Domestic Soundproofing
Introduction to Building Acoustics
Noise coming through walls
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Noise coming through floors and ceilings - Ceiling treatment - Ceiling Removed
Noise coming through floors and ceilings - Ceiling treatment - Ceiling Retained
Noise coming through floors and ceilings - Floor treatment
Noisy central heating boilers, pumps, pipes and motors
Noisy washing machines
Toilets and bathrooms
Closing doors, cupboards & drawers
Installation
Benefits of using SRS
Introduction to Building Acoustics
On this page you will find solutions to the most common noise problems faced by residents.
Acoustics can be a very complex subject with many confusing terms, but in general, people are not really interested in the finer detail. We want to know what the improvement will be and tend to think in terms of apparent loudness.
The information given in the table below should help:
|
Improvement |
Change in apparent loudness |
|
3dB |
Noticeable |
|
5dB |
Good Improvement |
|
10dB |
Halved |
If you do want to go into the detail, you must make sure that you are comparing like with like when looking at test data. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing results from laboratory tests with those produced in real conditions on site, as reproducing the perfect acoustic conditions of a laboratory is impossible in your home. Typically, a construction tested under laboratory conditions will be around 5dB better than the same construction tested on site.
If your particular situation is not shown in the following paragraphs or you need further advice, please contact our helpful and friendly technical staff on 01204 380074 who will be able to talk you through potential solutions. Or if you prefer, e-mail the team at info@soundreduction.co.uk with your query.
Acoustic Insulation
To effectively control noise, it is important to understand the difference between sound absorption and sound insulation, as the two are often confused. Sound absorption relates to the amount of reverberation within a room and its effect on sound quality and intelligibility. Sound insulation, on the other hand, relates to the actual reduction in sound travelling from one area to another through a wall, floor or ceiling. Sound transmission in buildings results from both airborne and impact noise.
Airborne Noise
Airborne sound is generated typically from sources such as voices, Hi-Fi systems or TV sets, and travels through the air into the structure of a building, and out again into adjoining rooms.
Impact Noise
Impact sound is the result of physical excitation of the structure of a floor by impacts from footfall, moving furniture and dropped items.
Be careful!
Please remember that the degree of improvement you will achieve using any sound insulating material will vary with the quality of the installation and the existing structure of your home. Airtightness is key to effective sound insulation. We can liken sound to water, in that it will ‘leak’ through any gaps/holes in the construction – installers must ensure that a construction is properly sealed. Another common problem that can affect the acoustic performance of your home is ‘flanking’. Flanking occurs when sound travels around the primary separating element, be it a wall or floor/ceiling construction, via an acoustically weak path.
Decibel (dB)
The unit of measurement of sound intensity, pressure or power, and in relation to sound insulation, the measurement of level reduction. The decibel is measured as a logarithmic unit to compress a very wide scale of numbers, hence you should be aware that a doubling or halving of apparent loudness is indicated by an increase or decrease of 10dB.
Noise Coming Through Walls
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Apartments, terraced and semi-detached properties can all have walls shared with other people, and sometimes you might feel that you’re being forced to listen to everything they do! You might like to create a space for activities such as music practice but don’t want to disturb other people. Equally so, you may simply wish to reduce the noise coming from other rooms within your own house.
SRS’s solution to this is to fit an independent wall lining of our acoustic building board, Maxiboard, which can then be decorated to match your existing room. Maxiboard provides a highly effective solution and only adds minimal thickness to an existing wall - usually around 60mm.
Existing Masonry & Timber Stud Wall Treatment
Products required: Maxiboard; SRS Gripfix; SRS Acoustic Sealant; Maxi Resilient Bars; Mineral Fibre Slab; Maxi HP Screws.
Tools required: Tape Measure; Sealant Gun; Circular saw, Jigsaw or Hand saw; Electric Drill/Screwdriver; Step Ladders; Trimming Knife.
Method*:
Fix Maxi Resilient Bars horizontally across the full width of the masonry wall or exposed timber studwork at 600mm centres. Place mineral fibre slab between the bars, and screw the Maxiboards to the resilient bars. A bead of SRS Gripfix is placed along each edge of the boards. Where Maxiboard abuts a wall, floor or ceiling, the shiplap edge should be removed, and a bead of SRS Acoustic Sealant, placed along the cut edge. The Maxiboard is usually overboarded with a layer of standard 9.5mm wallboard and a skim coat of plaster to finish.
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NOTES:
- Great care should be taken to ensure no screw fixings penetrate through the resilient bars, and touch the existing wall or studwork.
- For enhanced performance, a fully independent wall-lining should be installed: typically 50mm deep metal or 75mm deep timber stud framework, not in contact with the existing wall; 50mm thick mineral wool slab (45kg/m
3) infill to frame; one layer Maxiboard fixed to frame; acoustic sealant to perimeters; one layer plasterboard fixed to Maxiboard to carry skim or taped finish; Typical overall depth 85-90mm.
- Where adjacent walls are drylined with plasterboard on dabs, the Maxiboard should continue through the existing plasterboard, meeting and sealing with the solid wall behind.
* Please click here for full installation guidance. Please refer to these pages of the website prior to installing Maxiboard. For clarification on any point please contact the SRS technical team on 01204 380074.
Noise coming through floors and ceilings - Ceiling Treatment
Introduction
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There are two approaches to the treatment of noise through floors, depending on whether you can work on the surface of the floor above or the ceiling in the room below, and the type of noise that you’re suffering from. If you’ve got access to both the floor and the ceiling, then you can maximise the effect, but don’t worry if you haven’t.
Ceiling Treatment - Ceiling Removed
Products: Maxiboard; SRS Gripfix; SRS Acoustic Sealant; Maxi Resilient Bars; 100mm Mineral Fibre Slab; Maxi HP Screws; 70 x 5mm Self Drilling Screws.
Tools: Tape Measure; Sealant Gun; Circular saw, Jigsaw or Hand saw; Electric Drill/Screwdriver; Step Ladders; Trimming Knife
Maxiboard can be used to reduce the noise going up or down through a ceiling, either by replacing the existing ceiling or by being installed below your ceiling, if space permits. This method is particularly effective for airborne noise problems. It will also significantly reduce the level of impact noise.
Method*:
Perpendicular to the joists, fix Maxi Resilient Bars at 400mm centres (300mm if you require an 1 hour fire rating). Place mineral fibre slab between the joists, and screw the Maxiboards to the resilient bars. A bead of SRS Gripfix is placed along each edge of the boards. Where Maxiboard abuts a wall, the shiplap edge should be removed, and a bead of SRS Acoustic Sealant, placed along the cut edge. The Maxiboard is usually overboarded with a layer of standard 9.5mm wallboard (12.5mm fire rated plasterboard if an hours fire separation is required) and a skim coat of plaster to finish.
If retaining the existing ceiling:
NOTES:
- Great care should be taken to ensure no screw fixings penetrate through the resilient bars, and touch the existing ceiling or joists.
Prior to the installation of the resilient bars and Maxiboard, as above, 50mm × 50mm softwood timber battens should be installed at 600mm centres through the ceiling into the joists. The resilient bars can then be screw fixed to the timber battens using an appropriate length of fixing. 50mm mineral fibre should then be installed in between the battens and the Maxiboard installed as per the above guidance.
* Please click here for full installation guidance. Please refer to these pages of the website prior to installing Maxiboard. For clarification on any point please contact the SRS technical team on 01204 380074.
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Our high performance acoustic underlay, Acoustilay, can be used on top of a floor to help reduce the noise of footsteps in the room below. The heavier versions can also help reduce the sound of voices and music. This is the most effective solution for impact noise problems, or if you only have access to the floor. It is very easy to install and replaces the requirement for a conventional carpet underlay.
Floor Treatment
Products: Acoustilay 15, 8 or 3; Acoustilay Perimeter Strips; Acoustilay MDF; Acoustilay Adhesive.
Tools: Circular saw / Jigsaw /Trimming Knife; Tape Measure; Electric Drill / Screwdriver.
Method*:
With Carpet & Gripper: Acoustilay Perimeter Strips are installed around the perimeter of the room, with the gripper rods installed on top. The Acoustilay tiles are loose laid onto the existing floor, cut and shaped using either a circular saw, jigsaw or trimming knife. There should be installed in a brick pattern. Carpet is placed over the top, as with conventional underlay.
With Vinyl: The Acoustilay tiles are bonded to the existing floor with SRS adhesive and a layer of T&G Acoustilay MDF bonded to the top of the Acoustilay before the vinyl is installed.
NOTES:
- Do not use any mechanical fixings to secure the Acoustilay to the floor.
-
If the noise problem is predominately airborne noise, you can replace the Acoustilay with Maxiboard. However, the rigid nature of the board means the impact performance will not be as good as Acoustilay. The impact performance can be improved by laying the Maxiboard onto a resilient layer, such as SRS Impactafoam, which is only 5mm thick. Replacing your carpet with engineered timber or laminate floors? Timber and laminate flooring notoriously increases impact noise. Using SubPrimo between your floorboards and the laminate flooring can help reduce the noise of footsteps.
* Please click here for full installation guidance. Please refer to these pages of the website prior to installing Acoustilay. For clarification on any point please contact the SRS technical team on 01204 380074.
Sound Insulation around the House
Noisy central heating boilers, pumps, pipes & motors
Pumps, pipes, motors and central heating boilers can be noisy. You can reduce the amount of noise that escapes by creating an enclosure around the pump, pipe, motor or boiler and lining it with SoundStop. The foam component of SoundStop provides a level of sound absorption within the enclosure, while the lead core of the product provides resistance to the passage of airborne noise.
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An alternative would be to use Maxiboard to line a timber frame, though it would make sense to provide some absorption within the enclosure using our Coustifoam. As with all home appliances, if your boiler appears to be unusually noisy, then you should get it checked by a CORGI registered engineer in case of a fault.
Noisy washing machines
Washing machines can be isolated from the floor by seating them on a pad of Acoustilay 3 with a 9mm thick board of ply glued on top. The same method can be used for other noisy items, even treadmills!
Ideally pipe runs should be boxed in, for which Maxiboard could be used, and lined internally with an absorber, such as Coustifoam. If this is not possible, you may achieve a level of success from forming the Soundstop product around the offending pipe.
These can cause noise problems for you and your neighbours. Proprietary solutions are now available from most DIY Supermarket chains.
Full installation guidance on all SRS soundproofing products can be found using the following links:
Sound insulation products for floors
Sound insulation products for walls
Sound insulation products for ceilings
These pages should be consulted prior to commencing any installation as the notes in this section of the website are only intended as a guide.
SRS uses a small network of specialist distributors who can supply our materials at short notice. They can arrange delivery as well as installation and testing, if required. Please click here for details on our approved distributors.
Benefits of using SRS
Sound Reduction Systems Ltd (SRS) is a leading manufacturer of sound insulation materials for use in residential buildings. With over 25 years of experience in the building industry, our team of qualified personnel are able to provide simple practical advice and effective solutions to many domestic noise problems. All members of the SRS technical department are full members of the Institute of Acoustics. For details on the qualifications and experience required to achieve full membership of the Institute please see the IOA Website
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