NOISE FROM ABOVE
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 produced from stereo systems etc. 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 problems 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 our 50mm Acoustic Quilt or a 100mm of our Acoustic Mineral Wool (AMW100) and clad with a double layer of our 12.5mm 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 Acoustic 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 can be adopted that will still give a good level of sound reduction. For this 50mm timber studs have to be screwed directly to the old ceiling being sure to fix through to the joists above. Ensure there is enough electrical flex for the new light fitting in the ceiling beneath and seal the hole through the old ceiling with mastic. Infill with 50mm of our Acoustic Mineral Wool (AMW50) which can be glued to the old ceiling with our special spray adhesive.
As before, staple a layer of our Acoustic Membrane to the underside of the battens before screwing our Resilient Bar system through the mats and onto the battens. Two layers of 12.5mm Acoustic Plasterboardor 31.5mm of plasterboard is then screwed to the Resilient Bars. Our Resilient Bar page will give you more information.