| One of the most common soundproofing | | | | as they are fitted into the sound clips. Once |
| questions I hear most is "How do I soundproof | | | | you have all of your rows of sound clips and |
| my condo or apartment from those noisy | | | | furring channel installed, you are ready to |
| neighbors who live above?" Generally the most | | | | drywall. There is a trick to floating a |
| annoying noise is what is known as "foot | | | | ceiling and that is to make sure that your |
| fall" or "impact noise" Impact noise is noise | | | | new ceiling drywall does not touch the |
| that is caused by heavy walking on the floor | | | | adjoining walls and is completely independent |
| of the neighbor above. It can also be caused | | | | of the ceiling joists. You will screw in your |
| by chairs dragging across a hardwood floor | | | | new drywall using self-tapping drywall screws |
| above or simply the impact of a fork or plate | | | | that will screw through the drywall and into |
| that is dropped on the floor above. Impact | | | | the metal furring channels. Once you are |
| noise is transmitted through the structural | | | | finished screwing the drywall to the furring |
| members of the floor/ceiling assembly and | | | | channels, you will make sure that you have |
| generally travels down through the floor | | | | maintained a ¼" gap around the entire |
| joists and into the ceiling below at | | | | perimeter of the new ceiling. This gap will |
| lightening speed. Impact noise is the most | | | | be filled in with acoustical caulk that is |
| annoying noise you will ever have to deal in | | | | designed to remain pliant throughout the life |
| your condo or apartment. Sometimes it can | | | | of the caulk. Now that the new floated |
| actually feel like you neighbor is living in | | | | ceiling is installed and you have caulked in |
| your unit. Sound familiar? When dealing with | | | | the ¼" gap around the perimeter |
| impact noise, it is always best to completely | | | | you'll then tape mud and paint the new |
| remove the existing ceiling and start from | | | | ceiling as normal. Now if you are looking for |
| scratch. This can be a real chore especially | | | | the ultimate in soundproofing from impact |
| if your ceiling is plaster and not drywall. | | | | noise as well as airborne noise from above, |
| (For plaster ceiling consult local drywall | | | | it is recommended that you float 2 layers of |
| contractor) Once the ceiling has been | | | | 5/8" drywall on the sound clips and furring |
| removed, it is then recommended that you fill | | | | channel, and between the layers of drywall |
| the joist cavities with sound batt insulation | | | | you will apply a product called "Green |
| such as rock wool, mineral wool, or cotton | | | | GlueÃ"". Green GlueÃ" is a visco |
| batt insulation. RoxulÃ" and | | | | elastic damping compound that when applied |
| GreensoundÃ" are common brand names for | | | | between 2 layers of drywall or any rigid wall |
| these batt materials. It is always best to | | | | board, acts to deaden both layers of wall |
| completely fill the cavities with one of | | | | board thus not allowing the drywall to |
| these materials, but if you don't have enough | | | | resonate or transmit sound. When the sound is |
| of these materials you can always fill the | | | | unable to pass through the drywall it |
| remainder of the cavity with common | | | | dissipates rapidly and turns into heat |
| fiberglass insulation. Just make sure that | | | | energy. To sum this up, the absolute best way |
| the first layer of insulation (the layer | | | | to soundproof your ceiling from the noisy |
| against the sub floor above) is cotton, | | | | neighbors above is to float the ceiling using |
| mineral wool, or rock wool. Now that your | | | | the Sound clips and furring channel, and then |
| joist cavities are filled, you will then want | | | | installing 2 layers of 5/8" drywall suspended |
| to "float your ceiling" on sound clips and | | | | from the sound clips and furring channels |
| furring channels. Float my ceiling? What are | | | | with Green Glue sandwiched between the 2 |
| you talking about dude? I'm glad you asked; a | | | | layers of drywall. Now if space is an issue |
| floated ceiling is a ceiling that is | | | | or money is a concern, you can get some great |
| connected to the ceiling joists using a | | | | soundproofing and impact protection by simply |
| device called a sound clip. Sound clips | | | | adding another layer of 5/8" drywall to your |
| isolate the joists from the new drywall that | | | | existing ceiling, applying the Green |
| will become your new ceiling. Here's how it | | | | GlueÃ" to this new layer of drywall and |
| works. You will screw the sound clips onto | | | | then simply screwing the drywall over top of |
| the bottom face of the joists and they will | | | | you existing drywall or plaster ceiling. This |
| run parallel to the joists. The sound clips | | | | method will not be quite as effective as the |
| are then fitted with a metal furring channel | | | | complete floated ceiling system using Green |
| also known as "hat channel" because it looks | | | | GlueÃ", but if you are on a budget and |
| like a Dick Tracy hat if you look at it from | | | | need effective protection from the impact |
| the side. Furring channels come in 20 and 25 | | | | noise from above, Green GlueÃ" is a great |
| gauge steel, you can use either gauge with | | | | way to go. |
| the AmericlipÃ" sound clips. The furring | | | | |
| channels will run perpendicular to the joists | | | | More articles from this pro: W. |