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