Leaks, Squeaks, and Smells
...where they are not supposed to be are three things that drive owners crazy.
Speaking of squeaks, There is a great article in today's NYTT about the importance of acoustically conditioning a home. Overkill is my approach during construction. It is much more cost effective to deploy more rock, more insulation and acoustically isolate drain lines at this time than to try and fix it later.
The cost to do a reasonably good soundproofing job adds anywhere from $3 to $20PSF, but the qualitative difference is well worth it.
My secrets?
- Sheetrock/resilient channel/QuietRock is by far the most effective material to acoustically condition a space.
- Steel studs lessen the mass of a wall, making this an option for interior framing.
- Acoustiblok is a mass loaded vinyl product that is installed over the framing and behind the sheetrock. Installer error is an issue here, make sure; one, the installer knows what they are doing, and two, you inspect the penetrations (outlets, switches, recessed lighting) before surfaces are rocked.
- Windows are a big source of flanking noise, make sure you, or your builder or architect, understands the STC characteristics when evaluating your window options.
And when I really need a room to be quiet, I call Charlie.
