How much does soundproofing a ceiling cost?

[scd]

My partner and I bought a late Victorian maisonette a a couple of years ago and are constantly irritated by the sound of the young family upstairs generally going about their day to day lives. They are not being unreasonably noisy, but we are finding it impossible to relax when we can hear them all the time.

We are thinking about soundproofing the ceiling (as we are wary that if we ask upstairs to do anything about it we may have to disclose it when we come to sell), but really haven't a clue how much this would cost. I've had a look around other postings but can't find anything that actually deals with cost.

Are we talking hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands? Our flat is an average sized, purpose built, terraced Victorian maisonette in North London.

Thank you!!

 

[biffvernon]

Just what do you propose to do or have done? Are you doing it yourself (materials are cheap) or paying someone else to do it (labour is expensive)?

 

[Schoolmarm]

Have they got carpets laid upstairs?

 

[BMcD]

I think it realy depends to what extent you want to sound proof and weather you do it yourself or not. But I'm affraid the most effective way would mean creating a false ceiling, the less contact with the existing ceiling the more you reduce sound tansmission. The cavity created can then be filled with accoustic partition roll at a couple of pounds per sq. metre and then board the ceiling with soundbloc plasterboards at about £3 -£4.00 per 15mm x 1200 x 2400mm board. If you were to get someone in to do this for you I think you could be looking at Thousands for the whole job (£700 - £800 per ceiling?) Unfortunately though you would loss any cornice and mouldings behind the false ceiling but if you're careful there's no reason for it to be damaged (especialy if you DIY). But if the noise is realy such a problem then I don't see what else you could do. Though as I understand it you only have to inform potential buyers of a problem with neighbours if you make an official complaint so perhaps having a word first might be the best option.
I hope you can work something out.
BMcD

 

[scd]

Many thanks for all your responses - much appreciated.

In response to Schoolmarm's query, they do have carpets upstairs but not in the kitchen or bathroom, which is where the noise is worst. (Their flat layout is different to ours so underneath their large kitchen we have two bedrooms and a hallway as well as our kitchen).

Anyway, thanks again

 

[David Dyer]

To give some ideas on what you need to do look at
http://www.bre.co.uk/pdf/soundins_homes.pdf you should then be able to work out material costs labour of course can be DIY or a tradesman

 

[Johneds]

I would concur with BMcD. The best option is a second ceiling which should be as independant as possible from the existing ceiling. (i.e. not connected in any way to the existing ceiling/floor structure)

Laying one of the various flooring systems on the floor above can be effective in some situations but you need the co-operation of the people above and won't be any cheaper than a ceiling.

There are cheaper alternatives that involve lining the existing ceiling with a sound system. These can be effective if the existing ceiling is stiff enough and will take the extra load but the sound reduction will not be as much as an independant ceiling and there is the risk that the improvement will not be good enough.

 

[pBay]

scd... did you go ahead with anything on this. It sounds very simular to our problem. We are also in a North London Maisonette and suffer in the same way. Would be great to know if you chose a solution.

 

[Penners]

http://www.soundstop.co.uk/?gclid=CNah1bKO04YCFQlREQodIAJ07Q
Might be of interest to you.

 

[Craig]

PS - if you are using "acoustic wool insulation", its just bog standard 100mm rockwool - so dont buy it at all and get Thermafleece instead which is great for acoustic dampening.

Rockwool - the asbestos of the future (along with MDF!)

 

[bournonite]

Interesting reading this thread - we've just done a job for a client which required soundproofed floors in a restoration job - total cost for a floor in what was an old council house was in the region of £6000 - 2 layers of caberfloor, with an isorubber sandwich layer between them, on top of joists at 300mm centres, to take the weight of the ceiling beneath - 7x3" joists, with 100mm insulation, and suspended from isosonic clips attached to them is a system of battens (50x50mm) with TWO layers of plasterboard attached to them - one 19mm and the other 12.5mm. This floor meets the sound regulations, but only just !!!! There is something like 1.5 or 2 tonnes weight in it, hence the upgraded joists. The soundproofing regulations are getting harder and harder to meet, and correspondingly more expensive.
Good luck!

 

[Penners]

Flippin' 'eck! From the sound of that lot your client will be safe from noise and bunker-buster bombs!

 

[NT]

And from the sound of it the client will need to shrink by over a foot to get back into the house!

Or would that be from the silence of it?


NT

 

[bournonite]

Total thickness is just over 12" - it really is stunning though - you can jump up and down upstairs, shout, bang things around, and generally hoon around, and downstairs you cant hear a thing... To go back to basics though - if you distil a bit of learning from the experience, you need an air gap, plus insulation - so a 200 mm joist needs 100 mm insulation and 100 mm air gap - its important NOT to completely fill the void with insulation according to the experts, then hang 50 mm battens and 2 layers of plasterboard and you'll have a quiet ceiling - I'll try and dig out the web address of the company we used to supply the isosonic hangers - basically bits of tinplate with foam rubber between them. (And bloody expensive)

Pete

 

[Moo]

Would it be possible to adapt the system to a new stud wall?

 

[bournonite]

Hiya

No problem - stud walls are a lot easier anyway - we use soundproof boards with insulation between the studs to achieve the required rating. I can give you some references if you like.

Pete

 

[Penners]

Would it be possible to adapt the system to a new stud wall?

This website might interest you, Moo.
http://www.noisestopsystems.co.uk/soundproofing_understanding_soundproofing_isolation.htm

 

[Moo]

Thanks, Penners.
No. 1 son wants to divide his ground floor into two rooms so that he can get more rent to cope with all these rate rises.

He intends to do it himself!

 

[Penners]

Surely he'll need Mum there to give advice (and cook lunch)!

 

[Penners]

Moo
There's another thread running at the moment about acoustic treatments.

http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=65941#65941

Johneds gives some interesting advice that your son might like to read.