help!

it's mainly room to room, you can hear as if you were sitting in the same room!

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:58 pm

Walls'll be 12mm plasterboard each side of timber studs most likely. Good practice to always put mineral fibre quilt insulation between studs, which helps, but often doesn't happen

Cheap answer is carpets not laminate and good door seals.

You'll struggle to reduce lower frequency sound (generally requires dense construction eg masonry) but the quilt is reasonable for higher end deadening. If you do the above and reckon problem is still through walls you could put up an independent lining and quilt insulate this:

Ex wall+ 25mm gap+new 75mm studs(quilt between) and plasterboard. Downside is disruption, re-decoration and loss of a few inches from the room. Make sure gaps at junctions are well sealed or a waste of time though ('weakest link' as mentioned before). If you do try it PM me cos theres a few tips I can't be arsed typing

Or get a quieter family

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:57 pm

Cool cheers Bertie - think I'll go for the cheaper option rather than knocking down my walls right now!

No noisy family just a light sleeper of a flatmate!