Are you a condo resident? You certainly know that noise from other floors can quickly become annoying and irritating. To remedy this, soundproofing both your floors and ceilings is the best option. Of course, walls can also help in transmitting noise, but the floor/ceiling assembly seems to be a better alternative to optimize acoustic performance. The question remains as to what is the right method to adopt to ensure the soundproofing of your condo. This article takes stock of the different techniques adapted for this purpose. Follow us for all the details.
The different types of sounds that affect condo residents
The types of noise that are most often the source of decibel problems can be classified into two categories. First, airborne or ambient sounds that come from voices, phone ringing, or other noises that propagate through the air across floors or ceilings. The second concerns impact noise that results from direct contact with a surface such as dropped objects, a child running, and others.
Refurbishing the ceiling to increase condo soundproofing
Generally, the goal is to divide the materials connected to each other to improve the acoustic insulation of your home. From the floor covering, joists, wood furring strips, and ceiling covering, everything is involved. For this first option, start by removing the ceiling covering and the wood furring strips attached to the joists. Continue by inserting insulation between the floor joists to limit the passage of noise from one floor to another. You then need to attach flexible metal tracks at 24-inch intervals under the floor structure itself. Then install a double thickness of 12 mm Type X gypsum boards. Note that this should be screwed to the profiles with joint overlap of 200 mm or more from one layer to another. Finish by applying sealant on the entire wall/ceiling junction between the two layers of gypsum.
Proceeding with ceiling soundproofing without damaging the construction
The second method to optimize condo soundproofing consists of soundproofing the ceiling without having to destroy it. It is more specifically about reinforcing acoustic insulation by building an additional ceiling under the existing one. To do this, you need to install standard 64 mm metal studs screwed at 61 cm intervals to the wood furring strips of the existing ceiling. Insertion of 64 cm pink fiberglass wool cushions between the completed studs will then be necessary. And to finish, you must attach a layer of 12 mm gypsum boards to the studs. This way, you will ensure the success of condo soundproofing.
Changing the floor covering: an equally effective method for soundproofing
In addition to the two types of methods mentioned, changing the floor covering is also a reliable way to insulate against noise coming from or outside your home. Indeed! Improving the acoustic insulation of a condo also involves floor covering. As with the previous options, the idea is to detach the floor from the building by installing an acoustic membrane to the structure. Note that the underlayment should be installed without nailing or screwing it to the foundation. This helps reduce both airborne and impact noises. For this, be sure to research all the characteristics of the desired product, including the thickness and density of the membrane. These are aspects that should not be taken lightly to successfully carry out your projects. Regarding floor covering, understand that the softer it is, the less effective it will be at limiting the conduction of impact noises. In summary, these are some effective and easy-to-adopt methods to overcome noise coming from other floors in the same building. If you have trouble tolerating the decibel level from one floor to another, these fixes will be of great help in allowing you to enjoy the tranquility you need.
