Yikes!!! How do I best soundproof my basement ceiling? Advice help! :)
I am having my basement finished right now. The old ceiling has been removed so that all the HVAC and pipes have been nestled in so I can have 8' foot ceilings throughout the basement for the most part. Yay!
I really need to decide quickly about how best to reduce the amount of noise that comes from people walking on the floors above, so I guess that's impact noise. There are no carpets above, nor will there be, just hardwood floors. The basement "bedroom" is directly below the kitchen where there is a lot of action. It's now or never on need to make the right decision about the "soundproofing" the basement ceiling from the noises from the main floor.
I have suggested to my contractor (who is wonderful) to use Rockwool Safe n Sound (15.25 inch W by 47 inch Long) between the rafters which are about 14 inches apart. He was planning on using Acoustical Surfaces Inc.'s SOUNDBREAK XP, an acoustically enhanced gypsum board https://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/soundbreak/soundbreak.htm. So right now the plan is to use the Rockwool Safe n Sound with the Soundbreak XP.
I read and reread suggestions throughout the web and even on Houzz, but I'm still not sure what to do. The soon to be finished part of the basement is about 850 sq feet. About 1/3 of that space is "bedroom" area. That area I'm most concerned about noise.
- Should I do two layers of Rockwool throughout the entire basement or just where the bedroom is?
- Should I consider another product like Owens Corning Termafiber Fire and Sound Guard Mineral Wool Insulation Batt 15 in. by 47 in. as it's significantly cheaper?
- Should I insist that the contractor use resilient channel in the bedroom area?
- Are these bad ideas?
- Do you have any better ideas?
I'm feeling confused as to how to proceed. The contractor was going to do the insulation a week or two from now, but he'll be starting on Tuesday instead, so I really need to make a decision soon.
Thank you for reading this, and I'd really appreciate some good advice as how to proceed so my contractor can move forward on the project.
Comments (6)
gadzooks1
4 years agoRelated Discussions
I need all you GW'ers advice on a budget basement re-do!!!
Comments (21)If you are going to paint with dry-lock the dust issue will be lessened. There is a picture of a poster who did the black paint on the ceiling thing. I haven't seen the finished room but it does disguise the unfinished look. This technique is very popular in restaurants. Once you get living down there the dust issue will be dealt with, with regular cleanings. I like the light paint idea for light better. I am not a fan of dark caves myself. I too would go with scraping and re-painting the floor. I did my laundry room in white and it not only holds up it is easier to sweep. I did mine in Kilz/water lock cement block paint. I would not invest in much if you aren't up for the full job. Three houses tells me no one wants to hang out in what feels like a basement. How old are your kids? Maybe you would be better off to create an indoor play ground down there? Hang a few swings from the rafters, get some toys on wheels let the kids do more gross motor play down there. I also kept all play-dough play downstairs. Without finished walls, warmth, heat source and lots of light, the more natural the better, it just will never be a second family room, in my experience....See MoreHow do I inventory/measure my stuff for best effect?
Comments (16)For me, it was a matter of physically measuring our various things - I didn't measure every single thing (most utensils, etc. weren't measured), but I measured a lot. And I used a list that had approximate dimensions of important things then used an elevation style drawing so that I could label exactly what was intended to go where. In doing that, I found that I had a few things in my initial layout plan a bit wrong. I revisited those things and was able to come up with just about everything that I wanted where I wanted. As someone earlier mentioned, keep in mind that you will possibly find that you will have some need for a few things in more than one place for ease of use. For example, I have a measuring cup and measuring spoons in a drawer next to the cooktop. I also have the same in my island. I have pot holders in a drawer next to my cooktop, and more over in a drawer by the oven. My aluminum foil and parchment are over in a drawer by the oven - near the are where my cookie sheets and casserole dishes are. My plastic wrap and baggies are near where the fridge is. These are the places where I will most use them. Initially, when I started planning, I was putting all those items together. Because...wait for it...that's they way I've always had them...and the way that my parents and grandparents always had them. Luckily, someone from GW asked WHY I was going to do it that way! And I realized that she was right...that way didn't make sense at all. So, when you are planning, plan for the IDEAL locations. Recognize that there may be more than one ideal location for certain items, so you may wind up having them in more than one place. My goal in putting together my kitchen right now is that someone with a moderate knowledge of how a kitchen should work would be able to step into my kitchen and find just about any of the tools that he/she would need to prepare a meal without my intervention. I feel pretty certain that most GWers could feel "at home" even if it isn't exactly how they might have done things. I would bet that if I showed my kitchen and gave an item and it's general use/frequency of use, most GWers could come pretty darn close to nailing the location. Actually, that might be a fun thread..."Guess what is behind drawer number 1?"...See MoreSound-Proofing Basement Bedroom?
Comments (5)Depends on how much you want to spend and how "Sound Proof" you would like it to be. Here is a good link explaining STC and to what level you are trying to accomplish. http://www.soundproofingcompany.com/soundproofing101/understanding-stc/ Most of our clients, we end up insulating the wall, installing sound board, and two layers of sheetrock with a sound channel. the small details in this are important also. Such as if there is a door in the wall, etc....See MoreBasement paint-help take it from Yikes to Nice
Comments (15)I think that rail could make the room. Highlight it, use it to create a few key focal points. Like @cawaps said and use it to lean your artwork on and be very interesting. What a great idea for gallery groupings of things like colorful paintings, plates, woven trays and frames. Add another shelf somewhere, hang things on the wall for depth. Two words: Alien Tape. Pick some up and use a piece of it to secure the art. Believe me they won't go anywhere lol! You can use it to hang some pieces on the wall. Velcro works too. Museum putty....See Moregadzooks1
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