Soundproofing a townhouse

Tim Kline · 08-20-2008, 11:24 AM

I'm going to be moving soon (if anyone ever buys my old house). I am most likely going to be moving into a townhouse, I have a couple I am already considering primarily because they have a perfectly shaped & sized living room or finished basement for me to build the home theater / media room I always wanted.

but since it's a townhouse, I don't want my neighbors complaining, or even not complaining to anyone but hating me because I "make the TV too loud".

So I want to soundproof at least the area where the HT will be, even if it's the basement. I've been googling stuff did some searches here and got some ideas but I guess I want to see what some of your thoughts are.

So, basically, that green glue stuff is awesome from what I've read. To use that, would I just slather it on a sheet of drywall and then just screw it in over the existing drywall? or replace the old drywall and use the glue along the frame that I screw the drywall into? Or would I want to build a new frame, and stick new drywall to that? so it's like 1 layer of drywall, then air with some soundproof foam between the 2x4s, and that screwed into the existing wall? I'm sure I can order the green glue if home depot doesn't have it, but as far as drywall type products go, I'm pretty much limited to whatever Home Depot will carry... so that said, what kind of drywall do I want from there? Is it the thicker the better? I'm not too worried about the celling or floor (or should I be?), just the side walls since that's where the neighbors will be...

Robert_J · 08-20-2008, 11:51 AM

If you are going to pull off the original drywall, you might as well use Resiliant Channel stuff between the drywall and the studs. It will decouple the drywall from the studs. Then add your two layers of drywall with Green Glue. QuietRock is a more dense version of drywall and will work better but at a higher cost.

You mention soundproof foam between the studs. Don't waste your money. Soundproofing is all about adding mass. It is easy to stop the high frequencies with insulation or foam. The more mass you add to the walls, ceiling and floor, the more bass you will stop.

You should worry about the ceiling and/or floor. Sound will go up/down and propogate out in the room above or below.

Also look at soundproof doors as well as sealing up gaps around electrical outlets, light switches and lighting fixtures.

-Robert

Tim Kline · 08-20-2008, 01:13 PM

OK then, if it's easier/better I guess I should just stick new sheets of drywall right over the old ones? Use the green glue between them and just screw them together? Will i really need to screw into the studs or will the glue be enough to hold them together and I can pretty much just screw it anywhere?

I think I read there's some kind of foam I can put down under the rug & padding so I might look into that then. But what do I do for the celling? add the same extra drywall like I'm doing to the walls? Would I want to cover the whole lower floor or just the area where the HT will be? The place I'm considering is kind of square with one half on the right being the living room, then the steps going up in the middle, and then the kitchen and dining room on the other side of the steps, other than the steps in the middle of the place, it's a pretty open floor plan with the 3 rooms all flowing together.

Robert_J · 08-21-2008, 04:45 PM

Check out the links I posted here - http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...oundproof.html

Some of the techniques may be applicable in you situation. Especially the aparment soundproofing link.

-Robert



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