| How do I soundproof my condo or apartment from | | | | ¼" gap is then filled with an acoustical caulking, |
| my noisy neighbors upstairs? This is by far the most | | | | (OSI 175 is a good caulk for this application) and then |
| asked question I hear on a daily basis. It is a question | | | | finally the new ceiling will be taped, mudded, and |
| asked by prominent architects, engineers, major | | | | painted just like a like a hard attached joist mounted |
| developers, and contractors. We are now finding that | | | | drywall installation. The caulk is the interface between |
| this is also of major concern of individual | | | | the resilient ceiling and the adjoining walls. There you |
| homeowners who rent part of their house to | | | | have it, the common mans floated ceiling. |
| tenants. Many factors need to be considered when | | | | Now if you are really serious about soundproofing |
| assessing an upstairs noise issue. The first question | | | | your ceiling, you have the sound clip and furring |
| you should ask is simply this, is the problem impact | | | | channel method of floating. This installation is quite |
| noise, or airborne noise (TV's, Stereos, telephones | | | | similar to the RC-1 installation, however, the sound |
| etc.) coming down from above. Nine times out of | | | | clips system will more than double the soundproofing |
| ten, impact noise is the main concern. What is impact | | | | and impact isolation protection of a perfectly installed |
| noise? It is the noise caused by people or animals | | | | RC-1 system. Basically you will need one sound clip |
| walking across the floor above (generally hardwood). | | | | for every 4 sq ft of ceiling area. For example, if your |
| This type of noise is considered to be structure | | | | ceiling is 400 sq. ft. total, you will need 100 sound clips |
| borne noise and is one of the most difficult noises | | | | to complete the installation. Check with the |
| there is to soundproof from. Impact noise is basically | | | | manufacturers installations instructions for more |
| sound that travels directly through the joisting | | | | detailed installation information. Once you have the |
| structure from the floor above, directly into the hard | | | | sound clips screwed to the joists, you will then snap |
| mounted ceiling below. Another term for this is | | | | in the furring channel. We haven't talked much about |
| known as "foot fall "noise. Impact noise travels | | | | metal furring channels or "hat" channel, as they are |
| through the floor joists structure at speeds of over | | | | commonly called, so let me briefly describe this |
| 1200 times greater than the transmission of sound | | | | material. Furring channel, or hat channel is a galvanized |
| traveling through ambient air. Keep in mind that most | | | | steel channel that is 7/8" in height and measures 2 3 |
| home joist systems as well as studded walls are | | | | 8" from flange to flange. When using furring channels |
| generally 16 inches on center, so not only do you get | | | | in conjunction with sound clips, you always want to |
| the speed of the impact noise shooting downward, | | | | purchase the 25 gauge channels as opposed to the |
| but the perfectly spaced joists act as tuning forks | | | | 20 gauge, which is too stiff for this application. The |
| thus causing the sound to sustain (last longer) | | | | furring channel will be compressed by hand and will |
| compounding the impact problem. The best and most | | | | snap perfectly into the joist mounted sound clips. The |
| effective way to stop impact noise from above is to | | | | channel rows will be spaced from 2' to 3' apart |
| isolate the joist structure and the floor above (which | | | | (check installation instructions). The first row will begin |
| is generally hardwood) from the ceiling below. This | | | | about 4" from the adjoining wall and then each row |
| can be accomplished in a variety of ways. The most | | | | will be spaced from 2' to 3' apart. Now comes the |
| common is to float (suspend on acoustical sound clips | | | | fun part! You will screw the new drywall directly into |
| or resilient channels) the ceiling using either resilient | | | | the furring channel, keeping the screw as close to |
| isolation clips and furring channels (hat channel) or the | | | | the center of the hat channel as possible. If the |
| most common method of floating, RC-1 (resilient | | | | drywall meets directly in the middle of a channel, |
| channel). The good, the bad, and the ugly of both | | | | make sure to stagger the screws down the length |
| these methods will be discussed in depth. First we | | | | of the drywalls (alternate them one each side of the |
| have the industry standard, which is RC-1 or resilient | | | | seam). Now, just like with the RC-1 installation, you |
| channel. This is a flanged Z channel (generally with | | | | must maintain a ¼" gap around the perimeter |
| only one flange that attaches to the joist) and a | | | | of the newly floated ceiling assembly where the |
| larger flange to support the floated drywall ceiling. | | | | drywall does not touch the adjoining walls. Once |
| RC-1 can be purchased from a drywall supply | | | | again, this area will be sealed with the OSI-175 |
| company, or a contractors supply house. The resilient | | | | acoustical caulking material, and you will tape, mud, |
| channels are usually attached perpendicular to the | | | | and paint the ceiling as usual. There you have it folks, |
| joists and the rows are evenly spaced approximately | | | | professional sound isolation at a fraction of the cost |
| 2' to 3' apart. The longer flange (of resilient channels) | | | | that the "Big Boys" charge. A good analogy of the |
| in a ceiling application will all face the same direction to | | | | floated ceiling method is to visualize your ceiling as |
| obtain maximum resilience in the new ceiling assembly. | | | | being like a trampoline. The new ceiling must not |
| Remember, that the longer flange is the one the | | | | contact the adjoining walls and thus it is free to do |
| drywall screws into. Always use screws when you | | | | its resilient thing exclusively. Keep in mind that the |
| drywall, never use nails. Once the RC-1 is properly | | | | impact isolation is accomplished at the sound clip and |
| installed across the entire ceiling, you are ready to | | | | joist connection where there is a thick neoprene |
| drywall. The new drywall will be screwed directly | | | | rubber grommet on the clip that breaks the circuit |
| through the drywall and into the resilient channel's | | | | between the sub floor above and the newly floated |
| (longer) 1" flange. You will use 1 to 1 ½" | | | | ceiling. |
| self-tapping drywall screws or in rare cases, sheet | | | | Lastly, if you are able to float 2 layers of drywall on |
| metal screws. If the resilient (floated ceiling) is | | | | the sound clips, it is recommended that you use |
| installed as per manufacturers instructions, there will | | | | Green Glue sound dampening compound between the |
| be approximately a ¼" gap around the entire | | | | 2 layers of drywall. I hope this article has been |
| perimeter of the new floated ceiling. The floated | | | | informative and gives you hope that you can indeed |
| ceiling must never make direct contact with the | | | | soundproof you apartment or condo from those |
| adjoining walls. This is NOT negotiable folks. The | | | | stomping neighbors upstairs. This is Dr. Bob....Out!!!! |