Assuming the world reopens at some point, I’d like to apply some kind of sound isolation to a stud party wall in a semi-detached house.
It doesn’t have to be recording studio standard just enough to dampen next door’s TV and allow me to play music more comfortably.
I’ve seen a number of different options online from filling the voids in the existing wall, fixing 30mm studioboards, fabric walls and even soundproofing paint (!) though I think I’ve discounted this last option!
Whilst appreciating that the thicker any material fixed to the wall is, all other things being equal, the better isolation you will get, I’d rather not have anything too thick encroaching into the room and would prefer a paintable surface which could still have light fixings hung on it like paintings.
Yep I’ve done it professionally and domestically. At home I used a proprietary batten system which is effectively two ply battens approx 2x1 in old money which are separated along their length by neoprene blocks, you fix these to the wall every 400mm or so, fill the void with semi solid rock wool stuffed in really tightly and fill any gaps with loose rock wool. You then fix 3 x layers of acoustic plaster board to the outside batten overlapping the joins, ensure there’s minimum gaps to the wall edges and carefully fill the edge gap on each sheet with acoustic mastic, skim and paint as normal and attack skirting. You can also buy a rubber seal that the plasterboard fits in to around the perimeter but I dident use that. Overall result in my case was very good for airborne sounds such as tv and voices etc but you’ll still probably get some structural borne sounds coming through via ‘flanking’ around the walls - such as chairs moving on hard floors etc. Hope that helps, even of you don’t use the fancy battens and use studs instead you’ll still get a good result if done carefully. You will obviously lose some room space, in my case about 80-100mm
Good advice from @Hollow. Given that the principles of sound insulation are based on distance separation from the source, which are hard to apply in this case, then I would suggest finding as dense as infill as possible. The advice on the 3x layers of plasterboard is good; again look for the densest possible, which often is of a higher fire resistance rating.
Yep you can buy specific acoustic plasterboard which is denser then the regular stuff, what your trying to do is effectively create synthetic mass with the rockwool and plasterboard combo. The real trick is to ensure it’s really carefully done with lots of attention to detail, think of sound as water - the slightest gap and it’ll leak through
As @Hollow emphasises it’s good to be meticulous.
Just a thought about your floor: is it solid or floating, suspended or wooden?
If solid you should be ok with Hollow’s advice, if floating then you may need to make sure the party wall insulation continues below the floor.
Good point, forgot to mention I cut back the ceiling and went all the way up, ditto on the floor - lifted the boards in an upstairs room. I more or less did the entire adjoining wall over 2 floors between me and neighbour
Besides the good advice above you could also consult building regulations which besides new build gives recommendations for conversion. One other aspect to consider is that the floors and ceilings may transmit sound into the party wall bypassing the party wall insulation. To reduce this special sound absorbing tapes are used. Floating floors are also used. I was very relieved when the acoustic tests showed that I had reached new build standard in my 300 year old building.
Many years ago I did quite a bit of R&D work with Freudenberg (they’re the people who make Vileda mops). I remember the guy who was incharge of special projects showing me a very thin piece grey non-woven fabric. He explained that by chance they’de discovered it has exceptional sound proofing qualities.
Probably evolved into one or both of these.
Don’t know if it’s practical to put on walls, but it would certainly be useful under floor coverings. (wood or carpet)
Thanks for all the replies and apologies for the delayed response.
This company seem to know what they’re doing and are also very customer-focused which is what I need. Had a long chat with the guy on the phone and he’s coming round next Tuesday, observing social distancing rules of course, to have a look.
Interesting company. Back in the day, when I specialised in noise control, I remember visiting a concert pianist in a well-heeled London suburb. The neighbours were very unreasonable and it a great deal of effort, expense and good will on behalf of the pianist was invested to resolve the issue. Of course the neighbours continued to object, but the pianist had gone beyond the call of duty to limit the noise from piano practice. In the end the neighbours moved.