SOUNDPROOFING A CEILING

If modern houses and flats are built using the correct materials, they should already be insulated against normal noise nuisance from neighbours. However, loud noise from above will always be heard and is more of a nuisance at night when other daytime background noises have ceased.

Apart from the airborne noise nuisance already mentioned, impact noise from above is often caused by footfalls and furniture such as chairs being moved on hardwood and laminate floors. Both airborne and impact noise from above can be reduced by installing a separate ceiling beneath the existing (if height allows).

To gain the maximum reduction in noise nuisance from above, a separate ceiling installed on new joists beneath and not connected to, the existing ceiling and supported by wall mounted joist hangers will give the best results. The joists should be infilled with 50mm thick SoundBlocker Quilt or a 100mm of our Acoustic Mineral Wool (AMW100) and clad with a double layer of 15mm thick Acoustic Plasterboard.

This method can only normally be installed into houses with higher than average ceilings.
Alternatively, a good DIY sound proofing solution is to remove your existing ceiling and glue 100mm of our Acoustic Mineral Wool (AMW100) onto the underside of the floor above between the floor joists. Our SoundBlocker Membrane can then be stapled to the underside of the ceiling followed by our sound reducing Resilient Bars that are screwed through the insulation and onto the bottom of the joists with two layers of our 15mm Acoustic Plasterboard screwed to the bars.

For various reasons it may be preferred not to remove the existing ceiling so if height allows, the following soundproofing method can be adopted that will still give a good level of sound reduction from above. For this 50mm timber studs have to be screwed directly to the old ceiling being sure to fix through to the joists. Ensure there is enough electrical flex for the new light fitting in the ceiling beneath and seal the hole through the old ceiling with Acoustic Sealant. Infill with 50mm of Acoustic Mineral Wool (AMW50) which can be glued to the old ceiling with Sta-Put special aerosol adhesive.

As before, staple a layer of SoundBlocker Membrane to the underside of the battens before screwing Resilient Bar system through the mats and onto the battens. Two layers of 15mm Acoustic Plasterboard is then screwed to the Resilient Bars. The Resilient Bar page will give you more information.