A Few Things Contractors Need to Know About Soundproofing
by BJ Nash

Sometimes a contractor is asked about soundproofing a wall, room or ceiling in a home or office. Some might either:

A) Be uninformed and offer erroneous advice, or

B) Feel secure in their advice, but use old 1970?s technology such as double drywall, channel and/or fiberglass batting.

Many new techniques and materials have come on the scene in the last several years making sound control a do-able and profitable project.

Make sure you

1) Have the latest in terminology before discussing the job with the homeowner: Products such as ?Green Glue? and ?MLV? (Mass Loaded Vinyl) are now common terms in the war on sound and the internet savvy potential client can find out about soundproofing in a flash.

2) Don?t underestimate the difficulty of the job before getting advice from knowledgeable people in the field. These would be vendors of these products or users of them.

3) Become informed about the products by calling suppliers and/or searching the Internet.

4) Know that since soundproofing is not an exact science and not quantifiable, you don?t know in advance the level of sound control that will be attained with the labor and materials you?ve chosen to use, so don?t guarantee the job.

5) Different materials are needed for specific sound problems- one type doesn?t fit all situations. Open cell foam is for absorbing sound, closed cell is for blocking sound and dampening it. Barrier mat is usually needed for loud sounds like musical instruments, etc.

Some libraries have copies of the EPA Manual: ?Quieting in the Home? which while not up-to-date on the latest materials, explains clearly the issues and techniques of sound control. More sound control books are available on the Internet at www.supersoundproofing.biz also see ?Tips? for contractors at www.soundproofing.org/sales/tips_for_new_construction.htm

BJ Nash,
P.O. Box 985
Vista, Ca 92085
bjnash@soundproofing.org
www.soundproofing.org